squash vine borer doesn't stand a chance against this | growing squash in the south
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
- All of my trials and tribulations while trying to grow squash and pumpkins. I may never be able to grow my cinderella pumpkin, but at least I finally found a way to grow other pumpkins and squash that are just as beautiful! Let me know what varieties you love to grow in the comments.
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I started having issues with squash borer and did not want to spray stuff either. I read that that they did not like the long white radishes, so I threw a bunch of radish seeds in the bed that I was going to plant my pumpkins. by the time my pumpkins were growing, the radishes had grown up pretty good. I did not get borers, and the particular variety I grew (white icicle) loves to reseed itself.
WOW! Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for the info. I had a pack of icicle radish I didn’t know whether to plant or not and this was a deal sealer
Also the seed pods from the radishes are delicious.
I just started gardening last year. My thought was to be “all natural”, and if some pest took some of my yield, it’s just “nature.” I didn’t know how maddening pest are, and we have ALL of them in Texas! 😡
There are some pests you can use nature to combat, but it does get challenging at times. Especially with SVB! But I find that choosing the right varieties really do help!
I let aphids and things that come and go seasonally... But then you have invasives and things like vegetarian ladybugs, Japanese beetles, or flea beetles, which will just eat and eat and eat and eat until your plants are all gone, and nothing keeps them in check... Except us... 😭
I have been gardening on and off since my dad had me out there as a toddler. I'm 65. Non gardeners always ask me if I garden organic...I say, not if I want to eat. Thing is, I am MOSTLY organic. But I learned to pick my battles. And I am the one who knows what I have used. Got to any restaurant or grocery store....probably there are more pesticides used in that food than any of my vegetables.
The vibe borer kills the entire plant
Every region sure has its unique characteristics. No squash vine borer here, but we have a much shorter growing season - so you can envy my zucchini, while I envy your longer season! 😀
This is true. I do love my longer growing season, but it comes with a hefty price! lol
It’s hard to grow squash in a long season if they kill every plant. They are terrible
This is my 4th yr here trying to win the borer battle. I tried the bt, even some sprays but the borer would win. I heard they don’t like aromatic herbs so this yr I added basil & rosemary near them. Also, I had some cedar shavings for pet cages and I mulched with that. So far, the squash are still healthy. I will report back.
Hi Meg, I share your 'passion' for the SVB! I have hit the wall with them. I had a HUGE problem when I went vertical with squash - it increased all the surface area for the SVB. I was injecting BT and making surgical cuts like a madwoman! This year I have delayed planting squash - hoping a few months would help. Now that you mention SVB hesitant seeds I'm literally smacking my forehead! THANKS for sharing your frustration and resolve to find a way to grow your pumpkins (super cute) and squash.
You should totally try the Seminole pumpkin then! I grew it vertically and they never touched it. I almost wonder if there is something different about it chemically or something, because they never even laid eggs on it! A miracle pumpkin Forreal haha
Loved this video-I have found the same with trombochino-& my fav part is that entire “neck” has no seeds, it’s all squash!! I have also had really good luck waiting, waiting, & waiting a little more time before planting squash! I find that if I can wait until the SVB & SB have gone thru their reproduction cycle it greatly reduces any issues with them! I was even able to grow zucchini & yellow squash last year by waiting-you won’t have a harvest until August/September but you will get them! Great video-can’t wait to see how your trials turn out! 👩🏼🌾
Yes love tromboncino it's the only squash I grow because of the borders but I'm curious when do you plant the other squash to avoid the borers?
@@Msaltares91It depends on the variety & where you grow-I use the days to harvest info from the seed packet, count back from my first frost, add a few weeks because things grow slower as the days get shorter-& just make sure I plant before that date. Usually it’s in July/August for me! Some things in June. Good luck & have fun trying it! If you have the luxury of space you could succession sow through the whole season and see what works best-for some it’s actually early, before the bugs are out! 👩🏼🌾
@@growwell8872 thanks I will try that
I was already thinking of Seminole squash you just sold me!!! ❤ From Seminole county Florida!!!
Definitely try it!! The best squash I’ve ever grown
True! I have grown them! I also did an experiment. Because they “claim” they have over 1 yr shelf life. So. I kept at least 5 for one year. They were excellent.
