Borers in my vertical melons

paulpaluszak 8/27/2011, 6:58 pm

Good Evening all- I'm in my second year of gardening and I'm so glad I read Mel's book before I even broke the first bed. Anyway, I'm trying Japanese Melons on a 6 foot trellis and they are doing fine except something bores through the rine and lays eggs then I have a melon full on grubs. Fortunetly I have 5 survivors. I loss about 6 that were 4-6 feet off the ground and the 5 survivors are 1-2 foot off the ground. Any ideas on the best way to protect them?

I tried to post a photo but after an half hour of not figuring it out I gave up.

By the way, I have a yard full of chipmunks and squirrels and they have not been a big problem in my garden. Everyday I spread a mixture of sunflower seeds and feed corn in the yard and then spray the plants they love with Critter Ridder. They take my offering and leave my garden along. The Chipmunks love to stay in the shade under the 16 Okra I have in one bed.

Lindacol 8/27/2011, 7:28 pm

paulpaluszak wrote:Good Evening all- I'm in my second year of gardening and I'm so glad I read Mel's book before I even broke the first bed. Anyway, I'm trying Japanese Melons on a 6 foot trellis and they are doing fine except something bores through the rine and lays eggs then I have a melon full on grubs. Fortunetly I have 5 survivors. I loss about 6 that were 4-6 feet off the ground and the 5 survivors are 1-2 foot off the ground. Any ideas on the best way to protect them?

Could be melon worm or pickle or cucumber worm:

http://engineeredgarden.blogspot.com/2010/08/arrival-of-melon-worm.html

http://www.allaboutworms.com/what-is-a-cucumber-worm

shannon1 9/3/2011, 6:40 am

I make bags with draw strings for any fruits that the bugs like some use tule and others old nylons. I don't know how big your melons are but if you use one of these methods no need to spray.

paulpaluszak 9/3/2011, 6:48 am

Thanks Shannon- I have 5 melons left and I tied a brown paper bag around 1 and was going to buy some nylons at the dollar store today and try that on 2 more and see which is easiest and best.

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Borers in my vertical melons

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Borers in my vertical melons

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