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Massachusetts

I've found vine borers chewing into the sides of three of my pumpkins this season. In the past, I've never had them in the pumpkins themselves, only in the vine. What is the best way to protect the pumpkin fruit itself from the borers?

Last year I used granular imidacloprid with success, I found very few borers. This year I followed the same practice and applied the granular imidacloprid along all of the vines before burying, however it has not seemed to be that effective. Next year I plan to try the drench.

8/7/2014 9:59:03 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Spray the pumpkin with a contact insecticide. If it is already bored in I fill a syringe and irrigate the hole.

8/7/2014 1:12:19 PM

Rhode Island

good advice linus. we spray and wipe down our pumpkins once a week. we also as a preventative sulfer the stems and keep them exposed to the sun ( stem only-pumpkins have a large white sheet over them 24-7 )
pap

8/7/2014 5:53:43 PM

Western NY

I've had them get the pumpkins only once or twice. I don't do anything particular to the fruit - they can only make it into the fruit a half inch or two, so they're pretty easy to dig out.

8/7/2014 9:00:48 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

If it's in there, I'd dig it out and not let it die\rot inside which could in turn create a rotted soft spot on the pumpkin. I have dug at least one out every year and like Andy said are usually about a half inch in. You can tell you got the bugger when the tunnel stops and the fruit wall smoothes out (if a small one or cut up in extraction). Others are big enough you could go fish with it.

8/8/2014 7:52:34 AM

Massachusetts

Thanks for the great information, I was able to successfully fish the borers out, I treated the area with some sulfur and captan powder and I'm trying to keep them dry. Hopefully the wounds will heal now.

I've been keeping the pumpkins covered by white sheets, but I had not been wiping them down. I will add that to the regiment.

8/8/2014 11:56:33 PM

Aberdeen

Quick question, will sevin dust stop vine bores? I know merit is commonly used but I didn't want this product around my garden.

1/3/2015 12:29:28 AM

Bethlehem CT

Sevin will work but there are many better choices out there. I would choose a synthetic pyrethroid with a long residual action. Bifenthrin is a really good one. Look for things on the label that says the product "lasts up to three to four weeks". Those type of pyrethroids will actually deter insects as well as kill any already there. A little tip, pyrethroid active ingredient names typically end with the letters "in" Examples would be permethrin, bifenthrin etc. there are too many to name.

1/3/2015 9:04:27 AM

Wixom MI.

Pumkin jon, you may think about a screen house over them ? I have never had a problem with any bugs or disease since i put mine up. I lost all my pumpkin for 10 years straight before i did this and i haven't used any chemicals since. 100% success

1/3/2015 11:47:59 AM