Viewing post #1235817 by WARYR1

I have never used BT but know of it.... I always just take a razor blade or my sharp mora and make a little slit over the borer area then use anything to pull those vine killers outta there! But just heard recently that if you go out at night and shine flashlight through back on the vines you can see where the lil critters are and just stick pins through them. That way you don't have to cut the poor vine. Never tried it but in theory it should work. I had a squash vine borer moth land right in front of me yesterday! GRRR the nerve of that thing Oh if you have to cut the vine make sure to cover the whole end and water well. Yeah might be too late to fix now but at least ya tried huh? If pumpkins are ok leave them on the vine till it shrivels up or they get ripe. Whichever comes 1st. Unless vine gets a disease which is entirely possible w/ vine damage. Next yr when babies have about 4 leaves or if you seeded them indoors when you transplant out... wrap as much of bottom as you can w/ tin foil fold it gentally around them so it will expand w/ vine grow. Don't crinkle it all up tight or it'll hurt your babies. bury the end that is closet to the ground w/ dirt. Others use floating row covers. I haven't had much luck w/ those. Like yesterday those moths can come and go in an instant and I found out even after being careful soon as I open it to hand pollinate the damn things swoop dwn like they've been plotting the attack for weeks also if you use row covers make sure you plant in area that never had squash/ pumpkins in it as the moths can hatch out under the covers. Someone said they wrap womens panty hose around the stem of the babies. I think i'll try that next yr. Seriously untill I moved to this house after I lost my farm is the 1st time I ever had vine borers. My councelor came up w/ a good reason he said "this is the 1st time in your life you don't have chickens!" Lightbulb moment for me! Our chickens were free range.