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Location

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Date Posted

North Ga

Does anyone know if squash bugs, svb's, or any other nemeses has a natural predator that can be introduced into the patch?

1/7/2002 4:46:17 PM

No Place Special

Praying mantus (sp?) maybe. I experamented with one this fall, and she ate everything she could catch. You can buy egg clusters from Gurneys gardening catalog. The female I had in a terarieum left me a cluster before she died. Im going to put it in my patch.

Mike

1/7/2002 4:51:14 PM

Ga.

Cool,,we got some dem critters,,aint dat right pappy...We do here anyways.....

1/7/2002 8:01:20 PM

walton n.y.

another place to get beneficial insects is www.gardensalive.com they also have lots of other organic stuff as well

1/7/2002 8:01:38 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

Nematodes for svb's

1/8/2002 8:31:47 AM

Western Pa.

Pappy,

I consider myself a "natural predator" against these nemeses! I have heard that growing tansy will repel and discourage cuke beetles, but I didn't have much luck when I tried growing tansy, so I can't concur on how well it works. My experience shows that squash bugs like to hide and nest under refuse, so keeping a clean patch may help to limit them. You may have to consider going "unnatural!"

kilr

1/8/2002 9:51:13 AM

Choctaw, OK

tansy's you say kilr?? where did you hear that?? that is interesting. i did not have many cuke beatles last year, not sure why.....the only things surrounding my patch are oak trees, raspberries, and some plants like lillies, iris's, and gaillardias...stuff like that.....oh, and some giant sunflowers.......are tansy's related to pansy's?? serious question. lol

casey

1/8/2002 1:19:35 PM

Western Pa.

I have found that after several years of growing cucurbits, you usually "build up" a population of cuke beetles. I'm hoping use of systemics last season will reverse this.I can't remember exactly where I heard it, but tansy is a bitter herb(not related to pansy). Jack Daniels used to add a little to his sour mash for a little "nightcap". I think the bitterness is what's supposed to keep them away. I tried planting a row along the main patch, but for some reason, it never germinated.For those "organics" out there, it might be worth a try!

kilr

1/9/2002 9:14:26 AM

canal winchester ohio

Kilr,
Stick with the systamatic types. I love it, the only problem is if you don't remove all the males that you don't need. The next day there are a lot of dead bees laying around. The first year I tried them & didn't remove the extras at about the 2nd week of blooming there NEVER was a bee in my patch.........Mabye I should have removed the dead ones........lol........Paul

1/9/2002 9:35:09 AM

Tipp City, Ohio

With the systamatic systems, is it true you can not eat the fruit? Not that I would want to eat an AG but I also would not want to feed it to other animals like my chickens and goats....Tom

1/9/2002 10:07:08 AM

canal winchester ohio

You DO NOT eat the fruit , nor the seeds. And if you have kids be very careful. I surround my patch with a 3' high fabric to keep the kids out. They could break it down very easily but they know better.
On a funny note, my 7 year old had a friend in the back yard this past summer & his friend was playing to close to the patch, My boy told him to play a little futher from the patch. The kid said "why" & my boy told him that if a ball goes in the patch he might not have a fruit to take to the show & his dream is to ride on top of the pumpkin in the back of the truck straight down the middle of town "waiving at the carnies" going to the scales. He's done it once on my last one ( I'll post a picture today) .
Needless to say , my boys understand the "way of the pumpkin"...........Paul

1/9/2002 11:10:35 AM

Tipp City, Ohio

Paul and others who have used the systamatic approach,
How effective is this system? Any poor results in using it?
Just collecting information and getting insight from the pros on this site...Tom

1/9/2002 8:13:36 PM

canal winchester ohio

Hey Tom,
First off I'm a LOOOOOONNNNGG way from being a "pro"
but I can tell you it is very effective.........Paul

1/9/2002 8:25:34 PM