Squash Bugs Be Gone

I suppose it's a good thing my neighbors don't live too close and the people who know me well are ready for anything at my home. Early morning is our gardening time and it is a family adventure. When we say we are stamping out squash bugs we mean it literally.

We lay boards out overnight and those little pests gather. In the morning we turn up the stereo, take turns picking the music and the stomp begins. We flip the boards and do the stomp. The smell isn't pleasant, but we are actually disappointed if there is nothing to stomp.

Squash bugs seem to hit hard and fast. They actually suck the sap from the plant. If that isn't enough they release a toxin while feeding that can cause what is referred to as the wilt. You have beautiful plants one day and the hills are wilted.

What can you do besides the "squash stomp"? Check the underside of the leaves and wash them often. The eggs take one to two weeks to hatch so you have some time you pick them off and put them in some soapy water. The eggs are quite shiny and easy to spot.

We plant many repellent plants. In fact, some years they do much better than the garden. You might want to try marigolds, tansy and mint. They seem to serve as repellents for many different pests.

Plant hardy varieties of squash. Sweet cheese, butternut, and royal acorn seem to be more resistant to the squash bugs. We plant these on the outer edges and the more delicate inside. My husband seems to think they simply give up before they arrive to his precious Hubbard.

It is our practice to burn the squash plants at the end of the season. These bugs are famous for simply hibernating through the winter to come out munching in the summer. We also turn the soil and prepare it for winter. We want to make it seem like an unhappy winter home for all pests. Stirring things up brings them to the top. We always have a bucket of soapy water around to toss undesirables in.

I have heard rumors that spreading imitation vanilla around the plant helps. I am a little shy about spreading things around. Someone told me spreading cayenne pepper around your camp would keep bears away. The only year I tried it we had a midnight visit from a bear. I am willing to give it a try when six people try it and recommend it to me.Our garden is a family adventure. I hope you serious and professional gardeners forgive us for our levity. Good luck and may you reap what you sow.