My grandfather use to cut open the vine, take the worm out, and used medical tape and the plants lived

I started having issues with squash borer and did not want to spray stuff either. I read that that they did not like the long white radishes, so I threw a bunch of radish seeds in the bed that I was going to plant my pumpkins. by the time my pumpkins were growing, the radishes had grown up pretty good. I did not get borers, and the particular variety I grew (white icicle) loves to reseed itself.

I just started gardening last year. My thought was to be “all natural”, and if some pest took some of my yield, it’s just “nature.” I didn’t know how maddening pest are, and we have ALL of them in Texas! 😡

Every region sure has its unique characteristics. No squash vine borer here, but we have a much shorter growing season - so you can envy my zucchini, while I envy your longer season! 😀

This is my 4th yr here trying to win the borer battle. I tried the bt, even some sprays but the borer would win. I heard they don’t like aromatic herbs so this yr I added basil & rosemary near them. Also, I had some cedar shavings for pet cages and I mulched with that. So far, the squash are still healthy. I will report back.

Hi Meg, I share your 'passion' for the SVB! I have hit the wall with them. I had a HUGE problem when I went vertical with squash - it increased all the surface area for the SVB. I was injecting BT and making surgical cuts like a madwoman! This year I have delayed planting squash - hoping a few months would help. Now that you mention SVB hesitant seeds I'm literally smacking my forehead! THANKS for sharing your frustration and resolve to find a way to grow your pumpkins (super cute) and squash.

I was already thinking of Seminole squash you just sold me!!! ❤ From Seminole county Florida!!!

I'm in the UK, and I love growing all types of squash, just like you. Ever since I first heard of the squash vine borer, I've felt deeply lucky to have dodged that particular garden nightmare. It sounds so infuriating!!

I looooooved hearing about all the squash!

Loved this video-I have found the same with trombochino-& my fav part is that entire “neck” has no seeds, it’s all squash!! I have also had really good luck waiting, waiting, & waiting a little more time before planting squash! I find that if I can wait until the SVB & SB have gone thru their reproduction cycle it greatly reduces any issues with them! I was even able to grow zucchini & yellow squash last year by waiting-you won’t have a harvest until August/September but you will get them! Great video-can’t wait to see how your trials turn out! 👩🏼‍🌾

I’m in the SW and we have them too. I think they are all over the USA. Cherokee tan pumpkins are resistant too to all the bugs. Same growth pattern.

I'm crying inside right now. Thank you so much for this information!

I plant zucchini and yellow squash early as bait. The borers seem to prefer them to spaghetti squash and especially to tromboncino. I grow the summer squashes in my front yard and watch them for borer eggs (and squish them between my fingernails as I find them) until about a week after I find the first hole from a hatched borer. I usually get a few weeks of summer squash fruit before I rip out the entire plant and throw it away to do what I can to disrupt the lifecycle of the moths. I make sure to do this before the little buggers have time to pupate. I have heard that some people locally plant a second crop of zucchini since we currently only have one wave of them in MN (June to mid July.) About six weeks after the first egg sighting is generally the end of the borer season here, so I start my vining squash inside and put them out after 4ish weeks. I only have to watch them for a little while and they aren't as big and attractive to the little jerks. I have found that the eggs are mostly laid near the ground, so I grow the vining types up a trellis, but with a little slack so I can re-bury a stem if they get damaged. Most squash can grow roots from any leaf node, so if you work fast you can sometimes re-root a vine with damage further up the stem

Squash bugs are my nemesis

Luffas also grow well in SVB land! I had one plant last year that took over my garden. At least 100 luffas. Picked small, they taste like asparagus but you can let them mature for sponges. They really took off when temps got into the 90-100 range and drought conditions. No pest could phase it! Give it A LOT of room.

Fought the same battle using the methods you described and more without success. Grew squash and zucchini vertically this year removing the bottom leaves up to the first flower as they grew. Haven't had one issue with squash vine borer this year. My understanding is they don’t like to lay eggs in unprotected areas created by removing the bottom leaves. Plus the plants are much easier to manage and harvest vertically.

Hey Meg! I Just came over from your cameo on the Epic Gardening channel! I live in NC just like you and I wanted to share my strategy for extending our herb season! So obviously as you know we've had some wickedly mild winters these last few years. (I thinking the coldest it got here in Raleigh this winter was 18 degrees) and so what ive been doing is sowing my Cilantro, Parsley, Dill in October when it just starts to cool off a bit. That gives them a solid 2 months to get some roots and foliage on them before our first freeze usually in late November early December. These herbs are surprisingly cold hardy! All these herbs I listed can theoretically resist the cold all the way down to 10 degrees which we rarely go below in the winter if ever so I've successfully maintained no frost damage on any of my cool season herbs for 2 years straight now! I was picking herbs all winter long plus the added benefit is having pre established herbs gives them a MASSIVE boost in growth when the soil temps warm up in February and march. They exploded with foliage growth and by april I was giving away fresh herbs to all my neighbors I had so much extra. Yeah we can't prevent the bolting once our heat and humidity come back around this time but boy do I tell ya the extra 3+ months of herbs I get over the winter is so worth it! I am a new viewers so if you already do that forgive me I was just going off the info I heard you say in that video on epic gardening lol. And I thought you'd appreciate this info if you don't know it already since we live in the same state/zone. Okie that all have a good one!

