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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Zucchini problem

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  • From: "William H Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Zucchini problem
  • Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:25:44 -0500

Cucumber beetle feeds on plant tissue, so when the plant is small, you need to keep them from killing the plant directly. But the beetle also carries a bacterium in its gut that causes bacterial wilt of cukes and melons. So as the insect defecates, the bacterium moves into the wounds and colonizes the plant’s vascular system. Over time, the colony gets so big it clogs up the vascular system, causing the wilt.

 

If you can prevent the insect from colonizing the plant early, you can delay onset of the wilt. So the key, if you can’t use insecticides to kill the bug or want to avoid hurting the bees, is to exclude the insect. Spun-bonded poly row covers will do the job. The crops love them anyway. They thrive in the heat, so plant the crops and cover immediately with the row cover. Leave the covers on until the start to flower. At that point, you need the bees, so you let them reach the crops. The beetle may show up too, but by the time they start feeding, transmit bacteria and bacterial colonies build up, you’ll have a crop. Melons may still be a bit risky because of the time period for fruit development, but plastic mulch can accelerate that process.

 

That’s the only system I know without conventional insecticides. If you use them, it becomes easier. But that robs you of some market opportunities too. I think the row covers are a good choice, especially with cucumbers. Though they are costly, if you handle them well you can re-use them. And if you do a good job growing the cukes, they’ll pay for the covers.

 

Bill

William H. Shoemaker

Sr. Research Specialist, Food Crops

University of Illinois - Crop Sciences

St Charles Horticulture Research Center

535 Randall Road, St Charles, IL, 60174

630-584-7254, FAX-584-4610

wshoemak AT illinois.edu


From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of MAsteveINE
Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 7:25 AM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Zucchini problem

 

 


If you don't provide honeybees, you may be cheating yourself out of crop
potential.

 

333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

 

Whats the key to accomodating the honey bee and still saving the crop from the striped cucumber beetle.

 

Few bees(all bumble)  here so the parthenocarpic (seedless) cukes work best for me,

 

MAsteveINE




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