Early Signs of Squash Vine Borer?

Here's a night pic of my pumpkin (mini) patch! Two mystery squash in the background (which are some type of yellow or white pumpkin) and one "real" pumpkin (Howden I would presume.)

Looking back, I managed to stave-off the SVB much better than I thought, but they still decimated the base of each vine. If these vines weren't so resilient by growing roots elsewhere along the vine, then I would have been doomed. I've learned that, amongst other things, I really need to figure out how to keep pests from devouring the foliage. Looks pretty bad, huh? Grrrr.

Sunday evening my wife, 3 year old daughter, and my 1 year old boy will hang-out in the pumpkin patch for a few minutes and enjoy the October atmosphere. It will be great. We could stay longer but I would need to do something about the mosquitoes, they're terrible!!! Then, we will harvest the Howden. Next year I hope to be more successful in terms of production.

Here's a close-up of my pumpkin with some "shades" for perspective. It's not very big, maybe 8-10" long.

There's actually lot's more foliage in the pumpkin patch, it's just to the left of the previous pic and out of view. The bugs just haven't gotten to those leaves, yet. Anyway, the kids will most likely enjoy it.

This pumpkin had lots of green worms on it but I managed to clear them off. Hopefully none of them managed to burrow all of the way through but we'll see. The surface damage seemed superficial.

This message was edited Oct 16, 2009 7:32 PM

Those bare bones leaves are incredible. I haven't had anything going for my squash leaves. I'm surprised because I thought I had everything that exists out there. My experience is just like yours, the running squash are the only ones that had a chance this year. I harvested 5 delicatas which are my first. I tried one and it tasted almost like a sweet potato. They'll be back next year for sure.

I had some gorgeous green beans and some caterpillar I'd never seen before just decimated the leaves. Then those green puff-ball looking ones started boring into what few beans there were. This is the absolute worst year ever for pestilence.

you have orange pumpkins for the little ones in october. I'd call that a success. :o)

jack frost is here to stay in the midwest. it's going to be a loooong six months.

I wish I knew this "Jack Frost" you speak of. The grass is always greener on the other side I suppose. Enjoy.

Twiggy- those bare bones leaves in the pic were all so green and lush for a long time. And big, I had no idea how large squash vine leaves could get! Then the pests started munching on them and, well, you know the rest.

My season is almost over but it was great. I will need to spend some time trying to ID these little buggers so I can be prepared next year.

Jack Frost takes care of those skeeters at any rate. They were particularly bad this summer, and it was a huge relief when the temperatures dropped and wiped them out.

I encountered a tree borer wash recipe in Fedco's Tree catalog that I'm going to try on my squash next season. Even if it doesn't prevent penetration, it'll help considerably with identifying/locating the holes. Basically it's a mix of white interior latex paint & joint compound, which should be thick, but not overly so.

I'm a little concerned that since it's intended for trees that it may be too harsh & damage green vines, so I'm going to put in an experimental squash plot with the seeds that I've saved and try it on those first.

Nice pumpkins there John. Good luck identifying that destructive bug.

Went out to the patch this morning with my daughter and found a bunch of bugs. I ran back to the house to get the camera and managed to take this pic! These are the little buggers!!!!

Here are two more pests. Wish I had a better camera so please pardon the quality of the photos.

You want to get rid of those guys!

Already done...

At least the ones in the pics. Unfortunately, I do not have any more time today to seek-and-destroy.

This message was edited Oct 17, 2009 11:04 AM

I don't recognize those in the second photo so I'd say they are the prime suspect for eating leaves.

Those in the first photo are everywhere here. They only suck the juices out of things which renders the vegs ugly and unpalatable. They've been horrendous on my tomatoes and peppers.

I got some Garden Safe 3 in 1 that will take care of them. It's an organic fungicide, insecticide and miticide. It has neem and pyrethrins in it and I got it at Walmart or Lowes. Can't remember which.

I haven't used it much this year on account of rain every day, but last year it worked well. You have to spray every 5 days or so. For just a few plants you can use a spray bottle.

Garden Safe 3 in 1, huh? Thanks for the tip, I'll try it. Yeah, the bugs in the 1st pic are everywhere here, too. They're a nuisance. I hear you on the rain, too, at least the rain we're received recently. This October has been the wettest (and most humid) I can remember in a long time, though we didn't have a drop of rain from mid-May - the end of June. I guess you just have to resort to hand-to-hand combat when it rains alot since the bug sprays will wash away.

Well, I gave up in the fight with the SVBs on 4 of my pumpkin plants today. The pumpkins weren't growing and I could really tell that the vines weren't getting the nutrition they needed. I still have 2 going and they both have 1 fruit on them. I'm praying they make it through to maturity. I did cut off the two small fruits that weren't growing and will use them as fall decorations. I don't think I can use them for anything to eat, though, can I?

Today's harvest

Nice peppers!