But you need room to grow them. They trailed AT LEAST 25’ each vine.
This yr is my last yr of trying to grow regular squash here in zone 9b SW FL. I’ve experimented with every season and different types. Forget it. To hot, too humid, i even installed a hoop house with bug netting. Vines did great. Huge on Tahitian squash. So healthy in the hoop. When the female flower finally started appearing. The blooms did not mature enough to even open. They stayed stunted and tiny and shut tight. I’ve gardened for 40 yrs and never seen anything like that. So from now on it’s Seminoles for me. It’s what the Seminole Indians grew here. That’s good enough for me!
8:41 Cucurbita maxima
8:50 Cucurbita Pepo
9:11 Cucurbita Mochata (resistant to the squash vine bore)
10:16 Seminole Pumpkin
13:03 Trombetta di Albenga (tastes like butternut squash)
16:20 New squash varieties trying. Seesds from Southern seed (exposure)
Tai Kang Kob
16:30 Mrs. Amersons
16:45 Tahitiin melon
17:01 Tan cheese
17:18 South Anna Butternut
17:35 Autumn Frost winter squash f1
Luffas also grow well in SVB land! I had one plant last year that took over my garden. At least 100 luffas. Picked small, they taste like asparagus but you can let them mature for sponges. They really took off when temps got into the 90-100 range and drought conditions. No pest could phase it! Give it A LOT of room.
I looooooved hearing about all the squash!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it 😍
I'm crying inside right now. Thank you so much for this information!
I'm in the UK, and I love growing all types of squash, just like you. Ever since I first heard of the squash vine borer, I've felt deeply lucky to have dodged that particular garden nightmare. It sounds so infuriating!!
Thank you for taking the time to feel gratitude for it hahahha. But I’m sure you have your struggles with growing in the UK as well! Thank you for watching even though you don’t deal with SVB. Always nice to meet another squash lover ❤️
Knock on wood!!!
@@meggrowsplants the advice to look for bug resistant variety is solid for any critter, so I definitely felt like I got something out of it even though I don't have SVB.
Yeah I don't know how it is for you in the uk but we have so many snails this year 😅
Squash bugs are my nemesis
They're so cute though.
They seem to leave my butternut squash alone
New follower here!! I loved this video so much!!! Thanks for sharing. 😊
I’m in the SW and we have them too. I think they are all over the USA. Cherokee tan pumpkins are resistant too to all the bugs. Same growth pattern.
I’ll look up the Cherokee tan! I have lots of gardening friends out west that don’t have squash vine borer. Mainly in California. So it’s not found everywhere, when I google it says only east and southeast. Interesting! Maybe it’s spreading 😳
Okay I did some more research and it’s basically everywhere except along the pacific coast! And they’re only native to north and South America, so the rest of the world doesn’t have to deal with its evilness lol
@@meggrowsplants God forbid! Nasty bugs!
I hate squash vine borers too! I have given up on growing squash - which is one of my favorites too! I have never had a successful squash harvest thanks to them! I will have big, beautiful plants one day....then the next they are going limp thanks to those rotten squash vine borers! So thank you so much for the tip on the other varieties!
I hope you decide to keep trying and find a variety that works that you really love! Try the Seminole pumpkin! (: don’t let them win!
Two more moschatas: My second year with these, they're Korean, seeds from Kitazawa seed Co. (now handled by True Leaf??): Both are summer squashes. (1) King Ka Ae, looks like a very smooth light green zucchini with tapered ends, pick small, slightly chubby at 5-6 inches, very fresh tasting. (2) Teot Bat Put, also nicknamed "Avocado Squash", as they are so shaped, best picked at 3-4 inches around, I would err on the smaller width. These are slightly sweet, with a yellow cast to the flesh, very attractive multi-green skin, and really productive. My experience with these moschatas are as you describe - resist the borers, and yield wave after wave. No mildew until late in their growth. I'm in central TX. I grow these on a squash tunnel trellis.
I will be 100% looking for these to try! Thanks so much for your recommendations 🙏🏼
@@meggrowsplants My pleasure! Note, the "avocado squash" if left to grow to full size will become a winter squash, tan in color. I accidentally did this when one of mine hid behind a splay of leaves, and came in at about 2.5 pounds. As such, it's pretty mild, not as interesting as others you mentioned. When picked young at the desired 3-4 inch girth, they will weigh on either side of a pound each. Not tiny!
