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Appalachian Mtns.

I had a thought this morning for the newer growers, as I was out cutting males in the patch.
Unless you're going to use your males when they bloom, you may want to consider cutting them off and discarding them. I've learned over the last few years of cuke beetle infestations, that they come heavily to the plants when the flowers are out. This just causes multiple problems....the chewing, disease, etc.
I've gotten in the habit of cutting the flowers early morning, getting the pollen out of them and into some type of small container (I use laboratory test tubes), then freezing the pollen. This comes in very handy when you have a female ready but no open flowers from the intended donor plant. The pollen will stay viable for at least several weeks, I used frozen pollen last year and it worked just fine...set several pumpkins using this method.
Keep those flowers trimmed the rest of the year too or the beetles will plague you to death.

6/20/2004 11:33:45 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

BTW...I already have vials of pollen from each of my 16 plants in the freezer. I won't get caught with a female ready and no males open...not this year.
Start early, it may pay off big-time.

6/20/2004 11:36:43 AM

Midway City, California

Good and true information.

6/20/2004 11:37:20 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Kyle thanks for the advice. I am also saving pollen. Do you have to let it warm up before each use?

6/20/2004 12:10:45 PM

San Luis Obispo Ca

Test tubes!? Holy Moly! I have a hard enough time just finding the end of the hose some Mornings.

6/20/2004 12:16:53 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Russ,
Just take it out of the freezer 10-15 mins before you're gonna use it.

6/20/2004 2:59:15 PM

Wichita, KS

Thanks, Kyle. You answered my question before I asked it!

6/20/2004 8:58:57 PM

Last year, I had cuke beetles show up late in the season. I saw them ONLY on flowers... I never saw them or their damage on the leaves of my plants. Good idea southern.

6/20/2004 9:05:10 PM

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

This spring I came across some information about planting 3 or 4 white icicle radishes with your squash to repel squash vine borers. just let them grow and go to seed. Also in the same newsletter, it said to plant nasturtiums (sp.) to repel cucumber beetles. Worth a try.
James

6/21/2004 3:00:36 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

James that would be OK if you were raising a few field pumpkins for halloween. This is a whole different sport. Sort of like the difference of driving to work and NASCAR. Frankly the time and effort I have put into my patch is not about to be wasted by a little Bug like the squash vine borer. Nothing makes you sicker to your stomach than watching a plants season come to an end from damage done from a squash vine borer. Prevention is the only way to go, no wives tales, just a moderate insecticide program, followed up with a fungide later in the season to prevent powdery mildew.

6/21/2004 4:16:41 AM

Kenyon, Mn.

Sure nothing natural will work, I have traps set up around the whole Freakin place here, flowers open, on everything, cukes, squash,zukes, pumpkins, No beetles on them to matter, traps need changed now, been a week, I won't even tell what's in them cause you all have already decided that nothing but insecticides will work

6/21/2004 6:29:25 AM

Azores,terceira Island

Mr Bumpy instead of knocking what every body knows why don't you write an article explaining the processes to control insects naturally i would be interested to read about it, even then you could reply to some threads more often There are plenty of people interested in in different ways to control insects i am not trying to pick but that was a pretty bold statement "I won't even tell what's in them cause you all have already decided that nothing but insecticides will work" I would be interested but hey since your not telling i guess no one is going to learn

6/21/2004 12:22:54 PM

Kenyon, Mn.

Not knocking anyone, AGFEVER, just look at any post on here pertaining to organic or natural controls and you will see that any mention of the afore mentioned, is met with negative responses. I do have an excellent program, and I was going to post , and I may still. You are correct, and Thank You for making me realize that I was WRONG in saying "you ALL" have decided, I should have said Most of You, and Thank You for being interested, and for You, and others that are. My traps are simple,cheap and effective, and have captured,at this early date, 95% of the cuke beetles. Margarine cups(yellow), coated with Tanglefoot, baited with PURE Clove oil(Walmart Pharmacy, 3.78 a vial). It is Important to catch them early, and I will be the first to report IF and When they prove ineffective.

6/21/2004 1:00:13 PM

Kenyon, Mn.

I have these traps placed every 12 feet, at a heigth of 2 ft. from the ground, around my entire garden and pumpkin patch.

6/21/2004 2:46:13 PM

Ontario, Canada.

What is Tanglefoot? Mr. Bumpy

6/21/2004 3:03:15 PM

Greene County, Pa.

Can we see a picture of these traps. I will get me some! the more insurance the better..

6/21/2004 3:11:50 PM

Ohio

Thanks Kyle, I didnt know that. Makes good sence

6/21/2004 4:05:24 PM

Kenyon, Mn.

Kahuna, It is a pest barrier, it is for trees, orchards etc. It is a compound made from, Castor oil, natural gum resins and vegetable wax, and it is OOKIE!LOL In that application, you would wrap the trunk with a water-proof paper, or similar tree wrap, and coat the wrap with tanglefoot. when the sticky area becomes covered with bugs, discard it and re-apply. I will say though, you Will not impress the lil woman if your children come in with tanglefoot all over them, so that is a drawback!
Buddy G, yes, I will post a photo as soon as possible, and Yes, no matter what we choose to use, a little more insurance can't hurt.

6/21/2004 4:48:50 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

i noticed a opened male flower on a plant yesterday that was full of dead honey bees..do you think the merit got to them??

6/21/2004 5:23:16 PM

Indiana

There arent near as many bugs up in Wisconsin and Minnesota as there are in Indiana, and Ohio! I tried organic back in the day.......

Tom

6/21/2004 10:08:18 PM

Otis Orchards WA.

Southern! can you just cut off the males and close them up, and put the whole flower in the freezer in ziplock bags for later use?

6/21/2004 11:08:26 PM

Kenyon, Mn.

Tom, You are correct, different areas, different populations; But, with all due respect, If there are More bugs there and in Ohio, please, keep them there, we Have PLENTY in Mn. and Wi. LoL

6/21/2004 11:12:33 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Mullet....go one better. Cut the males, *carefully* peel the flower off to nothing but the stamen, tap the pollen off on wax paper, pour these in a glass vial of some type, and freeze that.

6/21/2004 11:18:59 PM

Kenyon, Mn.

Yes Blkc;oud, I bet the merit got the bee's; HOWEVER, most ANYTHING you would use, ORGANIC or NOT, will kill the bee's, TIMING!!! spray when the bees are less active.

6/23/2004 8:48:25 AM

Kenyon, Mn.

OOp's Sorry Blkcloud, fingers stiff this morning!

6/23/2004 8:49:19 AM