I look every day but I can never see those SVB eggs. Yet I know they were there because the plants get borers.
Drowning in summer squash
I found eggs! Little brown dots like sesame seeds.
Oh get rid of those ASAP! You don't want them hatching.
I'm finally getting a few late-planted summer squash. They are lemon squash heirlooms (lemon only in shape) from Baker Creek. I saved the seeds from a few overgrown lemon squash last year.
http://www.rareseeds.com/lemon-squash/
I have most of them covered in tulle but the covering isn't perfect. The tulle was cheap but just 54" wide. 72" wide would have been a LOT better.
Darius, is lemon squash a bush or a vine type? I didn't see that info on the link you sent.
Another thought about dealing with squash bugs. If you plant bush varieties of summer squash, when one leaf wilts you know to inject Spinosad in the crown. You don't have to worry about where the borer may actually be. That injection should work for invaders of other leaves. And the first appearance won't have killed off any squash. Well.... if you watch carefully. My borer caused a whole chunk of the crown to fall off, but the Spinosad saved the rest of the plant.
LAS, it's a bush type, like regular summer squash.
Great. I'm putting it on my 2014 shopping list. I had a thinko there. Or maybe I was never sure... Is it true that there are no vining summer squash, unlike cucumbers that come in both forms?
Technically I think the summer squash is always a bush. But there is pondocino (or something like that) which is a vining winter squash but if you pick when it's small it tastes and cooks like summer squash. But I have to remember the name, its not pondicino...it's...um, senior moment...it'll come to me...
Most young winter squash can be used like fresh summer squash.
Tromboncino
Zucchini I am growing.
Caserta, Green Tiger, Cavilli, Elite and a no name green zuc.
And Golden Egg yellow summer squash.
My ONE squash plant in the Earthbox has died a horrible death. I lifted it, and the bottom is teeming with ants...don't know what that's all about...I wasn't brave enough to poke around for evidence of any squash vine borers...
I ate one zucchini...and it was good!
Gymgirl, how sad. You need more squash plants!
Linda, I'd be happy to send you seeds from this monster cushaw, but beware! It grows...and grows...and grows....it was from Baker Creek, listed as "Mrs. Aquilard's Cushaw", and lawdybe, it's impressed me. A few side-vines and leaves have been lost to SVB, but it just grows another vine where the old one left off.
Bonus: the leaves have been shading my roses, beans, and nasturtiums. Nasturtiums! In August!
Here's a view from above, and that's just HALF the growth. It's growing 50+ feet into the alleyway on the other side. That's my neighbor's garage with the red roof, which fits two cars end to end, so if that helps give you a scale! I've also cut it back several times, but it has crawled all over the ENTIRE veggie bed.
Also, a view of how the resulting cushaw looks inside - this one was young, but it was growing in the power lines. Just ate a slice raw, and it tastes clean, with a bit of a garlicky note, but very tender and not overly flavorful, so I think it'll loan itself well to either sweet or salty. I'm grilling it tonight in a tin-foil wrap with olive oil, garlic, butter, and those peppers.
For the southerners, I also got a two-pound slab of fatback from a local farmer, so some cracklins might find their way into the veggies.
I am re-thinking that, Rita.
When I peeled my one zuke, I kept eyeballing it for a rogue SVB larva! That was not a very comforting thought as I was cutting it up for my salad, LOL! I saw no evidence of any holes when I picked it, but I sure kept on looking... I almost wanted to put the individual slices under a magnifying glass just in case I missed anything, then realized I could not live my life that way, LOL!
I'll grow many more zukes next season. And they will DEFINITELY be under a hoop covered with tulle!
Linda
Nola,
Why does "Mrs. Aquilard"s" Cushaw remind me so much of the "50 Foot Woman?" LOLOL!
"The Cushaw That Ate New Orleans!!" LOL!!
I don't have that much space in my yard, and my neighbors would turn me in if it went through their fences, LOL!
Thanks for the offer, you're a sweetie. But, I'll work with something I can tame. BTW, how much Cushaw have you harvested?
Gymgirl, not to worry. I have had some of my zucchini have borers into them. You can tell right away. The holes are easily seen. So if the zuc is nice before you slice it, you are not going to be finding any nasty surprises.
Fortunately this happens rarely and I just bag those fruits. Don't even put them in the compost. Don't want to intentionally grow any borers.
This is my first year growing zucchini and yellow squash. Certainly going to be growing them again next year.
Linda, and you know how tough the soil is here by Bayou St. John. I'd be actually drowning if the soil would stay still!
So far, I've harvested 2, but it's technically a winter veg - so they ought to get bigger and add on more female flowers. It's also been hot and oddly dry here for a few weeks until yesterday, but now there's those two storms giving us the side-eye, so I won't complain.
NOLA,
My family home is on Ursulines Avenue, one block off N. Broad...We're practically related!
Next time I come home, we'll have to go sit at Angelo Brocato's for cafe au lait and canoli.
I love Brocato's! It's a deal. I'm sure I'll still have plenty of squash, too. :)
From top to bottom, Golden Egg yellow squash, no id green zucchini, Elite zucchini and Cavilli Zucchini.
Yellow Squash Golden Egg and Caserta Zucchini.
I am getting frustrated with all the summer squash. As if that ratty powdery mildew was not bad enough they just aren't producing squash. Covered and covered in male blossoms so that it is a very big deal when a female blossom appears. All these plants are all different ages in that I have started seed and new plants at various times during the summer. Just want them to put out the female blossoms already again.
Looks like this thread is giving LOTS more info. than what to do with extra squash! Love IT!
But I have to share this intriguing idea I found on Pinterest. I have yet to try it... but I will very soon.
It is a step by step on how to turn your extras into canned pineapple. Yes you have to buy pineapple juice... but I just think the idea of turning the one into the other is pretty neat. http://cottageinthemaking.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/what-to-do-with-those-giant-zucchini.html
Last year I found a recipe to turn green tomatoes (end of season leftovers) into strawberry freezer jam using strawberry jello! It was awesome. Kids could not tell the difference! Neither could my husband who HATES tomatoes. But he was keen enough to ask where I had found all the strawberries... since I don't grow them. Now he wont eat it! His loss. Its definitely cheaper than buying the stuff in the store..
Ps... I just found my first squash bugs ever on pumpkins. Thanks for the info. on how to fight them..
Can't wait to try that recipe!
I grew exactly ONE zucchini this season before my ONE plant was taken out by the SVB, but, I'm a believer in the Farmer's market, so I'll be heading there to get some zukes!
My ONE zucchini plant has hidden 2 overgrown squash from me (they are now sitting out on the porch), and I may just try this recipe for them. Usually if I find an overlooked zuke, I cut them in half, remove the seeds and stuff them with a meat/tomato filling and bake, but this recipe would put something on the pantry shelves to use all winter.
My cushaw has now put out 3 fruits as big as my head. And I have a big head!
It's had its fair share of SVB and others taking it down, but after a long watering and some trimming back, it put out a bunch of new blooms this morning. All male blossoms, but I'll bet some new ladies come around in a few weeks.