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Pests, Diseases and Other Problems

Subject:  Vine borers in secondaries

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KaliMa

Albany, NY

So about 3 days ago I surgically removed 6 mature borers from the main vine and 2 from secondaries. I have since removed several newly hatched ones from stems and a few in secondaries. I’ve had to remove about 4 secondaries that just couldn’t be saved. All damage is below the pumpkin. The main vine seems to be recovering well, and pumpkin is growing, though more slowly than before. My question is: should I remove the secondaries that show any damage or evidence of borers? Doing so would mean pretty extensive defoliation, but the secondaries after the pumpkin are unaffected (so far). The problem I’m having is that because the secondaries are more brittle, surgery on secondaries just doesn’t seem to be too successful, and I end up having to remove the vine. A few times I have seen evidence of borers, removed the secondary, and then found nothing. Not sure if they left already or what, but it makes me doubt whether I should keep digging around for them or just let them be. If they are in secondaries, will they move to the main? Is there any real risk in waiting to see if the secondaries live or die on their own? What’s the best thing to do at this point?

7/28/2019 3:13:18 PM

Orangeneck (Team HAMMER)

Eastern Pennsylvania

No risk in leaving the secondary vines. The borer larvae do not translocate to other areas of the plant. They stay where the female lays the eggs. Vines only need to be removed once you decide they are useless for production and are just rotting.

7/29/2019 9:41:18 PM

Rick j.

stoughton WI

Orangeneck, 8m not so sure they dont translocate. I found one crawling towatds my kin a couple years back, photo in my diary.

7/30/2019 1:25:37 PM

Orangeneck (Team HAMMER)

Eastern Pennsylvania

Good to know rick. Thanks for the heads up!

7/30/2019 3:50:00 PM

KaliMa

Albany, NY

Ok, thanks for the replies. I’ve had to remove most of the infected vines because they were just so damaged. I hate these things so much. The plant is still alive, and a new vine is starting to grow near the stump. I’m hopeful that means it’s on the mend. It won’t be a very big pumpkin, but maybe I can at least keep it alive.

8/2/2019 4:06:27 PM

Total Posts: 5 Current Server Time: 3/28/2024 2:17:27 PM
 
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