I have done the "professional" job of putting row covers on all my cucurbits. This because I fought with Squash Vine Borer four years in a row in Garland TX. This year we are doing the garden in E.Texas near Gilmer. I have put up five covers. My Dad says his neighbor grows all kinds of stuff and has never heard of the bug. I hope I did not waste my time and money. I read that the line goes east of the Rockies where this pest lives and breeds.
Now that I have done this thing I have to get the plants pollinated. Hand pollinating is going to be a chore for my elderly Dad because I assume he will have to lift the covers completely every two days or so which is kind of a pain because we have them pinned down pretty tight.
IS there an easier way to pollinate or can it be done less often? I'm afraid to take off the covers for a few hours in the mornings. If he leaves them off too long the vine borer MOTH may get in.
P.S. I have left one squash out of the cover this year for a control. Even if they don't have the squash vine borer moth in that area; they DO have squash bugs (stinkbugs?).
Any comments or suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks
-- Rita Garland, TX
7a-8b