Wow I had no idea there are certain varieties that are resistant. Ty for the info and saving us all so much pain! I've been loving your channel--your energy, vibrance, and humor are so great. I came from the Epic Gardening channels 😊. Also, you're so pretty!!! ❤

I love Renees garden seeds. It was great to hear someone mention them.

Coastal SC here, sooo happy to have information related to my area. Zone 9a, and on a Sea Island. If it weren't for insect netting all 'winter' and correct varieties, I'd have absolutely no garden success. 😅

I’ll have to give the Seminole Pumpkin a try, especially since we’re here in Seminole County Florida. Thanks for the advice 👍

New follower here!! I loved this video so much!!! Thanks for sharing. 😊

Thanks for saying that about it being hard to garden in FL 😂😂 It’s a struggle for sure but I learn more every year and things are getting better!

Started gardening this year in Texas and I might attempt squash knowing this! I’m so Icked out by grub/worm bugs like that I knew I couldn’t fight SVB on my own. Been sharing your video in my gardening groups, SVB is taking down everyone’s harvest currently!

I have 4 seminoles started. Bring on the pumpkins! Yes, growing in SW FL was difficult.

Two more moschatas: My second year with these, they're Korean, seeds from Kitazawa seed Co. (now handled by True Leaf??): Both are summer squashes. (1) King Ka Ae, looks like a very smooth light green zucchini with tapered ends, pick small, slightly chubby at 5-6 inches, very fresh tasting. (2) Teot Bat Put, also nicknamed "Avocado Squash", as they are so shaped, best picked at 3-4 inches around, I would err on the smaller width. These are slightly sweet, with a yellow cast to the flesh, very attractive multi-green skin, and really productive. My experience with these moschatas are as you describe - resist the borers, and yield wave after wave. No mildew until late in their growth. I'm in central TX. I grow these on a squash tunnel trellis.

They seem to leave my butternut squash alone

The seminole variety is one of the pumpkins we can grow on my island of Puerto Rico. That and other ones that were developed here, such as one that I believe is called Taino and other similar pumpkins. We are extremely hot and humid most of the year, and there are no winters to kill off pests and control their populations. My particular zone is 12 so growing certain things is quite tough. In the central part of the island I believe it's a zone 10 and is a lot more ideal for growing lots of different things, one of we are most known for, which is coffee.

Great video. I grew Seminole pumpkins last year and it was amazing. So many pumpkins all season. I also grow the Tromboncino squash. Love it too! I garden in Central Virginia.

I'm so excited about this information!!! THANKS A MILLION!

You are so good on camera. Thanks for the informatin.

I’m in Florida and finally started going Seminole pumpkins this year! I was fighting a losing battle with vine borer

Yes! I grew Seminole pumpkins last year and they were amazing! Tough plants and yummy pumpkins! Will be planting them in a bigger plot this summer 🎃

I grow the Seminole and Zucchino Rampicante (Tromboncino). They are well worth it. I also grow Cherokee Tan. They're on the small side, but do well for me. Seminole is my hands-down favorite.

I hate squash vine borers too! I have given up on growing squash - which is one of my favorites too! I have never had a successful squash harvest thanks to them! I will have big, beautiful plants one day....then the next they are going limp thanks to those rotten squash vine borers! So thank you so much for the tip on the other varieties!

Last year I literally googled what pumpkins do they NOT LIKE, and bought those. Acorn king and queen, and blue jardhelle

Growing here in FL. Seminole squash - try grill or baking it. Tastes like butternut squash. And, thank you for the other varieties, we'll have to try them!

Wonderful! Just the information I need! Thank you!

I'm growing south anna butternut for the first time this year too, fingers crossed it does well 🤞🏽🤞🏽

I grew a candy roaster last year. I love them but where to store a 2 foot long squash all winter lol. The chubby seeds were the best for roasting. Great video.👍🏼

Thank you. I like you have struggled with this insidious bug! I’ve already seeded my regular plants but will try these as a late summer crop.

I live outside of Charlotte too. I'm so glad I found your channel because we're in the same zone!

Wow. Im so glad you shared. I didnt know some are resistant. Hope you will report back on these other varieties!

Thank you so much for this information.

Black Futsu is another interesting looking moscata. Trying it this year!

Great info

Thank you for this information. It is good to know i can just choose a different kind of squash seed and avoid the bores I really appreciate this.

Thanks for the info. As a fellow North Carolinian I am very familiar with the squash vine borer and have lost many plants by their evil deeds 😂. I'll try some of the varieties you mentioned next year.

Me too!! It took all of my squash yesterday

Great advice. I’m so glad I saw this. I also live in North Carolina and then trying to grow my first squash and pumpkins this year

Oh Meg, I feel this so hard. Thanks for sharing, I'm going to be trying my very best against those vine borers this year. Again.

