radishes and squash borers

Since this is the time of year - I just read this about radishes and squash borers - I am going to get a packet asap:

RADISH:

One of the workhorses for the garden. Companions for radishes are: radish, beet, bush beans, pole beans, carrots,
chervil, cucumber, lettuce, melons, nasturtium, parsnip, peas, spinach and
members of the squash family. Why plant radishes with your squash plants? Radishes may protect them from squash
borers.
Anything that will help keep them away is worth a try. Radishes are a
deterrent against cucumber beetles and rust flies. Chervil and
nasturtium improve radish growth and flavor. Planting them around corn and letting
them go to seed will also help fight corn borers. Chinese Daikon and Snow
Belle radishes are favorites of flea beetles. Plant these at 6 to 12 inch intervals
amongst broccoli. In one trial, this measurably reduced damage to broccoli. Radishes
will lure leafminers away from spinach. The damage the leafminers do to
radish leaves does not stop the radish roots from growing, a win-win
situation. Keep radishes away from
hyssop plants, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and turnips.

from: http://www.ghorganics.com/

Cheap, easy, fast. What the heck. I'm in. I spend my evenings worrying about squash borers - sad but true...

I'm no fan of radishes but if it will keep squash vine borers at bay then I'll gladly plant a few. They nuked my garden last year. This year it's whiteflies descending on my potatoes. I've ordered some ladybugs and green lacewings from Gardens Alive and hope that does the trick.

Chopper,

Don't be sad to admit it: a lot of bug-worrying in the evenings is normal to me too!

I've picked several little red eggs off the squash leaves & stems a little over a week ago I haven't seen any more since . . . but just in case I'll be injecting Spinosad into the stalks very soon (probably tonight).

In the meanwhile, the spotted cucumber beetles are everywhere in my beds--especially on the cucs and bush beans. There isn't any visible damage but I worry when/what will happen if I don't find a way to get rid of them! (And what did they do when they were still underground?)

Oh, back to the radishes . . . I planted radishes in a square for my husband to eat (don't like myself) and they did attract the flea beetles tremendously . . . but as far as the cuc beetles: its not helping at all. I would plant them again though. Like ya'll said: it couldn't hurt, right?

-Amber

I am not a radish fan myself, and this is not the best time of year to grow them for taste. But for $1.25 if they work it is sure worth it. Planted a circle around all of my squash plants today and interspersed them with the corn crop. We shall see....

I have currently got catnip, cilantro, and radishes around each of my two squash squares, and (if they will ever sprout! ) nasturtiums not too far off. Guess I will see what happens. I don't care if it all gets trampled by the squash if it will help keep the bugs off... and there will be watermelon and cukes nearby, too.

Today was payback time! Last year Squash Vine Borers (SVB) killed all my cukes, zukes, cantaloupe and watermelons - and I mean every blessed one of them. This year I planted everything in a different place and planted nasturtiums and onions and sunflowers in adjacent squares as companions.
This afternoon I was standing in the yard and saw a SVB land on my zucchini. I grabbed my gloves and tried to catch her but she evaded me and landed on a pincushion flower next to the bed. I moved in slowly, got in position then CLAPPED my hands together. When I pulled them away she was gone. I thought I had missed until I noticed her carcass smeared all over the palm of my gloved hand. DIE SVB DIE! VENGEANCE IS MINE! Mwahhhhhh!

It's amazing how much satisfaction I got from that one act of revenge. Maybe I should see a counselor.
I'll hunt for eggs tomorrow and be on the lookout for other SVB's. I've heard that BT is an effective "organic" treatment because when the eggs hatch the tiny caterpillars begin to gnaw their way into the stem. BT kills caterpillars so I plan to douse my zuke stems with BT. ...but I hope to crush another SVB in my bare hands! MWAHAHA! MWWAHAHAHA!

Tim, you have completely crossed the line! A line I completely understand. I am all for the creatures of the earth until the little suckers cross into my territory and then all is fair... and squishing does hold a special pleasure after such huge losses. LOL.

I want to try and be get away from pestisides as much as possible as one of my goals. Is there an organic alternative for keeping the beasties at bay or is companion planting the best we can hope for? I've heard it said that if you want organic, you have to learn to accept a new level of bugginess than before, but it sure would be nice if I didn't have to.

