Need a squash bug solution that REALLY works for 2012 gardening

[seedcorn]

agree Bt does work great on corn borer. Why 3 different companies put it into the genes of field corn.

back to subject at hand, good luck w/squash bugs.

 

[Kassaundra]

Rat tail radish are grown on vines and you don't eat the root, but the pods that develop, this coming year will be my first year to grow them so I don't know how they taste yet. They grow in the warm weather unlike regular radish. When I first posted I thought I remembered that they were helpful in controlling the squash (stink type) bugs, but after looking again it seems they are for the vine borers.

 

[catjac1975]

agree Bt does work great on corn borer. Why 3 different companies put it into the genes of field corn.

back to subject at hand, good luck w/squash bugs.

Yuck!

 

[ducks4you]

Rat tail radish are grown on vines and you don't eat the root, but the pods that develop, this coming year will be my first year to grow them so I don't know how they taste yet. They grow in the warm weather unlike regular radish. When I first posted I thought I remembered that they were helpful in controlling the squash (stink type) bugs, but after looking again it seems they are for the vine borers.

Thanks! That's okay--I get them, too.

 

[The Mama Chicken]

agree Bt does work great on corn borer. Why 3 different companies put it into the genes of field corn.

back to subject at hand, good luck w/squash bugs.

Yuck!

I agree, yuck! If I need to use Bt I will just use it, I don't want ANY genes in my veggies that have to be inserted in a lab.

 

[ducks4you]

I sure appreciate ALL of your ideas. Thanks! Anybody else?

 

[catjac1975]

agree Bt does work great on corn borer. Why 3 different companies put it into the genes of field corn.

back to subject at hand, good luck w/squash bugs.

Yuck!

I agree, yuck! If I need to use Bt I will just use it, I don't want ANY genes in my veggies that have to be inserted in a lab.

And it takes so little BT to do it's job.

 

[ducks4you]

SO GREAT to be able to ask for help from you all!!
This makes MORE work this year than I'd thought, but this mild winter has allowed for digging, so I'm off and running on my plans to rid myself of the awful squash bug invasion. I have 5 acres to work with, so I'm not without resources, thankfully. Here's my plan:
1) Dig out the top 8 inches of my beds that had squash bugs last year. 2 are raised beds and 4 were sweet corn/squash beds
These are two of the culpret beds, pictures from 2010~

2) Transport said dirt to the NW corner of my 3 acre North (horse) pasture, where I need to fill in ruts from my 2008 fencing job (It's been impossible to run the mower there, and THIS will help it)
3) Dig dirt from previous manure piles in horse's turnout for the beds and till under used stall bedding in all of these beds.
4) Establish ALL natural predators
JUST saw a Garden Smart program about predatory insects. Sorry, couldn't find the link.
I'm buying THIS book this Spring:
http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Garde...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330362532&sr=1-2
...more stuff to read~
http://www.gardensmart.com/?p=articles&title=Natural_Insect_and_Disease_Control

 

[lesa]

According to the research I did on this subject, the cocoon type larva are about 2 inches down in the soil... so your 8 inches may be over kill. I also just saw someone claim that collars (like toilet paper rolls, etc.) have cured their vine borer problems. Not sure if I believe it, but it is free and easy, so I will be trying it!

 

[nachoqtpie]

So... I'm reading this book called Organic Pest Control For Home & Garden (Amazon link ) and it says that for companion planting that if you plant marigold or radish that it will help keep the Squash bugs away. I figure at this point, I will try anything to keep from using pesticides in my garden! I've already ordered marigold seeds, got 200 seeds from Baker Creek for $1.75, so I'll be mixing them in with a few of my beds this year!

Make sure you get marigolds with the strong odor. Some have no smell-useless.

This is what we bought. Do you think it will be enough?