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Middle TN

May 11th.. I sprayed Bayer T&S (4 oz per gallon) I mixed one gallon and spread it lightly over the entire patch (560 sq ft)

May 13th.. I sprayed with Cyonara 9.7 (half tsp per gallon) and sprayed it the same way. One gallon doesnt go far but I sprayed it lightly over the entire patch.

Today I saw a cucumber beetle and it made me wonder (and worry) did I spray incorrectly? Ive heard of foliar spray, under leaf foliar and soil drench etc but I honestly cant say I know exactly what those terms mean or how to execute them correctly. I learned about contact and systemic insecticides but Im confused as to how to actually apply them. Maybe I should have put this post on the New Growers forum.

Should I have concentrated on the area around the vines rather than trying to cover the whole patch? Do systemic and contacts need to be sprayed differently or can I mix them and spray them at the same time in the same way? Im so confused. Id really really appreciate any advice or help.

Thanks a million,
Tammy

My vines are now 14 ft and 8 ft
My patch is 560 sq ft
Im using 1 gallon hand pump sprayers

5/22/2010 2:24:44 PM

Bloomington, IN

I see in your diary that you found it in a flower. Pick off any flowers you are certain won't be getting used for pollination as cuke beetles are atracted to the flowers.

Either that or use Garlic Barrier. Or do both.

5/22/2010 2:40:18 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Mix the insecticide in your sprayer at the recommended rate. Spray the plants on top of the leaves and underside of leaves enough to wet them evenly but not enough that it runs off. I'm not sure that spraying the soil will really accomplish a lot but spraying the plant itself is definitely the way to go. Contact sprays will last 7 to 10 days if not rained on, systemics last 2 weeks and longer even if rained. Regardless of this make sure you rotate insecticides every few weeks. These bugs can get immune to one type if that all you use. Spraying these plants gets to be a bit of a headache once they reach mature size but you must spray the entire plant each time, top and bottom of leaves.

5/22/2010 9:00:59 PM

Middle TN

Thank you that helps a lot. We've had A LOT of rain so that may have been an issue.

When figuring the recommended rate per gallon.. do I use the size of the plant instead of the size of the patch?

5/23/2010 10:36:55 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Garlic works wonders on cuke beetles. I sprinkle garlic powder from Walmart around small plants. When they get bigger I mix garlic powder with my foliar sprays, insceticides, etc. Your patch might smell like an Italian restaurant, but cuke beetles hate Italian.

5/23/2010 9:48:35 PM

Middle TN

LOL I just may have to give that a try, expecially since I already have garlic powder. We like Italian! haha

5/23/2010 11:35:46 PM

Lexington, Ky

Regardless of what you do, you will still see them at times during the season. You just have to limit the damage! Best control is to use both contacts and systemics, applied foilar and as a drench.

It is difficult (not impossible) to get "under canopy" with a large plant and a 1 gallon sprayer. Squash (stink) bugs are notorious for their ability to hide and lay eggs under canopy so it will be important at some point to have an under canopy plan of attack.

5/24/2010 12:08:18 PM