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Glen Echo, MD

I thought I read somewhere that covering the entire vine with soil is an effective way to prevent vine stem borers. Has anyone tried this? I am thinking of covering the vine with composted manure. Any thoughts?

6/5/2002 12:10:30 PM

New Hampshire

I know a few people who cover their vines with composted cow manure, we just use the garden soil seems to work fine. As far as the vine borer being prevented from getting into the vine Id say no....We have had them in the stem of the leaves about 4 inches above the main vine you cant bury the stem of the leaves so thats why I said no, just an oppinion though.

6/5/2002 12:23:55 PM

Eagan,Minnesota

It does help to stop them!
Chris

6/5/2002 1:10:33 PM

Bemidji, MN

Usually burying is for anchoring and root development. Doubt if it'll help much in bug problems. I do know of a heavy hitter that actually cuts strips of Re-may fabric to put over his vines as they grow, then covers them with soil. This has drastically cut down on his bug problems the past couple years. I'm fortunate here in northern Minnesota to have never had any bug problems in 7 years. Don't know if it's the climate,soil, vegetation or what, but htey tend to stay away from my plot . Thank God. Pumpkinpiper

6/5/2002 2:08:27 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

i have in the past covered the vines with REMAY and then covered them with soil but this can be a lot of work when the plants begin to get large, last year i only saw one adult SVB and no count em NO lava in the vines even after the fall when i cleared out the vines i found no evidence of borers, i had not covered the vines with REMAY last year and buried most of the root/leaf juctions but not the entire vine! also i had very few cuke beetles and squash bugs the least i've seen in 14 years of growin AG'S
Glenn

6/5/2002 3:35:12 PM