GA: 2 zukes are wilting!!! SVB? ==> Update: No, not SQB!

Feels early for SVB but maybe not... I'll cut open the stems once they're fully gone, to see.

Update on August 1st:  Pulled one of those plants and inspected the stem -- not seeing any SVB evidence.  There was, however, a squash bug on it.  Pretty sure it was some type of disease, which is supported by the leaves not actually having gotten wilty as when it's SVB, but rather drying/dyring in a curled/crispy way.  Haven't pulled the second affected plant yet bec it's still hanging on for now...

Stopped doing insect patrols a week or two ago -- will see how long the zukes/cukes last

I just got tired of killing things, plus all the time I spent last year constantly checking for squash bug eggs etc.  When I first uncovered the zukes/cukes I checked a few times for the eggs, and would destroy any cuke beetles.  But for at least the last week or two I stopped.  If I see any squash bugs (have seen a few so far, not many) then I'll deal with them, but not doing the patrols, and not bothering about the cucumber beetles anymore.  Que sera, sera!

GA: All zukes are now un-covered

Decided to remove ALL of the covers from the GA zukes, even the ones that aren't close to producing.

Several have been uncovered for a few weeks now.  Have seen definitely cucumber beetles and a few squash bugs.  I haven't been spending tons of time checking for insects like I did last year but do check every now and then and remove.

GA: Oh no!!! A 2nd zuke lost! (presumably borer, but not pulling it quite yet) --> NOT the borer

Egads!!! The most productive plant has wilted!  This makes a second plant lost!  I'll leave it for a few days to finish ripening what it has.  I didn't check the stem closely because whatever (but will check it out when I pull it to see if it's SVB).

--> Update on August 1st 2025:  Pulled it today after harvesting its last two zucchinis.  There were some squash bugs on it, and found at least one or two borers in leaves/stems, but the main stem seemed clear of borers.  So, I'm guessing it died of some type of disease transmitted by the squash bugs and/or cucumber beetles, rather than SVB.

GA: No longer removing squash bugs / cucumber beetles, will see what happens

Yes, I've decided the plants are big enough and que sera sera.  Let's see what happens!

GA: No squash bugs/eggs last few days --> A few days later, more appeared

After a couple of weeks of near-daily checking and removing squash bug adults and eggs, I didn't find any at all today or a the last time I was there a couple of days ago.  Here's hoping they're done?!

--> Update:  A few days later I found more -- and am still finding them occasionally as I write this update edit on July 14th 2025.

GA: SQUASH BUGS!!!!!! MATING AND LAYING EGGS ON EXPOSED ZUKE AND ADULTS FOUND ON NETTING!

Hooooo boy!  Last year I only saw a couple of squash bugs, only on one plant, only once.

This year looks to be a different story!  Found about 4 or 5 mating couples, on the one un-netted zuke and on the netting of several zukes.  And the un-netted zuke had several eggs on the underside.

Sigh!

GA: SQUASH BUGS!!!

For the first time since seeing a few eggs earlier in the summer, today I saw squash bugs!  Nymphs specifically!  They were on a SVB-doomed zucchini, so I just pulled the whole plant.  Didn't notice any squash bugs anywhere else, but also didn't go looking for them.

GA: Insect update

GA insect update notes:

Colorado potato beetles:  Finding larva in the potato patch that I covered late; removing by hand.  Haven't found any at all in the other potato patch that I covered from day one.  Haven't found any on tomatoes yet but neighbours have.

Cucumber beetles:  Most of my squash is still tulled, but for the untulled ones they are definitely there.  And one of the tulled ones wasn't secure and had a bunch.

Squash bugs:  Found a pair mating on the outside of tulle over a squash!  Other than than haven't seen any, nor eggs yet on the two uncovered.

Three-lined potato beetle:  Surprisingly I've found hardly any eggs on the ground cherries so far, so stopped looking and will instead just look for larvae.

I think that's it so far.  No sign of the japanese beetle yet, but I'm sure it won't be long now...

So, so far it's been very manageable, nothing scary yet.  The scary part will come when more/all of the squash is uncovered......

Reference: Squash bugs webpage

I've never had to deal with squash bugs yet, but am quite sure it will be a thing at gaga.  So, was doing a bit of research to steel myself.  Here's a great page with a lot of tips/tricks:

https://tendingmygarden.com/squash-bugs-tactics-for-winning-the-war/

I am thinking I might actually try keeping tulle on some of the allotment squashes even after they start flowering, and drive over every morning or every other morning before work to hand-pollinate...  I'm not sure, we shall see.

Squash bug (FOY) and stink bug (FOY)

Eeeps, found a squash bug (full size / adult) and a stink bug today.  The squash bug was I think on the beet tulle and the stink bug was on a ground cherry.  Rehomed.

Squash bugs haven't been a "thing" for my garden in the past, hope not this year either...

Squash bug

Oh no!  An actual squash bug, found on top of a sunflower plant.  Definitely not a shield/stink bug, much narrower shape.  That's the first/only one seen so far.

The jumbo pink banana fruit on the south edge west side seems to have died

The jumbo pink banana fruit on the south edge west side, which I thought had set and had taken off a fair bit, seems to have died -- the end feels hollow.

The only reason I can think of is this is along the same vine that I had to dig into the other day (and again tonight).  I thought it would be ok though, since the plant roots along the vine.

Hmmm...

Squash bug (NOT borer) found on zucchini

Found a squash bug on the yellow zucchini closest to the step, while peeking under the floating row cover.  Didn't see any eggs but didn't check the entire plant.

Insects -- and eggs -- found today:

Insects found in garden today:


three-lined potato beetle, Lema daturaphila -- found on ground cherry leaf (the potted one) -- and then found two or three "piles" of eggs!  two on the same cherry, one on another.

and

squash bug or stink bug (not sure which) -- can't remember where found