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Greer SC

I have been using Sevin spray and also bayer tree & scrub.
Finding more and more each day.
My Big Maxs were planted first and seem to be taking the most damage but I am noticing some damage on my AGs.
I keep spraying and they keep eating...
today I checked each leaf and well you know squashed the ones I found.
Could this also be the reason I only have 1 female?
I had many then they sorta just died...never opened.
I figured it was the rain/hail/heat. But could the squash bugs be a possible cause?
looking forward to hearing all of your ideas!
thanks Michelle

7/22/2006 6:20:07 PM

Long Island,New York

Unhappy plants tend to not set fruit. Do you have enough squash bugs to make the plant unhappy? What does squash bug damage in So.Carolina look like?

7/22/2006 6:45:19 PM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

Bifenthrin It is in Ortho Max (Red Bottle - Check the label) and a few other things. Ortho comes in hose end sprayer or regular bottle, same price. Got a couple sprayed twice, no more... I see you already did the systemic with Bayer T&S, but it takes a little while and requires your plant to be bitten. KO them with the bifenthrin however with this heat anything could be trouble. I doubt the bugs, prolly the heat, rain and have you fertilized much? That will do it too.

Newbie here, but have learned a lot and it is working so thought I would pass it on. Once the spray is dry, it is rain proof for the most part. Good luck!

7/22/2006 8:34:44 PM

Greer SC

squash bug damage looks like some type of wilt.
being a newbie and only owning the 2nd of the three pumpkin books. I didn't know what a squash bug looked like. (correct me if I am wrong but there is no photo of squash bug in part 2). So i kept reading that chapter till it dawned on me... i better look up what a squash bug is...and sure enough i was like O! yep seen them out there.

OK I went out yesterday before anyone could respond and since i was out of sevin spray. Figured I would get some more. Realized after reading many posts people change the concentration of sevin spray.. Well I guess I made a newbie mistake.. I bought the premixed sevin spray. NO WONDER IT NEVER WORKED lol. It was like $6 water I was spraying them with. :)

I guess that is what everyone means when they say this is one of my practice years. (I am pretty sure I know a local place to go buy a big pumpkin come october)

I was going to get the concentrated sevin liquid but went with what my boyfriend recommended and got the sevin powder and some other type of concentrated liquid with a different chemical. I guess the next thing i will buy is that ortho max.
Well today I went out to check plants and found (removed) 8 squash bugs. They seemed preoccupied mating so I was getting 2 at a time. My boyfriend came out puffed that powder on! It was great the bugs were dying and some were trying to fly away. Now I just hope the powder isnt to stressful to the plants...
I think we will be lucky to get 1 pumpkin off these 9 big max plants. they were doing so great till the squash bugs. I will be optimistic but also thankful if my AG plants are spared.

I HATED CUCUMBER BEETLES till I met a squash bug!

7/23/2006 2:23:01 PM

Long Island,New York

Just wait til you meet the squash vine borer.........muhaha...

7/23/2006 9:26:57 PM

Greer SC

ok well squash vine borer.. could they be out there and I don't know it?
Should I expect them every year?
what did I get myself into...

Well my plan to use the powder.. dont know how dumb that was yet. but we went to dinner and came back and it had rained while we were gone.. so I am thinking that was a waste.
anyone try the sevin 10 powder? do you need to reapply after rain...

its funny at first i wanted to grow these pumpkins and give them away..
Changed my mind about giving them away after pest controling the heck out of the plants i was worried how toxic these pumpkins might be.
now I will be lucky if I dont have to go buy one for myself.

GOTTA LOVE IT

7/23/2006 10:00:27 PM