Help! Last year I was overrun with squash bugs. I tried hand picking the eggs, etc. but there were so many, it was hard to stay ahead of them. I want to have some squash, cucumbers, and watermelons this year. Any suggestions?

Most people recommend a floating row cover the second the seeds are in the ground. I personally would also try yellow colored cards at about ground level, covered in tangle foot.

Last year I planted Nasturtium all around my zuccini an cucumbers. I still caught a few squash bugs and cucumber beetles, but not as may as usual. It's worth another try this year.

Nastartium? Does it repel the squash bugs somehow? That's really interesting. Do you know why? I loved my Nastartiums last year, but mine got INFESTED with aphids! Not sure why.

gardenpoet

I'm not sure why they repel the squash bugs. I didn't have trouble with aphids on them. I might of just been very lucky last year. My tomatoes were a disaster to make up for the good luck with the cukes and zucs. My tomatoes had so much wilt and lost so many leaves that I pulled them up in August.

Nasturtiums are often used in a veggie garden as a 'trap' plant. If there is an aphid within a ten foot radius, they'll go to the nasturtium before they land on anything else.
Marigolds are used in the veggie patch for their repellant qualities.

I always plant nasturtiums at the same time I plant my squash and it has worked pretty well. One time I was overun with the durn things and (I've posted this before but I don't think anyone else has ever tried it) I used my shop vac on them! It worked great! Be careful of your leaves though.

I used to be over run with squash bugs til I finally took my grandpa's advice and delayed planting squash til June 1.

He said wait til June 1 and you won't have the bugs. (He has been gone 25 years). It's hard to wait, but worth it. I think it must have something to do with the egg-laying cycle of the bugs. If the squash aren't there, then they can't lay eggs on them. Makes sense to me. Of course, what zone you are in may alter that date somewhat. I only know what works in my zone.

If you do pick the bugs by hand, be sure to get the eggs. Keeping the young from hatching will save you lots of hand picking. They look like clusters of red rice, only smaller. I use a small rock to crush them, because their outer shell is quite hard.

Mumsey, when do you usually put out your squash plants? How long do I have to wait from our usual set out time?

I plant radish seeds around mine, and put a nail or any other stem type item close to the plant stem. So far, for years this has worked. I hope this works for you !!!! A half inch from plant is good to put a stick, or any straight item in the ground,next to the plant. I tried just the radish plants and they did good on their own.

Sooo... would having the corn planted nearby help too? I don't understand why a stick helps? Is it just having something tall nearby? If so, then the three sisters arrangement would help, right? I didn't have a problem with squash bugs last year, and I hope to be as lucky this year... I need to get some nasturtiums in, though--didn't know they attract aphids, and boy, do I have aphids!

They seem to love the scarlet runner beans too... Sigh. I seem to have pests everywhere this year--slugs, snails, aphids, ugh! Where are all the beneficials my diverse garden, heavy mulch, compost, rocks, and other habitat/moisture/feeding opportunities are supposed to be attracting???

By the way, I LOVE the scarlet runner beans--so beautiful. Next year, I'll plant them around my patio too, just for looks, and for the harvest, too, of course.

Heather

Late reply. I've been busy and/or hacking up a lung.

I found that squash bugs hide in the corn, and return to the squash when they're planted together. X-( I gave that up the second year I had the same results.

My cukes and zukes the year before last (too cold and wet for zukes) were practically squash bug free -- if they were planted with the tomatoes!

I'll have to try the nasturtium thing this year. Too many damned aphids.

Some years back in Fine Gardening magazine someone reported that planting Icycle Radishes would help deter Squash bugs. Check also at http://www.ourgardenpests.com/SquashBug.html for more information.