Thank you!
Im growing King Ka Ae this year too! Haven’t had any SVB causalities yet, but they are attracting the squash bugs. 😢 I’m gonna try to keep up with handpicking the adults and the eggs everyday so hopefully I will break the cycle there.
adding these to the "check out list"
The seminole variety is one of the pumpkins we can grow on my island of Puerto Rico. That and other ones that were developed here, such as one that I believe is called Taino and other similar pumpkins. We are extremely hot and humid most of the year, and there are no winters to kill off pests and control their populations. My particular zone is 12 so growing certain things is quite tough. In the central part of the island I believe it's a zone 10 and is a lot more ideal for growing lots of different things, one of we are most known for, which is coffee.
That’s amazing! I’ve always wanted to visit PR (: I can imagine the heat and humidity can be really challenging to grow. I’ll look into the Taino variety!
@@meggrowsplants If you visit, visit in the winter, as it's the time with the most comfortable, mild weather. Avoid peak hurricane season(July, August, September), unless you enjoy heat waves with 90% humidity and possibility of storms. But it is a beautiful island to visit.
I’m in Florida and finally started going Seminole pumpkins this year! I was fighting a losing battle with vine borer
I can relate! It’s always a losing battle with the borers. You’ll love the seminoles!
I’ll have to give the Seminole Pumpkin a try, especially since we’re here in Seminole County Florida. Thanks for the advice 👍
Coastal SC here, sooo happy to have information related to my area. Zone 9a, and on a Sea Island. If it weren't for insect netting all 'winter' and correct varieties, I'd have absolutely no garden success. 😅
I plant zucchini and yellow squash early as bait. The borers seem to prefer them to spaghetti squash and especially to tromboncino. I grow the summer squashes in my front yard and watch them for borer eggs (and squish them between my fingernails as I find them) until about a week after I find the first hole from a hatched borer. I usually get a few weeks of summer squash fruit before I rip out the entire plant and throw it away to do what I can to disrupt the lifecycle of the moths. I make sure to do this before the little buggers have time to pupate. I have heard that some people locally plant a second crop of zucchini since we currently only have one wave of them in MN (June to mid July.)
About six weeks after the first egg sighting is generally the end of the borer season here, so I start my vining squash inside and put them out after 4ish weeks. I only have to watch them for a little while and they aren't as big and attractive to the little jerks. I have found that the eggs are mostly laid near the ground, so I grow the vining types up a trellis, but with a little slack so I can re-bury a stem if they get damaged. Most squash can grow roots from any leaf node, so if you work fast you can sometimes re-root a vine with damage further up the stem
A solid strategy! So hard to get ahead of their life cycle
Started gardening this year in Texas and I might attempt squash knowing this! I’m so Icked out by grub/worm bugs like that I knew I couldn’t fight SVB on my own. Been sharing your video in my gardening groups, SVB is taking down everyone’s harvest currently!
You should totally give it a try! I’ve definitely learned that the variety can mean all the difference. I really appreciate you sharing ❤️ happy gardening!
Hey Meg! I Just came over from your cameo on the Epic Gardening channel! I live in NC just like you and I wanted to share my strategy for extending our herb season!
So obviously as you know we've had some wickedly mild winters these last few years. (I thinking the coldest it got here in Raleigh this winter was 18 degrees) and so what ive been doing is sowing my Cilantro, Parsley, Dill in October when it just starts to cool off a bit. That gives them a solid 2 months to get some roots and foliage on them before our first freeze usually in late November early December. These herbs are surprisingly cold hardy! All these herbs I listed can theoretically resist the cold all the way down to 10 degrees which we rarely go below in the winter if ever so I've successfully maintained no frost damage on any of my cool season herbs for 2 years straight now!
I was picking herbs all winter long plus the added benefit is having pre established herbs gives them a MASSIVE boost in growth when the soil temps warm up in February and march. They exploded with foliage growth and by april I was giving away fresh herbs to all my neighbors I had so much extra. Yeah we can't prevent the bolting once our heat and humidity come back around this time but boy do I tell ya the extra 3+ months of herbs I get over the winter is so worth it!
