I'm on the warpath - squash vine borers!

I went out yesterday evening and one of my acorn squash plants have a vine with squash shriveling and the leaves were turning black. I've never had to deal with squash vine borers before but after some internet research, yes that's what's going on. I just went out and found an adult on one of the leaves with larvae still attached and killed it. I dug into the base of the plant with a knife where there was "saw dust" and found a larvae. Took it out, killed it, and put it in the trash. Covered Dug around some more and might have found another larvae, not sure if it was that or just sap but I got rid of it too anyway. I covered the bottom of the plant back up with a mound of MM (I read to do that to protect the plant from sap coming out and maybe new roots will grow there), fertilized (which I don't normally do) and watered. Then checked the rest of the plants and found another adult on a leave that still have larvae attached. Took that bug off and smashed it on the ground. I hope that was all I needed to do. I'll have to start once or twice a day hunts now for the monsters. And I start a new job next week so will have to make the time. I also read that you if you have squash vine borer one year that you can't plant squash there (or around there) next year either. So I'll have to make a note on my "garden map" about that.

I also have a yellow pear tomato plant that is wilting, including blossoms. We've had rain so I know it isn't from no water so I put some fertilizer around the base of it and then poured some fish emulsion over the plant (never done anything with fish emulsion before - hope I'm doing it right), then watered a little bit. I really hope that takes care of the problem. I used existing soil in a pot for that plant but added MM and egg shells before I planted. Maybe I didn't get enough MM in it. I have no idea what the problem is. I took a couple of pictures to show here but haven't been able to figure how to load them on yet. I'll work on getting a picture up here if the fertilizer doesn't work.

Bec,

If I use a pot of MM that has been used before, I always add compost before I put a new plant in the used MM.

If I use a pot that has another planting mix (soil?) I have added MM to fill the pot, but make sure I add at least 6 to 8 inches of MM to give the plant enough pure MM to grow in.

Check this link with Boffer's instructions for adding pictures currently stored on your computer to your post HOW TO POST PICTURES

So sorry you have had to fight the dreaded SVB, sounds like you have done the right things.

Good Luck!

I did add several scoops of MM to the pot. Since I did the fish emulsion treatment and fertilized the plant continuese to die. There must be something wrong with it besides nutrients. But I AM finding that the few Sun Gold tomatoes (cherry type) that have ripened taste MUCH better than the yellow pear. So, although I'd have liked the yellow pear to have survived, I've still got some excellent tomatoes growing on other plants. Just wish I knew what the problem was so I'd know if it was just the plant, something I did to it, and if I can re-use the soil next year. Maybe I'll try growing something extra in it (something I won't mind losing) for my fall garden and see what happens.

Maybe I'll try growing something extra in it (something I won't mind losing) for my fall garden and see what happens.

That should at least let you know if it is specifically the growing medium or if the plant itself was the issue.

Good Luck