On Thursday, July 10, 2014 5:46:31 PM UTC-4, Terry Coombs wrote:
Drew Lawson wrote:

In article

" writes:



That is great, you have a much bigger variety of things than I do.

I have been thinking about a fall crop but honestly I am not sure

I could take the disappointment. I have never really had any luck

with a second round of squash. SO I may just wait until later and

re plant some cabbage, lettuce and sugar peas. Question? Will the

borers stick around? The plants will all come out and I will re-till

the dirt but is that enough?



Squash vine borers are moth caterpillers, and the eggs are laid

directly on/in the vine. So if you are worrying about more of them

in the soil, that isn't a problem. Of course, they may still have

a nearby population, so there is no guarantee.



I don't grow much that is bothered by them (though I have some acorn

squash in this year), but the best thing I've heard is to use row

covers. If the adults can't get to the vines, they can't lay eggs

there.



Squash borers have a pupa that overwinters in the ground . To quote :"

Beginning in late June or early July, squash vine borer adults emerge from

cocoons in the ground. Squash vine borer adults are good fliers for moths

..."

Tilling helps destroy the coccoon , and is one method of control . Watch

the underside of the leaves for their eggs starting in late May/early June .

They'll be clusters of small orange/yellow balls that squish easily . Each

egg can potentially cost you a vine ... I was lucky this year , I never

found any eggs on my vines to destroy .

--

Snag

Again in anticipation of a banner year I tucked in sheets of black plastic last fall. I think, especially with the voles, it did way more harm than good. Won't be doing that again, I will deal with the extra weeds.
Thanks for all the sympathy and information everyone.
MJ