I am a new viewers so if you already do that forgive me I was just going off the info I heard you say in that video on epic gardening lol. And I thought you'd appreciate this info if you don't know it already since we live in the same state/zone.
Okie that all have a good one!
Hey there! Thanks for popping in!
You’re definitely right about all of that! And, I do the same thing. I had cilantro and parsley growing all winter and I have dill popping up now that self seeded from last fall. We are so very lucky to have the mild weather that can allow for that to happen!
The epic video was more tailored for summer annuals, and the focus was on succession sowing for summer harvests.
I totally appreciate the info though and hopefully anyone that is reading and also lives in our area will as well (:
@@meggrowsplants Nice! I always love finding new NC garder youtuber's to subscribe to it's so fun watching what everyone else around be likes to grow in our area. BTW have you heard of Jim Putnam? His youtube channel is called Horttube and he's the OG North Carolina garden youtuber that got me into the game lol
Growing here in FL. Seminole squash - try grill or baking it. Tastes like butternut squash. And, thank you for the other varieties, we'll have to try them!
You’re brave for growing in Florida! I’ve heard it’s super challenging. But thank goodness for the tough varieties that come out of Florida! Love the taste of Seminole (:
Wow I had no idea there are certain varieties that are resistant. Ty for the info and saving us all so much pain!
I've been loving your channel--your energy, vibrance, and humor are so great. I came from the Epic Gardening channels 😊. Also, you're so pretty!!! ❤
Thank you so so so much for the kind words. I’m happy to have you here ❤️ lmk if you try any of the varieties!
Cushaw squash have such tough stems that they can lay as many eggs as they want, and the things can't chew through... Mwahahahahahaha!!!
@@RealBradMiller 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I grow the Seminole and Zucchino Rampicante (Tromboncino). They are well worth it. I also grow Cherokee Tan. They're on the small side, but do well for me. Seminole is my hands-down favorite.
Last year I literally googled what pumpkins do they NOT LIKE, and bought those. Acorn king and queen, and blue jardhelle
Acorn is one I haven’t tried yet!
@@meggrowsplants and let me clarify. These are ones stinkbugs do not like.
I have 4 seminoles started. Bring on the pumpkins! Yes, growing in SW FL was difficult.
Oh my goodness, you’re going to have SO many pumpkins!
@@meggrowsplants yes, sure hope so. I want to grow enough to process for myself and give some away. We’ll see how they do here in SW MO. 🤪
I grew a candy roaster last year. I love them but where to store a 2 foot long squash all winter lol. The chubby seeds were the best for roasting. Great video.👍🏼
I love Renees garden seeds. It was great to hear someone mention them.
They’re one of the best for sure. I’ve been using their seeds for years!
Thanks for saying that about it being hard to garden in FL 😂😂 It’s a struggle for sure but I learn more every year and things are getting better!
I've just learned more about squash in 18 min. than learned in 60yrs.!!! Thank you So Much 💓.
I'm living in N.W. Florida and its Tough! I've got Seminole pumpkins in and was wandering just an hour ago,why they are not any larger than they are? Now I know just give them a little more time. (They are 120 day plants). Anyway thanks again and we'll see what this summer brings. 😊
Black Futsu is another interesting looking moscata. Trying it this year!
I am in zone 9B in Houston area and fighting these dang squash bugs as we speak!!! We had horrible weather with lots of rain and bad storms that kept us without power and now my plants look like they’re dying, but I’ve been fighting bugs, mosquitos and am at the point that I want to pull the plants, but I have gotten some zucchini that grew great and a few yellow crookneck which grew small.
You are so good on camera. Thanks for the informatin.
Thank you so much!
Great video. I grew Seminole pumpkins last year and it was amazing. So many pumpkins all season. I also grow the Tromboncino squash. Love it too! I garden in Central Virginia.
