Defeat squash vine borer in your garden with this super simple method!

In this video, I cover a super simple method to grow summer squash, all season long while avoiding one of the summer gardens worst pests: squash vine, borer. This is an update video from a previous technique that I uploaded a couple years ago. While that video does have, great points, I found my previous technique to be very time consuming. With this new technique it is a set it and forget it method that works every year. If you have any questions after watching the video, I’d love to hear them in the comments. Happy garden, everyone! - Peter
0:00 Intro
1:06 All about SVB
3:04 Types of squash susceptible
3:49 How to defeat SVB Step 1
6:03 How to defeat SVB Step 2
7:12 Outro

[@zachflynn6195]

This is definitely a good idea. My wife did not want netting in our front yard garden because it is so visible, so I have just let the two zucchini’s up there be. They definitely both have been attacked now. One of them was showing clear signs of struggling (the leaves drooping, especially in warmer weather). I decided to try out a tip that I learned from another KZbinr which was to immediately bury as much of the main stem as you reasonably can and keep it well watered. Interesting, the plant seems to have recovered (new rooting along the stem) and is still putting out new flowers and ripening new zucchini. Just thought I would share. It could also be worth trying. It’s tough to lose such a productive and large vegetable plant in the garden, even if you have back ups growing.

[@TheGardenFamily]

Good info Zach! I've tried many many methods for this. One problem with keeping the plants is allowing the larva to finish their life cycle (and getting more SVB next year). If you look at our older video on the topic I definitely spent more effort in the past to save the plants, this method is much more hands off (but requires more space and the tough decision of taking your big beautiful squash plants out!)

[@artieanderson604]

That is the neatest, most organized garden layout I have ever seen. I am completely impressed

[@TheGardenFamily]

Thank you very much! We spend a lot of time in there :)

[@michelleclanin6251]

Thanks so much… I’ve been fighting for years and loosing mine are producing female now zone 6A vandalia,oh. I’m sowing more seeds and hope for a later harvest as I inspect my current plants. Great tips glad I found your channel!!

[@TheGardenFamily]

@@michelleclanin6251 of course! They really are the worst but this strategy is the least labor intensive we have found to still get squash with no chemicals. Best of luck to you!

[@patriciaduffield2319]

Really like the information and presentation. I’m in Central Florida. Growing butternut squash at the moment. Pumpkins in the seed trays that have not come up yet. 🙏🏽

[@TheGardenFamily]

Thank you! Butternut is our favorite and resistant to SVB...pumpkins however... Best of luck!

[@TrehanCreekOutdoors]

First, thanks for posting such an informative video. I liked the data posted about timing of the infestations and control efforts. Very helpful. Second, your garden is SUPER NICE, particularly you raised beds. I would like to ask if you have a video showing how you constructed them. What type of wood did you use? Third, the t-posts and wire supports are really great ideas. I like the fact that they are all mounted on the exterior of the beds. Thanks for sharing such a great video!

[@TheGardenFamily]

Thank you very much! I see you found our video about the raised beds, I'll respond to your comment on there as well!

[@c.g.curtis9480]

EXCELLENT VIDEO.! ! ! Thank you.

[@TheGardenFamily]

You are welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@avelsgard78]

I've also had good luck with injecting BT into the stems. This season, I may spray BT on to the outside of the stems preemptively every few days and injecting only when/if I see the dreaded fras.

[@TheGardenFamily]

I have heard others with success doing that, so far it hasn’t worked for us but maybe we will try again this year!

[@CurlyQsgarden]

Great video and process!

[@TheGardenFamily]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to comment!

[@backyardbeautybrainsbirdsb4109]

They get in the dirt too :( pupate. But I’m in zone 8b. I have not grown yellow squash or zucchini in 4 years. I grow trombocino now. It is what it is. I don’t have room to do your method- maybe some day. I cover the bottom 8inches with the straw and that seems to help and encourage rooting in the trailing legs of the plant by providing to node naked soil.

[@TheGardenFamily]

Ugh, these are the worst for sure! With our method we actually take the plants out before the larva can mature since we have a backup plant. So far we have not seen them emerge from the ground underneath the net…best of luck this year!

[@avelsgard78]

I've had really good luck with cushaw also ❤

[@singspuccini2109]

Thank you for this very informative video. Where do you get your netting?

[@TheGardenFamily]

You’re welcome! We just get it on Amazon. We use 10x25’ size to cover our 4x12ft raised beds

[@dustyflats3832]

The borers can come up from the ground also. We bury a vine node and then do surgery when needed. Nothing else works.

[@TheGardenFamily]

This has worked for us. The main thing is to take the plant out early before the borers mature and burrow underground

[@dustyflats3832]

@@TheGardenFamily yes, there is such a thing as trying to time it just right, but we have a short growing season. I guess until there is a simple way we will keep doing what we have done as we tried everything. Glad it works for you.

[@bryannakvinda8411]

FYI saying east of the Mississippi makes it dound like western states dont deal with them as well like hear in Oklahoma

[@TheGardenFamily]

Good point, I should have said east of the Rocky Mountains. I’m originally from California and we did not have. Luckily for those who live there they are not along the West coast states

[@elainemcnabb2587]

I'm in south Ms

[@TheGardenFamily]

👍

[@guyfisher3144]

What is the fabric you are using? Central Ohio here...will use this

[@TheGardenFamily]

Hi Guy, it is a garden netting, we bought it on Amazon. For our 4x12ft raised beds I’ve found a 10x25ft piece works well to drape over the hoops

[@jeaniekeel7490]

I feel like all I’m doing is growing squash vine borers year after year.

[@TheGardenFamily]

Ugh, they are the worst!

[@elainemcnabb2587]

I have to many to hand take care of them

[@TheGardenFamily]

It can definitely be tough if you have a lot but a second set under cover should get you months of additional harvests!

[@oldporkchops]

Hi there, Thank you for sharing your 2.0 method. Have you tried trap cropping? I saw a video where amaranth was planted in close proximity to cucumber to trap the cucumber beetle, and my oh my, the amaranth was decimated (but still alive at the end of the season) and there were few or no bites on the cucumbers. The difference could not be starker. This amaranth trap crop method worked with the use of any pesticides. Apparently, according to this video, the Blue Hubbard Squash is a good trap crop. I personally wouldn't want to use the pesticides mentioned in the video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3LJq5erbLSNg9Efeature=shared

[@bryannakvinda8411]

Hand pollination is not that difficult or time consuming looks like alot of work has been done behind you for someone too lazy to hand polinate

[@TheGardenFamily]

This method is the most hands off and allows me to extract time to tend to the rest of my large vegetable garden and orchard. If hand pollinating works for you then definitely keep doing it!