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Texas

what is the best available systemic insecticide for pumpkins. i have herd "merit", "scimitar" and "warrior t or z". if so, how and where do i get ahold of these products, thanks for any and all inputs

2/1/2007 2:57:54 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

You need a license to get most of these.

2/1/2007 4:28:54 PM

Texas

I here it so talked about in books, postings and literature related to competitive pumpkin growing, the only one i have found availble is "merit" is that a good product or should i tryand get the other from the farmer down the road, what are the pro's and con's

2/1/2007 4:38:51 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Merit is systemic & is general use (no license) in all states except New York. The agriculture version is Admire which is the only version we can use on pumpkins grown for food or resale.

Merit in 2 oz jars is available at PumpkinSupply.com

Warrior & Scimitar are both Lamda-cyhalothrin & are NOT systemic. Warrior is RUP as is the Golf & Pest Control forms of Scimitar.

Scimitar SC is general use & available at PumpkinSupply.com

2/1/2007 4:59:28 PM

western Kentucky

How many plants(600-900sqft) will the 2oz bottle of merit protect?

2/1/2007 5:19:31 PM

Immunox by Spectracide, same basic ingredient as Merit,,,box store,,grey bottle,,green label,,box stores,, for foliar apps the Plus version contains a fungacide as well.

Grubbex by Scott/Bayer, granular, hardware, garden centers,apply at preplant. Once again same ingredient as Merit, 15# bag treats 5,000 sq ft $25 last I looked.

Research organic products, great info out there and no liscense or fear of killing the good guys with them.

2/1/2007 6:48:18 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Cucumber Beetles, Aphids, White Flies, etc:

A 2 oz jar will treat a quarter acre (11,000 sq ft) one time. It is applied before planting (April 15 for a May 1st planting) to the soil & watered in (no puddles) then kept moist. The initial treatment area should be as large as the plant is expected to be in 6 weeks. Reapply to the entire patch at the same rate around June 15th, water in & keep moist.

These dates are a little closer together than once recommended but with this protocol we're seeing better supression of other "non-labeled" pests like SVB where they're normally seen around July 1st.

I expect the new neonicitinoid insecticide "Clothianidin" (Celero or Arena) to do a better job on SVB but I have no first hand testing done with it yet.

Immunox Plus is not Merit. It is Myclobutanil (Eagle) plus Permethrin insecticide which is a contact.

2/1/2007 11:39:25 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

What is the current best place to aquire Merit 75WP? I thought pumpkinsupply was gone. I had great success with this product with a small dose (100 sq feet each plant) before planting and a massive area dose mid season.

Also, Triazicide = Warrior but at lower concentration and is available to backyard growers. There were plenty of issues for me in 06, bugs were not one of them. These two products plus Sevin during the critical cuke beetle outbreak worked very well.
Jim

2/3/2007 6:37:59 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

http://www.pumpkinpost.com/

I had the wrong URL. Pumpkin Supply is now Pumpkin Post.

2/4/2007 1:30:44 AM

Texas

thanks for all the information, it will be a great help.

2/4/2007 8:57:54 AM

ExtremeVegetables.com

"Also, Triazicide = Warrior but at lower concentration and is available to backyard growers. There were plenty of issues for me in 06, bugs were not one of them. These two products plus Sevin during the critical cuke beetle outbreak worked very well."

I used the same regimen but without the Merit with the same results.
I could count the cucumber beetle on one hand when in previous years I was battling them the entire season.

2/23/2007 7:02:28 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

If you can count Cucumber Beetle on one hand then there are probably ,many more evading detection. Try Merit & the number of dead ones around the plant might be astounding.

2/23/2007 11:47:12 AM

maryville TN

Does anybody use the insecticide Talstar? If so, at what rate do you put it on, say in a 2 gallon sprayer? Which do you prefer: Talstar or Warrior-T?

2/25/2007 10:52:06 AM

Texas

Man, i have never received so much help from a group of people. i do appreciate it very, very much.

i have purchased merit 75, and will you triazicide (warrior t). With a little luck and a little help from the wife, I will have a pumpkin or two, in south texas I hope to grow at leat 2-300 lbs. i will report back if anyone cares.

2/25/2007 9:31:42 PM

Long Island,New York

I was not impressed with talstar and will be going back to warrior this year.

2/25/2007 9:52:06 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

cassius,

Talstar is nominally used at .25 oz per gallon but can be applied at up to .5 oz/gal to control mites.

2/26/2007 12:31:56 AM

Michigan

Mintex- Have you planted already? We would love to see your progress in South Texas, have you considered keeping a growers diary? I'll be planting in a couple of weeks as I'm a little north of you, but will post my progress in the growers diary as well. Wishing you much luck this season!

~Jessica

2/26/2007 10:15:29 AM

ordinary,VA

used warrior & merit last good stuff will use again this year

2/26/2007 10:15:46 AM

Montoursville, PA

Oh well.........someone has to mess up your thinking. If you like I are hell bent to stop using merit go to: arbico-organics.com and look into their product called Nema Seek.
That would be the consideration to use benificial nematoads. This specific beneficial variety enters the soil and goes to the underground stages of all beetles and attacks for the kill even before your roots are being attackedby the beetle. No questionable harsh chemicals in play when using beneficial nematodes. They are effective when used properly.

I will be using these critters this year. I prefer to not use merit or equal. That having been said merit does work very well for cuke beetles but I feel the trade offs are not to my liking. If push comes to shove I still prefer to fight them above ground than in the ground. Neam Oil will definately kill cuke beetle above the ground.

2/26/2007 11:32:39 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tremor, or anyone...any info on Gaucho XT? Peace, Wayne

2/26/2007 10:44:30 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Gaucho is the same as Merit...

2/27/2007 8:15:05 AM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

I prefered Merit as a systemic (I buy it as Bayer Tree & Shrub at Depot at lower concentration) and then used Ortho Max with the active ingredient bifenthrin as a spray.

I think I may buy the Merit WP this year depending on the number of plants I actually end up with.

Anyone else here using bifenthrin or is everyone using some form of the Lamda-c?

2/27/2007 11:01:09 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Gaucho, Provado, Admire, Merit, Bandit, Submerge, Proxol, Mallet, Enforce, etc all contain the active ingredient Imidacloprid.

Now that the patent is expired there will be many more new names & concentrations. Always do the math to insure a proper rate. More is NOT better & less is a waste of time & material.

2/27/2007 1:19:19 PM

southwest MO

I use Bifenethrin... Got it at the co-op. Its 12 or 14% and is labeled for termites. It hammers squash bugs, and in the shade of the giant pumpkin leaves it has a loooong residual... I think its the active ingredient in Ortho max liquid, as well as pelitized lawn form of the max. I thought I saw some stronger stuff in the ortho brand labeled for termites at wal-mat...

3/1/2007 4:19:12 PM

southwest MO

mart

3/1/2007 4:20:07 PM