I'm growing south anna butternut for the first time this year too, fingers crossed it does well 🤞🏽🤞🏽
I’m crossing my fingers for the both of us 🤞🏼
The thing about South Anna (which I have grown since 2020) is they take longer to mature than Walthams. When nights get over 70F you will see aborted baby fruits.. So you get an early flush of fruit that will ripen on the vine, a lag, then a late flush of ones that may not be fully ripe before frost. Yes, you can cure inside but the keeping qualities, flavor and texture are not as good. We are south of VA where they were developed
This year I am planting 7 vines but limiting each vine to 4 fruits, not allowing any tertiary fruits to develop and manually aborting after that to put all the energy into the existing fruits.
Good vidio great garden❤😊
I’m near San Antonio. Even though zucchini is one of my most favorite veg to eat. I just give up.
Last year I got a whopping 12 zucchini before destruction. I was out there everyday picking eggs and shooting BT!
I even tried growing zucchini in a netted bed, but the leaves got too big and pressed the net and the mildewed.
I gave it a 6 year run. Nope, no more.
LOL, this year I plan to visit my local small farmer every week and get my zucchini fix there.
Thank you. I like you have struggled with this insidious bug! I’ve already seeded my regular plants but will try these as a late summer crop.
Thanks for the info. As a fellow North Carolinian I am very familiar with the squash vine borer and have lost many plants by their evil deeds 😂. I'll try some of the varieties you mentioned next year.
I swear, there is no bug that is more evil! I hope these varieties might work for you!
I'm so excited about this information!!! THANKS A MILLION!
Excellant video. I also hate the vine borers we have here in New England (MA) I enjoyed your story. Thank you! I subsciibed good luck with your new garden trials.
Another way to keep up with squash is to grow them under cover... With TULLE. If you really love summer squash or want to grow another variety, you either have to grow them in a high tunnel (and keep it shut tight) and put out SVB MOTH traps, which may help keep them from laying eggs or stop them from laying too many eggs...
I bought Seminole seeds last year, and I am going to try it this year. I've got several butternuts growing now.
Save those seeds!
I’m in Georgia and trying this this year
Yes! I grew Seminole pumpkins last year and they were amazing! Tough plants and yummy pumpkins! Will be planting them in a bigger plot this summer 🎃
I'm in oregon and they are everywhere. I feel your pain. I've been told to start after the rush of bugs is over. I did that last year and got zuchinni. It got cold and the plant died but I got some. I'm thinking about building a cage and hand pollinating! I'm looking for some seed from the varieties your mentioning. Those little pumpkins are really cute and just my size as I'm just me.😅
Wonderful! Just the information I need! Thank you!
I did the injection method last year, and it was the only way we got spaghetti squash. The key was to start it early before they could ever take hold. I’m starting it now in our garden this year. Wish us luck! 🍀
It does work for alot of people! It just has never worked for me no matter what I tried, and I still try it- determined for my Cinderella pumpkin some day. Good luck growing this year!! 🤞🏼
Thank you so much for this information.
I live outside of Charlotte too. I'm so glad I found your channel because we're in the same zone!
Well hey neighbor!
Wow. Im so glad you shared. I didnt know some are resistant. Hope you will report back on these other varieties!
I for sure will keep you guys updated (:
Yep saw the first Melittia Cucurbitae the third week in April. Getting to the point that I am going to start my summer squash in August after the darn moth is gone. Thank you for all the information on other squashes I can try.
Yep, that’s another great method is just waiting for the summer squash! But for winter squash that take all season, the moschatas are the way to go! Let me know if you try them! (:
first time i ever found out about these bugs was last year when they infected all my squash through out the whole season. This year i have my squash in a bed with a bug net cover and PVC hoops. I will just have to hand pollinate but i love the standard yellow squash so much i dont want to have to grow something different! Hoping it works out.
Great info
thanks for the info. You also may like to try Lunga DI Napoli (long of naples) or
cushaw squash as well.
Oooo I will look into those!! I actually just ordered a cushaw!
Yup! Im growing Cushaw someone gave me on a hill, apparently they are a super hardy variety, and a good pumpkin substitute! This one is over a year old, looked great, seeds are drying as we speak, and I planted some already!
