squash vine borer

13 years ago

How long does the squash vine borer live in your garden soil?? I started another garden (real small) in a different area. Next year I would like to go back to my original garden and plant squash & cucumbers. I'm hoping the borer left. Would appreciate your help & thanks in advance.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

chervil2
13 years ago
My experience has taught me that they survive well. I have given up and support my local farmer with buying my cukes and summer squash.
ghoghunter
13 years ago
You can plant rhumbo pumpkins and other winter squash types. They are immune to the borer. You can also cover your squash with floating row covers but then you must remove them when its time for polination. The SVB are evil in my area. Good luck with whatever you chose to do.
Joann
Related Professionals
Williamsburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Reno Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Birmingham Landscape Contractors · DeRidder Landscape Contractors · Cedar Rapids Landscape Contractors · Barnstable Landscape Contractors · Grand Rapids Landscape Contractors · Flagstaff Landscape Contractors · Lake Havasu City Landscape Contractors · Springfield Accessory Dwelling Units · Jackson Accessory Dwelling Units · Middletown Accessory Dwelling Units · Springfield Accessory Dwelling Units · Sioux Falls Accessory Dwelling Units · Modesto Accessory Dwelling Units
digdirt2
13 years ago
SVB has a life cycle that is actually rather short so in warmer climates one can see 2 or even 3 life cycles in a season. In your zone you may only have one.

But even then the larvae/pupa are only in the soil for a brief period and they do no damage while there. They aren't the problem. The moths are. Even if you have never had SVB in your garden the moths that emerged elsewhere can fly into your garden and lay their eggs.

Preventing the moths from access to the plants to lay eggs is the goal.

Dave
njurbanfarmer
13 years ago
Hi guys...new to the forum and had to look up info about SVB as well....I had a bad season with them killing all my differnet Zucchini plants fairly quickly. My one major mistake I think, was getting them in the ground too early in the season-May. I live in NJ Metro (MYC Area) Zone 7.

This was the first season I tried growing them and I sure learned alot! I tried looking for frass, holes from the borer almost daily yet I was unsuccessful apparently. I even tried slicing the vines once I noticed symptoms to catch the borer but I could never find him! After speaking with a Master Gardener from Rutgers and tons of reading up on it, I think Ill try succession planting with row covers for first half and only remove for pollinating and then do the second planting after July 1st as suggested by MG. I tried all kinds of insect. soaps, DE, and even lots of yellow sticky tapes but wasnt lucky in cathing moths...just a small challenge till next year! BTW, I also hear the larva eggs in soil overwinter. This was a new raised bed with new compost soil, amendments etc so I know that wasnt the case. I read spraying Nematodes now and then in early spring along with tilling or flipping soil at same time will help kill the suckers before they emerge and kill plants.

This post was edited by NJUrbanFarmer on Tue, Oct 1, 13 at 14:59