Remove dead plants and weeds, and keep your garden free of debris after harvest. You can also compost or till under all vegetation at the end of the season. Plant repellents Plant flowers and herbs that repel squash bugs, such as nasturtiums, catnip, marigolds, radishes, bee balm, and mint. Hand pick or crush Squash bugs can be crushed by hand or dropped into soapy water. You can also use a small vacuum to suck them up. Use insecticidal soap Spray squash bugs directly with soapy water to kill them. Use products Some products that are effective against squash bugs include cyhalothrin (Spectracide Triazicide) and cyfluthrin (Tomato and Vegetable Insect Killer). Grow vertically Growing cucurbit vines on a trellis makes it easier to hand pick or scout for squash bugs. Use beneficial insects Parasitoids like the tachinid fly can attack and kill squash bugs. The female fly lays eggs on the underside of squash bugs, and the larvae feed on and eventually kill the bug. Squash bugs damage plants by sucking sap from their leaves, stems, and young fruits. Older plants can usually recover, but younger plants can be severely damaged or die.
Oh wow. 2023 i had a lot of marigolds and no squash bugs anywhere. 2024 my marigold never took hold and I had so many squash bugs I ended up with no zucchini or acorn squash. Well I'll make sure to get my marigolds scattered sooner and more thickly.
If you have a lot of space, plant in an area that had no cucurbits the previous year. Since squash bugs fly, the new garden spot needs to be hundreds of feet away. The other thing that works for me, is to plant late. It's warm enough to plant on May 1st, but I don't plant squash until June. That's because squash bugs wake up in April, and can't find anything to eat in my garden, and so, they go elsewhere. Four TBSP Ivory dish soap per gallon will kill nearly any bug, if you want to spray them. (Hose the soap off the plants a few minutes after spraying.)
I subscribed to small sprouts for my backyard garden in a suburb north of Atlanta- I am so excited to receive the first box because most of my struggle is timing. I am a big fan of Hoss seeds-they usually do better for me than others.
if my garden is 20x50 would i say its a 1000sqft garden, or just add up the the growable area, like actual space in raised beds? 15x (4x10)bed = 600 sqft
My garden is 1500 sq feet. I count the pathways, the tool and potting supply shed, the pergola. It's all my garden. My plantable area is around 800 square feet within that 1500.
You're the man Hoss! 💪
I hope your doing well man. Stay warm.
Thanks, you too!
Any good ideas for getting squash bugs under control?
Remove dead plants and weeds, and keep your garden free of debris after harvest. You can also compost or till under all vegetation at the end of the season.
Plant repellents
Plant flowers and herbs that repel squash bugs, such as nasturtiums, catnip, marigolds, radishes, bee balm, and mint.
Hand pick or crush
Squash bugs can be crushed by hand or dropped into soapy water. You can also use a small vacuum to suck them up.
Use insecticidal soap
Spray squash bugs directly with soapy water to kill them.
Use products
Some products that are effective against squash bugs include cyhalothrin (Spectracide Triazicide) and cyfluthrin (Tomato and Vegetable Insect Killer).
Grow vertically
Growing cucurbit vines on a trellis makes it easier to hand pick or scout for squash bugs.
Use beneficial insects
Parasitoids like the tachinid fly can attack and kill squash bugs. The female fly lays eggs on the underside of squash bugs, and the larvae feed on and eventually kill the bug.
Squash bugs damage plants by sucking sap from their leaves, stems, and young fruits. Older plants can usually recover, but younger plants can be severely damaged or die.
Oh wow. 2023 i had a lot of marigolds and no squash bugs anywhere. 2024 my marigold never took hold and I had so many squash bugs I ended up with no zucchini or acorn squash. Well I'll make sure to get my marigolds scattered sooner and more thickly.
If you have a lot of space, plant in an area that had no cucurbits the previous year. Since squash bugs fly, the new garden spot needs to be hundreds of feet away. The other thing that works for me, is to plant late. It's warm enough to plant on May 1st, but I don't plant squash until June. That's because squash bugs wake up in April, and can't find anything to eat in my garden, and so, they go elsewhere. Four TBSP Ivory dish soap per gallon will kill nearly any bug, if you want to spray them. (Hose the soap off the plants a few minutes after spraying.)
I subscribed to small sprouts for my backyard garden in a suburb north of Atlanta- I am so excited to receive the first box because most of my struggle is timing. I am a big fan of Hoss seeds-they usually do better for me than others.
That is great to hear. Timing is key!
Thank you ! I’m getting mine here in Alabama!!
Awesome!
if my garden is 20x50 would i say its a 1000sqft garden, or just add up the the growable area, like actual space in raised beds? 15x (4x10)bed = 600 sqft
My garden is 1500 sq feet. I count the pathways, the tool and potting supply shed, the pergola. It's all my garden. My plantable area is around 800 square feet within that 1500.
I would go with: total area . 20 x 50 =1000sq ft. Greg