Ugh…the worst! We had so many insects of all kinds last year, especially on cucurbits. I’m really hoping for a better year. And trying to plant some blue Hubbard squash first, as a bait. I’m planting quite a few squash and they’re already started…so I guess I’ll be keeping track of which ones fair better. Gonna look for moschata next year! We have grown tromboncino/rampicante for years and you’re right, they’re incredible! I noticed they were vigorous and seemingly resistant, didn’t know they were moschata! What a helpful video! And yes, they’re fun to share…especially some of the extra “quirky” ones 😅😉
Thank you for this information. It is good to know i can just choose a different kind of squash seed and avoid the bores I really appreciate this.
Excellent video and right on time. I am in GA and I was having a terrible time with my squash. I just created a trellis and I just ordered the seeds you suggested. Looking forward to actual harvests this year.
Me too!! It took all of my squash yesterday
Oh no :(
Great advice. I’m so glad I saw this. I also live in North Carolina and then trying to grow my first squash and pumpkins this year
Oh Meg, I feel this so hard. Thanks for sharing, I'm going to be trying my very best against those vine borers this year. Again.
i got my last years’ squash plants absolutely demolished by squash vine borers last year- i had never even heard of them before and have had happy squash in years prior
It seems like they’re just getting worse every year. They’re absolutely evil! Maybe try out some of these varieties and see how it goes!
I just lost my Squash plants it's terrible they take them out fast every thing else looks great tho I'm going to try again next year 🙃 have a great day everybody 🌷
I am in Houston and my garden pest is the vine borers and leaf foot bug. This has been so helpful, I am shopping for seeds. Thank you!
I love southern exposure seed!! Awesome ppl awesome seeds and prices. Everything I get from them grows super well here zone 6b 7.
I too hate SVB!! I am in SW Louisiana, 9a, and it is so humid and sweltering! I tried, just once to wrap the stems in foil and quickly decided it was not for me. I also inject with BT, but even that is tedious. I will be trying the resistant varieties you suggested. Thanks for a great video!
I'm in Ohio, but I share your feelings about squash vine borer!! I will definitely be giving some of these varieties a try 😊
thank you, ive been planning for a few years yo try the cindy, & gray & white ones, ur very super helpful.❤
Thank you and thank you for watching! ❤️
Love this video! Zone 6 here, grew Cherokee tan pumpkins last year-very robust, squash vine borers were spotted but they didn’t seem to be affected.
I felt like we were having a private conversation about what's currently happening in the garden. Thanks for the tips! I will be visiting Southern Seed and checking out these Moschata varieties.
Love to cook all things pumpkin. While browsing some East End farm stands here on Long Island (NY), a farmer introduced me to the Long Island Cheese Pumpkin. I have never looked back. Trying to grow my own this year for the first time. Did some research and it, too, is a Cucurbita moschata. So excited! Good luck with your varieties! That Trombetta is awesome!
Pumpkin is so underrated! Long Island cheese looks so interesting! Kinda like the tan cheese I am trying this year. Good luck to you with your squash growing journey!! ❤️
So this is going to sound barbaric l, but one year when I got svb I stuck a screwer in the stem and swirled it around then added BT to the area, then wrapped the base of the vine with grafting tape. It bounced back. I was amazed.
Thanks I grow my zucchini only in the fall because of the bug problems.
I'm in the mid Atlantic region and we have the exact same issues with the pests and disease. Thanks for this video. I'm going to attempt some of these!
Wish there was a way to eradicate them, lol. I hope some of these suggestions work for you!!
I live in central,California. We get little rain but it is very hot. A lot of southern vegetables grow very well here and I have some of the same issues. Can’t wait to find out how you do and trying some of your suggested varieties
Yes! Even though you don’t have SVB im sure you still deal with squash bugs and mildews. And usually if the variety can hold up to SVB it can hold up to everything else. Lmk if you try some of the varieties I mentioned!
We started gardening about the same time! SVB is my nemesis. I didn't plant any this year bc of it. 😢 I can't wait to try these!!
You definitely need to try them! But yes, SVB is the worst bug ever. I hate it so much
I’m tempted now to try pumpkin again. I tried once several years ago with no success.
Don’t give up! Maybe try out the Seminole pumpkin 🎃
I suggest using Surround kaolin clay, which is a water soluble clay. It is mixed with water and can be put in a large 1-2 gallon garden sprayer. You spray it all over the plants, and it repels insects. The plants don't look pretty but saves them from pests and you win with a nice harvest. If you want to know more about it, James Prigoni of The Garden Channel on YT uses it a lot on his fruit trees and garden veggies. Search this title: This Magic White Powder Eliminates 95% of Garden Problems. Happy gardening!
