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Cottage Grove, MN

Ok, they made it into the main, 8ft out I found a topside bore hole today. This is AFTER I did everything I could think of (systemic, etc), figured I had them licked, but no. Also figures it's on my best plant, have three nice sets 10-14ft out. So, what to do? Options as I see them, I already sprayed Tri tonight again, and treated the wound with fertilome fruit tree spray (captan and more). Options? Surgery? I'm worried the grub died somewhere in the vine and will rot, should I split the vine to find it and so it doesn't collect water on the top side wound? Let it go and hope the plant recovers some? Get out the blow torch and shotgun, kill the plant AND grub and feel good and bad at the same time? Not to mention the neighbors, but that's another thread.

7/10/2007 9:27:06 PM

Georgia

Man I wish I could help. Me and my girlfreind have been picking svb eggs off my plants for the last two weeks. Ive also been spryaing aon a regular basis and last night I found holes in the top of the stems under the leaves were they seemed to make their way in. I had a 1065 Mckie which was a great looking plant perfect christmas tree and green as could be. I had a pumpkin set at 15 feet out on the main with great stem position. But Im afraid Im done with for the year. If they got in the stem already Im afraid its time to throw in the towel. It sucked I was mad as a rattle snake last night and drank a cou[ple too many thinking about it. O well I wish you the best of luck and maybe someone can help ya out. I know Im gonna come home one day and have a dead plant. Im not totally giving up but with all the research Ive done once their in the plant its preety much over. It sucks but thats the way nature goes.

7/12/2007 8:22:19 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The Wallaces grew a 919 pounder a few years back on a plant like yours. They somehow lost the base but 125 sq ft of leaves & tap roots kept it going.

7/12/2007 8:51:07 AM

southwest MO

919, no stump, 125sq. ft. plant... Now THATS insparation... dont give up just keep doing your best.

7/12/2007 10:25:49 AM

Cottage Grove, MN

So. Just let it go or try and cut 'em out? I found 3 more bore holes last night, now on both plants. What is their life cycle once bored in? I'm hoping that the plants had enough gurbex in them to kill the nasty little buggers.

7/12/2007 10:38:15 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I wouldn't cut the affected vine out but don't bury it either. Keep it dry.

First try drenching that portion of the vine with Merit from a watering can. Focus on hitting the nodes on each side of the affected section so that tap roots can suck it up. Drench the leaves too.

If you can safely find the borer & poke it with wire that would work too. This effort might cause more damage than it's worth.

Losing the basal crown is bad but the plant will "know" where the sink (pumpkin) is & the forward end will start back-feeding in response.

Make sure the secondary vines forward of the fruit are also buried & start treating both ends with equal care. Use mycorrhyza when burying to get as much root system as possible.

7/12/2007 10:52:41 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

the borers are uaually not too far from their entry hole, get a wire (a large paperclip will do) make a small hook on the end of the wire , you should be able to fish the monster out via the entry hole, then apply a fungide.

Glenn

7/12/2007 11:55:16 AM

Georgia

I hate those things so much its not funny and this is the first year ive seen them in Georgia. Reading the last couple posts I have a little hope.im gonna examine for entry points tonight again. One question though if they burrow their way in even from the bottom of the leaf stalks how does covering the vines up help that much exept for growth?

7/12/2007 12:56:35 PM

Cottage Grove, MN

Is there a way to tell they are still alive (progressive damage)? I don't want to mess with the mains too much, just thinking they may eventually have gotten enough imip to do them in. Tremor, does granular grubex go bad? The stuff I used this year was from last year, I was more concerned I over applied this year, now this. Thanks.

7/12/2007 12:56:39 PM

Cottage Grove, MN

Ok, sorry to beat a dead horse (or pumpkin for that matter), but once they bore how long do they live? Do they just get inside the vine and chomp to their hearts content? I'm assuming they eventually leave the main and head into the dirt. If they die in the vine, is there then a rot problem. This is killing me!

7/12/2007 6:40:06 PM

Cottage Grove, MN

OK, just got out of the patch. Three holes, probed all about 4" either way with a paper clip hook, nothing, no resistance either. Are they gone? I'm still concerned about rot because they are top side holes, would it be advisable to slit the bottom side of the vines right beneath the holes to allow better drainage? Or just go with and treat accordingly. I unburied the vines either way for about a foot or so. Lastly, as I came out of the patch, low and behold and adult female SVB sitting on a leaf. She looked a bit drunk, I mushed between my fingers after giving her the two finger flick. Just an orange stripe on my hand now, what joy! Are we done yet with these b*stards this year or what? Thanks again all.

7/12/2007 7:25:16 PM

hamilton,Ontario

BASED on MANY years of getting hit by Them...GET THEM OUT ASAP...it isint just the hole they bore in Its the Mega feast they have once inside....I have and didnt know about these guys until it was too late....Once inside they keep eating around the inside eventually cutting off the supply to the pumkins..if u have taproots u still have a chance but the excitement as it is before the invasion lessons to the degree of boring....I think its best to kill kill kill......Im sorry but they have got me the last three -5 years.....

7/12/2007 7:26:09 PM

Cottage Grove, MN

I don't think they could keep eating, I mean the plants had a bunch of systemic in them. I've found dead stink bugs and other beasties that have dined and died. Maybe they are getting resistant? I've got great taps so that's something I guess, but I just finally was getting excited because I have a couple nice looking sets that took (the heat was a problem during pollination). Thanks!

7/12/2007 7:34:15 PM

Georgia

I found a hole in another one of my vines and cut along the hole about 6 inches and didnt find any worms at all. No signs of the trail they usually leave. I know they got me because I cant wait till find a worm and go hostel on it. Usually they leave a trail of poo the whole way were they travel thats how I look for them. I hate them bugers so darn much. I keep on picking eggs off the leaves and killing them and their tiny little eggs. My plant still looks great though I just cant find any worms. At this point if the gonna get my plant their gonna get it but Im not going down without a fight.

7/13/2007 9:53:36 AM