My spring garden was a total bust. I planted yellow squash and I got enough squash for maybe two meals. That’s it. The squash bugs invaded and when I say invaded, I mean . . I looked under those big beautiful leaves one day and it was a massive sea of blackish gray bugs. In a couple of days they destroyed the squash, the blooms, the leaves . . withered and gone! Briefly, I thought . . I’m not getting anything from these plants so I’m going to spray them with whatever chemicals will kill those bugs and at least I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing I killed them but then I came to my senses and realized the chemicals would go down into the ground and next year, I’ll be consuming those chemicals so I just let the bugs have their way with my squash.
Yellow Squash
Six or eight weeks ago my friend and I spent a morning planting a fall garden. Beets, kale, lettuce, chard, and I can’t even remember what else. We covered it with the cloth that’s supposed to protect tender veggies from bugs, which the grasshoppers promptly chomped right through and ate every sprout out there. Honestly, there’s one terribly bug bitten kale plant growing, along with one chard plant. But, there are so many volunteer plants that came up.
Peas
Some from things that weren’t even planted in that area. There’s quite a bit of peas and okra, which don’t have a chance of making anything this late but the squash . . oh, my . . I’m getting so much squash.
We have squash every night and I’m giving it to anyone who will take it. This is what I picked yesterday morning.
Squash
There’s one lonely little corn plant.
Corn
There are probably over 100 little watermelons.
Watermelon
The corn and watermelon won’t have time to get ripe either but these plants are trying their best to be productive . . I wish I could save them but it’s just not worth the effort. I would mention hoop houses to Vince but I’m afraid he might send me packing if I come up with one more “good idea”.
wanda j says
I have the same problem with squash bugs. I’ve tried everything and nothing gets rid of them.And I do mean everything but never thought about planting for fall. When did you replant them? Maybe that would help us out. We all love yellow and green squash so please share your time table.
I just planted my cold weather fall stuff. Cabbage, Brussles sprouts, collars, green, and carrots. now to get the lettuce in. Yes we can do those now due to how far south we are.
Sherrill says
Ooo, I wish I lived close..I’d come take a few of those squash off your hands. And man, that’s too bad those watermelons won’t ripen. Wouldn’t that be yummy!! My teacher at church gave me a bag of the TINIEST tomatoes I’ve ever seen. Cute and GOOD!! He often brings produce to class and I usually grab okra for my sister because she could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She likes it fried and I like it with tomatoes.
PattiLynn says
Yum, love yellow squash!
I’m wondering if you could make watermelon rind preserves from the little melon rinds? It seems such a waste to not use part of them…but I dunno if it’s possible.
Julie says
Your squash looks great to me. I love to pickle it. Some I put up as bread and butter pickles. But most I cut into spears and then use a sour pickle brine and add a jalapeno and a couple of cloves of garlic to each jar. Yum. Have a great day!
Joyce says
It must have been a good year for squash bugs! I was overrun with them too. I did still manage to get a dozen butternut squash, but it was out and out war at the end to salvage them. I need to read up on how to treat for those pesky bugs.
Ranch Wife says
Did someone say hoop garden? LOL. I’ve been researching those too. Word is we’re in for a very cold, wet winter here, but if they use them in places like Montana, then I think it could work here although I’m a little concerned about our vicious winds.
Ava says
Judy, I battle the cucumber beetles here in Missouri too. Once they get your address, they find a way to stick around. I’ve used Pyrethrum, a chrysanthemum component which is ok even for organic gardens. You do have to spray frequently as it is a contact pesticide, but no residual chemicals. The one I order online is called Pyrethrin from Bonide.
Susan says
I guess I haven’t lived in the right place or grown the right plants to have them, but I love your opportunity plants! Those are always my favorites. Too bad they can’t all go in a greenhouse, they are producing so well!
Teresa says
I would love a hoop house. This woman grows lots of vegetables in a hoop house and even keeps her chickens in one! Different part of the country, of course.
https://matronofhusbandry.wordpress.com/
AmyM says
Hi Judy,
I took a class at the local Comm. College when we moved south, as gardening is so different. She is all organic as well. One of the things she mentioned was planting a decoy squash and leaving it for the bugs… and they leave alone what you wanted.
The teacher says that blue hubbard squash are there favorites. So you plant a few on the perimiter and it is supposed to help.
This year I tried to grow brussel sprouts, and while I got a tall plant, the leaves looked like lace. But I left it, and nothing touched my cucumbers or peppers nearby.
also.. found this http://thefreerangelife.com/control-squash-bugs/
Happy farming!
PS how is your Mom?