I did Rampicante last year with good results. This year I'm trying Korean Zucchini.
I'm also trying long island cheese pumpkin. It has a very "Cinderella" shape.
Sistah ya passion for squash warms my heart soooo much, maybe is my native american side talkin' haha 😅
Hahaha I just love squash SO much! There’s so many varieties, colors, textures, and they can store for a year and provide with food through the winter. An underrated crop for sure! The natives know what’s up
@@meggrowsplants Kinda ramdom, but I thought ya was native american haha do you have indigenous ancestry?
@@wellersonoliveira5334 no- it’s weird bc my family always thought we were native but I did a dna test and it came back as like 20% Moroccan/arab instead hahaha.
2 years running here in IN - the Trombetta died from squash bugs as fast as everything else - I wanted these so bad to replace the zucchini - I sent seeds to NO AZ and my sister's garden community loved them - they got squash!!!! Uggh - so tired of not getting food except for the very first year we gardened here that we were overrun with squash
I am trying parthenocarpic varieties of squash this year. I just covered them with shade cloth and we will see. Fingers crossed I get squash this year.
Hi Meg, I grew up gardening in the midwest where we didn't have SVB. Moving to Greensboro I tried to grow all of my favorite squash (acorn, hubbard, zukes, etc). What heartache when each and everyone of the plants died. So a few years ago I started growing only c.moschata and like a miracle no more SVB. I have had good luck with waltham, honeynut, and tromonccino. Tromboncinno is so prolific. I actually like it better than zuchinni and it freezes so well. I am trying seminole this year as well as tahitian melon from SESE. I always get squash bugs at the end of the season but by that time everything is so far along that I get a good harvest. Thanks for sharing your experience. I look forward to hearing about your how your new varieties perform!
I have lost all my squash for the last three years 🤬due to the vine borer. I’ve tried lots of methods including BT injection. I will try the new type.
South Carolina here. Cherokee Tan pumpkin sounds interesting. Deep Homestead South did a taste comparison with Semiole and thought the taste of Cherokee Tan much better. Also it grows roots at every leaf node providing it with constant nutrition rather than it needing to draw all nutrition/water from single point making it very strong and prolific. (would not be able to trellis though) Not sure Seminole does. (growing Seminole first time this year) Also squash vine borer are does not like. Love, love the idea of the Trombetta Di Albenga. Will be trying. Thanks again.
I’m growing both the Tahitian melon squash and Seminole this year.
I’m so excited to see the Tahitian melon!
@@meggrowsplants me too! My first time growing both!
I’m happy to hear this is working for you, because I have been wondering the same thing for the past couple of years - maybe if I only plant c. moschata varieties I won’t have to deal with SVB. So last year I tried tromboncino for the first time and loved them! This year I am adding Musquee de Provence to see how they do. And I grow Butternut every year. Do you know if there are any of the hull-less seed pumpkins that are c. moschata?
A tip I learned last year is to pre-emptively bury parts of the stem further along the vines a couple weeks before the SVB usually arrives in your area, instead of waiting until you see the damage. All of my buttercup and spaghetti squash plants were attacked by SVB but I was actually able to save about 2/3 of them by doing this. Unfortunately I didn’t learn this tip until I had already started training them up a trellis, so I had to “de-trellis” a few feet lol.
I’ve been enjoying your appearances on Epic Gardening and glad I decided to check out your channel. Looking forward to more videos! Cheers from Ontario, Canada.
TY very helpful. SVB ia a nemesis for me too. I've done South Anna and Autumn Frost both were not hit by SVB but PM is a problem with both...but they did muscle through it.
Thank you, that’s good to know! I’m really excited for the autumn frost!
It sounds like we've had similar journeys with SVBs. My solution has been to plant later. I do sacrifice some harvest to the frost but it seems to work, especially for smaller pumpkins that mature quickly. Really interested to try the Seminole though!
I’m actually eating a Seminole pumpkin right now. I got 27 from one plant. Mine were mostly personal softball size so next time I will cut the vines back sooner to hopefully get fewer but larger. Funny thing is my chickens won’t eat it raw or cooked or even the seeds.
