Market Farming

[Joan Vibert <joan AT windwalker-farm.com>]

I think Alex's answer is probably the only solution to squash bugs, not the
vine-borers.  I have through the years tried to be diligent enough to remove
the eggs as I found them but enough always slip by to produce enough nymphs
to devour the plants anyway.  Last year I had a guy who stayed with us for a
month who every morning checked the squash plants and would spray the new
hatchings with a soap spray and it was successful until he left and I didn't
get to follow up.  The only other suggestions I might have are to move the
location of your plants but that needs to be a minimum of probably 500 feet
or more.  We have had good luck doing that.  Also, one year I had one hen
who figured out how to get into one of the fenced gardens and she did a
great job of eating the squash bugs, I don't believe the plants ever died
until frost that year.  Unfortunately I don't have the ability to just put
one hen in right now but its worth a try.

joan
windwalker farm
ottawa, kansas