Carrie

Here's some more info on Bt - Bacillus thuringiensis:
from http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=8797
"After ingesting the insecticide, the worms and caterpillars immediately stop feeding, though they may otherwise appear to be unaffected for several days. Best results are obtained by treatments when worms are actively feeding on treated, exposed foliage.

Kills 'worms' and caterpillar-stage insects, but has no effect on birds, earthworms or beneficial insects, such as honeybees and ladybugs, when used as directed.

'Worms' and caterpillars eat treated foliage, then immediately stop feeding and damaging plants.

Acceptable for use on edible plants up to the day of harvest."

Other Links:
Three Ways to Naturally Control Pest - http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=104

Bt Entry on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis
"Spores and crystalline insecticidal proteins produced by B. thuringiensis have been used to control insect pests since the 1920s.[10] They are now used as specific insecticides under trade names such as Dipel and Thuricide. Because of their specificity, these pesticides are regarded as environmentally friendly, with little or no effect on humans, wildlife, pollinators, and most other beneficial insects."

Bt Info Sheet from University of Colorado - http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05556.html

Has anyone ever used Spinosad before? I've been researching it and some people say its okay in the "organic" sense and others say no...but I think that's such a controversial issue with organic products in general. I don't know who to believe!

However, the Spinosad was recommended to me by my local organic nursery. She says its less harmful to the beneficial insects than the BT. Then I read further from a fellow chatter elsewhere and she injects the Spinosad into her squash stalks before the SVB ever get a chance to start chomping. Early prevention, she says, is the key. She swears by it!

In addition to the injections, I've sprayed it on my cucs and beans hoping to curtail the relentless spotted cucumber beetles! Speaking of smashing bugs . . . I can't get my hands on enough of them!!! Picture a crazy lady in her back yard, running around, clapping her hands up in the air! (The neighbors probably get a real kick out of it.)

Gloves or not, they must DIE!!!

I have been looking for Dipel and Thuricide and have not found them - I will broaden the search, and keep an eye out for Spinosad.

Looks like we are just a small group of insane people talking to themselves, clapping and maniacally laughing in their backyards - but happy...

I'll have to look into those. Thanks for the info. Has anyone found them locally or are have you had better look online?

I was only able to find 3 SVB eggs during my search today. I'm sure I missed some so I went a bit crazy with the Dipel Dust (Bt). My cukes, zukes, and squash look like they're growing in a dusting of snow. If any of the hell spawn hatch they'll have to eat their way through a mound of Bt to reach the stalk. By then they should be toast!

I have not found Bt dust. I think I need to look harder. Not that I don't trust the radishes!

All my squash, cukes and watermelon are up (watermelon just barely), but just seed leaves or the very beginnings of true leaves. How soon do I need to be frantic about this? Or should I be already?? I have lots of companion plants in that bed, though the nasturtiums didn't come up in their square yet, may have to buy some... or transplant my one sprout from the other bed, but it looks very happy there between the tomatoes.

I found my Spinosad at a local supplier but it can be found online:

http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=8756

The BT might also be labeled as something other than "BT".

In Dallas, I found Bt as a product called Diple Dust at Calloway's nursery.

Here's a link to one site: http://www.planetnatural.com/site/dipel-dust.html

If you google "diple dust" or "Bt" you'll find plenty of others.

I bought Thuricide at Home Depot in Irving. It is a liquid concentrate.

I saw a SVB flying twice in the last week. I wish I had been able to squash her. When I went out hunting for eggs, I found 50+ today- 30 this morning, and another 20 this afternoon. I am completely bummed. How do they know how to find the squashes?

I thoroughly saturated all my curcurbits with the BT spray. We'll see how it goes. Until then, I'll be searching diligently. I have found the eggs on leaves, stems, and the main stalk. The tricky ones are on the underside of the stems. Once you're familiar with the eggs, spotting them becomes pretty easy.

Does anyone know how long the females lay the eggs? Is there a general time frame? Also, how long does it take for the eggs to hatch? I don't want to lose my plants.

I have found nearly 30 new eggs in the last few days.

Be vigilant about searching them out! Especially underneath the stems laying on the ground. You wouldn't know they were there until the wilting begins. I must have looked absolutely ridiculous this morning with my rear in the air trying to spot eggs underneath the plants with a mirror compact!

Whatever it takes to keep them from hatching on my plants- I'll risk looking like a fool! I am determined to not let them beat me!

Very nice. I like the mirror idea.