That’s so strange your chickens won’t eat it! Mine go CRAZY for them. You could have a different variety of Seminole. Southern exposure has many different varieties of Seminole. There is a smaller and larger variety, I think I have the medium variety. I ordered some of the even larger variety to try as well! But yes, I love how prolific they are!
Lost all my squash! Including my spaghetti squash, my butternut seems ok so far. I had absolutely no luck with that spray, will be trying the aluminum foil next
I feel like the aluminum trick works only if you have SVB pressure in early season. But here in NC, they are around all season so it’s impossible to keep up
Exactly!
Thx for the info. Pls let us know if you find a more traditional summer zucchini variety! I detest those bugs!!!
Very well-done video. Been growing winter squashes in South Carolina since 2014 - some additional insights.
(1) Yes, give them time the SVBs will attack tromboncino and Seminole pumpkins as well and do some damage but won't take out the plant.
(2) Another one to consider is the South Anna butternut. It is a mildew resistant stable hybrid of Seminole pumpkin and Waltham butternut. I find more meat and better flavor (JMO) than the Seminole though I usually don't push them past April and process anything left by then by roasting and freezing in vacuum bags. By then we are pretty tired of them anyway.
(3) The Tromboncino does not have decent flavor to me as a winter squash so I only save for seed. I do think as a summer squash it is superior though the flavor and texture are not an exact match for yellow squash and zukes. A huge plus is how nicely the tromboncino takes to spiralizing and cooking in sauce. Warning. When you cut it it bleeds this slimy good that you need to get off of everything before it dries! Very much like mucilage in okra.
(4) I have finally survived both summer squash and some c maxima varieties with the BT injection but here is the deal. It requires daily inspection of the stems for frass. Easy to do with a bush squash not so with a vining squash with all those vines. Then the injection is both above and below the hole. I had a summer squash last year survive 4 separate attacks and keep on producing that way. The main reason I grow them is it takes a while for the tromboncinos to get to the proint of producing fruit and this gets you an early harvest.
In both cases I hand bred best to best to maximize flavor and meat quantity and minimize seed cavity in the Tromboncino. Trellising is the way to go for me!
I see another person posted with other C moschata variants. Going to check it out.
Yeah, I finally just gave up on Cucurbita pepo. The only thing I found that worked 100% was covering with insect netting and hand pollinating, but like wrapping with aluminum foil, that got real old, real fast as there was pretty much only a short window in the mornings when the flowers were open.
Louisiana newbie gardener and last weekend found my first SVBs of this season on my yellow squash and zuccs. Grrrrrr!!!! Definitely will look into the Moschata because who has time for this!!! I don't have a lot of space to garden and wonder if there are any smaller varieties you recommend? I do have some trellis up, but I don't think it's strong enough for those huge trombettas, even though they sound yummmy!! Thanks for all the great info you share! :)
You can grow the Seminole along the ground, if you have the ground space instead! Last year I started Seminole along the trellis but it ended up trailing the ground anyways!
kudos to you i simply gave up i think i may give it another try thanks to you THX
I hear similar things about Everglades tomatoes, pest resistant.
I am trying Centercut Squash this year, it is a F1 version of the heirloom tromboncino and suppose to be SVB resistant. I hope it works. I planted loads of squash in several varieties this year in hopes of getting one or two to eat before the SVB take them out. In past years no matter what I tried they all died before producing squash.
I will have to look into that one! You should totally try the Seminole pumpkin as well. Good luck to you this year! 🤞🏼
Thank you so much for this! Being from the north I was naive when I moved to Texas and just planted a bunch of squash my first year. Every single plant was destroyed 🙈 I’ve been using shade cloths to cover the plants so the moths can’t get to them but I will keep an eye out for resistant varieties, though spaghetti squash and butternuts attracted the borers the most for me :/
Oh gosh!! That must have been quite a shock to go from northern to southern gardening, especially Texas! My friend Vanessa, the one that recommended Seminole pumpkin, is in Texas so you should totally try that variety!
@@meggrowsplants Thank you! It’s too late for me to plant pumpkins this year but I’ll definitely give it a try next year 🥰