How to Outsmart the Squash Borer
About This Resource
The dreaded squash borer doesn’t have to squash your summer cucurbits. Overcome this fearsome foe with one of these tested techniques. Image by Nick Collins from Pixabay How to Outsmart the Squash Borer Do you grow summer squash. Do your plants go crazy and produce so much squash that you run out of friends and neighbors willing to take any more excess squash off your hands. If so, you do not need to worry your pretty little head over this painful tale. In fact, stop reading now, lest you have horrible nightmares. Dig up your recipe for Zucchini Surprise, and go in peace. The rest of us, however, must face off with the notorious squash borer (a. squash vine borer and zucchini vine borer). This nemesis drives the gentle backyard gardener to become a warring desperado every spring in the battlefields of the Borer Wars. We must reach deep to discover just how much abuse we are willing to take in the name of those delicate, hard-won trophies—summer squash.
Key takeaways
What to know before you act on this, from the SteadScape editors.
- Monitor your squash plants weekly for signs of squash borers, especially in late spring to early summer when they are most active.
- Apply a layer of mulch around your squash plants to help deter borers and retain soil moisture, ideally 2 to 4 inches thick.
- Use row covers to protect young squash plants from borers, removing them once plants begin to flower, typically 2 to 3 weeks after planting.
- Best for
- Beginner gardeners growing summer squash; plan pest management in late spring.
- Pairs with
- Garden Planner for your zone and frost dates.
Source Information
Summary and key takeaways written by SteadScape. How we choose resources
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