Best spray to prevent squash vine borers.

I've planted yellow squash, zucchini, or pumpkins for the past several years and have always had plants attacked by squash vine borers! I've tried wrapping the base of the plants, I've tried spraying with a vanilla extract mix, I've tried digging the little critters out and replanting the plants. My heart isn't a fan of pesticides. But my heart is starting to change when it comes to these little critters! This year, I just want some magic spray to take away this problem!!! Anybody have a tried and true (seriously, something you've actually had success with) solution to squash vine borers? Has Sevin worked for you? Or neems oil? Something else? What actually works? I don't want to waste time and money (and squash) getting this wrong this year!

i hear people all the time say that using row covers for their squash plants has always been a good method. of course it would mean hand pollinating since no bees or other good bug could get in, but then again none of the bad ones can get in either.

Sweetie,
The day that spray is invented, someone is gonna be one mega-rich gardener, LOL!

Throw some cheap tulle (bridal veil fabric) over the seedlings. The moths won't easily get to the base of the plants to lay the eggs.

It won't stop them completely, but, it'll give you a fighting chance to have some ripen before they kill all your vines.

Hugs.

P.S. Talk with 1lisac about the tulle. She uses this method with good success. I think she also plants a second crop, so, while the SVB is attacking the first crop, the second one gets a chance before the 2nd egg-laying cycle -- uh, you did know there was more than one wave of egg-laying, right? LOL!

Hugs!

It is available if you are growing acres of squash and are willing and able to take classes in proper use of pesticides. For a few plants in a home garden, row covers and hand pollination is the most effective.

I don't have to plant a second batch when I use tulle. I get enough squash if I use the tulle. I cover them from the very beginning when I first direct sow the seeds. For some reason I've only had trouble with them on Zuch and Yellow squash never on pumpkins or vining squash. The only thing I can figure is that I plant these later in the season. You can get an entire bolt of tulle for super cheap.

Several years ago, I read about planting white icicle radishes amongst the squash and zukes. So I did and it has worked for me every year since. My sister says it doesn't work for her, but it does for me. You could give it a try and see if it works for you.

Actually I left some of my radishes plant in between my squash this year too ... let see if this will work in my area.

I grew some huge radishes almost as big as my palm, but something bore into it and ate both the internal of radish and the stem, made me very upset. I went to buy some beneficial nematodes and apply around my radish and brocolli after that. I hope that will help prevent some of the grubs and borers.