Do bugs live in my dirt?

Hello group - thanks in advance for your opinions.

I am in zone 6 so my gardening days are about 3 weeks or so away I guess. Starting three years and worse the past two years I have had what I think is vine bore bugs totally destroy my cucumbers and squash plants. I tried moving them to a different part of the garden but I only have a 12 x 20 plot to work with so it didn't seem to help.

Do these bugs live in the dirt from year to year? How do I get rid of them? .... is there an additive I can till into the soil not before spring planting? ....

If I can't find something I trust to work I am not even going to plant cucs and squash this year but I will alas miss them.

Also, my garden results seem to have gone down every year for the past several despite more work .... how do I best prepare my soil?

Last year I got the best results in soem case the only results from leftover plants that I stuck in old flower pots.

Any advice welcome ..... thanks ...

Reply to
Him
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Squash vine borers do not do cucumbers so you have another problem. I would suspect striped cucumber beetles. It also sounds like you need a soil test and some amendments to improve the quality of your soil. You can take a soil sample to your Agricultural Extension Agent and get an analysis with recommendations. Plowing under or removing debris will help with the insects, but not complete. If you have no objections to using insecticides, These will give good control.

Reply to
farmerdill

Squash bugs and/or vine borers will a lot of damage if left unchecked. It's key to get them under control early. Since you have a small plot, hand picking squash bug egg clusters (look for them under every leaf) and dusting the stems for borers should do the trick. Irrigate deeply and weekly during dry weather. Apply fungicide every week to control mildew.

Cukes will benefit from regular irrigation and fungicide applications, too. You can dust weekly with Rotenone to control cuke beetle.

I don't know how to 'best prepare' your soil, but I build my garden soil every year with compost, wood ash, and grass clippings.

Reply to
TQ

live in the sea. Diatom-aceous earth is made from those shells. They are grouned so fine , that when you put your hand through it, it is softer than talcum powder.

You can buy Diatomaceous earth at a discount chain, or in the Pool Supplies store, because they also use diatomaceous earth for pool filters. I bought mine at Home Depot for $10.00 a 10 pound bag which will last you forever because it's used very sparingly.

Sprinkle it, using a small sieve, around the base of those plants that need it. Or sprinkle it in the earth before planting.. gently as if dusting a cake with powdered sugar.

Try not to get it on open blossoms for obvious reasons...though it probably wouldn't kill you.

Under a microscope, this talcum-like powder looks like jagged glass shards,,,,,,that's what kills the bad little bugs! I put just a tiny drop on a grub and he started writhing. I put it out of its misery immediately...(I'm afraid to pul a carrot out of the ground, lest it pain the carrot).

Try it...of all the folks to whom I recommended this, every one raved about it. I had an infestation; over the winter I dusted every single row and watered it in. You should turn it over before dusting. By spring - NOT ONE single GRUB!

Good luck Mike

Reply to
Mike

Reply to
Thomas

Beneficial nematodes are undoubtedly one of the factors that has helped my garden be a success. I highly recommend them.

One of the articles I read about diatomaceous earth cautioned to be careful about using it in the garden . . . it will also kill your earthworms. The beneficial nematodes, on the other hand, will help with the grubs and not harm earthworms. Those earthworms are your most valuable asset in your garden (or on our entire planet) and should definitely be encouraged.

This is one of those situations where "Do no harm" is appropriate, something which which the earthworms will surely agree. :-)

HTH.

Glenna

Reply to
Glenna Rose

Sounds to me like Pickleworm. I have been plagued by them ever since i started gardening (4 years ago) i finally gave up on cukes and squash (in fact anything in the cucurbit family) the only thing that worked one year was 7 dust, i had a little success with hot pepper and garlic spray, but i hate chemical pesticides so i opted to not grow the cucurbits unless i am ready for all out war with tons of organic things.

if you find something that works, please re-post here it may help others :)

Reply to
Joe S.

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