Excellent video and right on time. I am in GA and I was having a terrible time with my squash. I just created a trellis and I just ordered the seeds you suggested. Looking forward to actual harvests this year.

Yep saw the first Melittia Cucurbitae the third week in April. Getting to the point that I am going to start my summer squash in August after the darn moth is gone. Thank you for all the information on other squashes I can try.

I am in zone 9B in Houston area and fighting these dang squash bugs as we speak!!! We had horrible weather with lots of rain and bad storms that kept us without power and now my plants look like they’re dying, but I’ve been fighting bugs, mosquitos and am at the point that I want to pull the plants, but I have gotten some zucchini that grew great and a few yellow crookneck which grew small.

I am in Houston and my garden pest is the vine borers and leaf foot bug. This has been so helpful, I am shopping for seeds. Thank you!

Good vidio great garden❤😊

Love this video! Zone 6 here, grew Cherokee tan pumpkins last year-very robust, squash vine borers were spotted but they didn’t seem to be affected.

I love southern exposure seed!! Awesome ppl awesome seeds and prices. Everything I get from them grows super well here zone 6b 7.

thank you, ive been planning for a few years yo try the cindy, & gray & white ones, ur very super helpful.❤

I did the injection method last year, and it was the only way we got spaghetti squash. The key was to start it early before they could ever take hold. I’m starting it now in our garden this year. Wish us luck! 🍀

Ugh…the worst! We had so many insects of all kinds last year, especially on cucurbits. I’m really hoping for a better year. And trying to plant some blue Hubbard squash first, as a bait. I’m planting quite a few squash and they’re already started…so I guess I’ll be keeping track of which ones fair better. Gonna look for moschata next year! We have grown tromboncino/rampicante for years and you’re right, they’re incredible! I noticed they were vigorous and seemingly resistant, didn’t know they were moschata! What a helpful video! And yes, they’re fun to share…especially some of the extra “quirky” ones 😅😉

Excellant video. I also hate the vine borers we have here in New England (MA) I enjoyed your story. Thank you! I subsciibed good luck with your new garden trials.

I'm in the mid Atlantic region and we have the exact same issues with the pests and disease. Thanks for this video. I'm going to attempt some of these!

I'm in oregon and they are everywhere. I feel your pain. I've been told to start after the rush of bugs is over. I did that last year and got zuchinni. It got cold and the plant died but I got some. I'm thinking about building a cage and hand pollinating! I'm looking for some seed from the varieties your mentioning. Those little pumpkins are really cute and just my size as I'm just me.😅

I felt like we were having a private conversation about what's currently happening in the garden. Thanks for the tips! I will be visiting Southern Seed and checking out these Moschata varieties.

Love to cook all things pumpkin. While browsing some East End farm stands here on Long Island (NY), a farmer introduced me to the Long Island Cheese Pumpkin. I have never looked back. Trying to grow my own this year for the first time. Did some research and it, too, is a Cucurbita moschata. So excited! Good luck with your varieties! That Trombetta is awesome!

Hi Meg, I grew up gardening in the midwest where we didn't have SVB. Moving to Greensboro I tried to grow all of my favorite squash (acorn, hubbard, zukes, etc). What heartache when each and everyone of the plants died. So a few years ago I started growing only c.moschata and like a miracle no more SVB. I have had good luck with waltham, honeynut, and tromonccino. Tromboncinno is so prolific. I actually like it better than zuchinni and it freezes so well. I am trying seminole this year as well as tahitian melon from SESE. I always get squash bugs at the end of the season but by that time everything is so far along that I get a good harvest. Thanks for sharing your experience. I look forward to hearing about your how your new varieties perform!

thanks for the info. You also may like to try Lunga DI Napoli (long of naples) or cushaw squash as well.

I'm in Ohio, but I share your feelings about squash vine borer!! I will definitely be giving some of these varieties a try 😊

I’m happy to hear this is working for you, because I have been wondering the same thing for the past couple of years - maybe if I only plant c. moschata varieties I won’t have to deal with SVB. So last year I tried tromboncino for the first time and loved them! This year I am adding Musquee de Provence to see how they do. And I grow Butternut every year. Do you know if there are any of the hull-less seed pumpkins that are c. moschata? A tip I learned last year is to pre-emptively bury parts of the stem further along the vines a couple weeks before the SVB usually arrives in your area, instead of waiting until you see the damage. All of my buttercup and spaghetti squash plants were attacked by SVB but I was actually able to save about 2/3 of them by doing this. Unfortunately I didn’t learn this tip until I had already started training them up a trellis, so I had to “de-trellis” a few feet lol. I’ve been enjoying your appearances on Epic Gardening and glad I decided to check out your channel. Looking forward to more videos! Cheers from Ontario, Canada.

Another way to keep up with squash is to grow them under cover... With TULLE. If you really love summer squash or want to grow another variety, you either have to grow them in a high tunnel (and keep it shut tight) and put out SVB MOTH traps, which may help keep them from laying eggs or stop them from laying too many eggs... I bought Seminole seeds last year, and I am going to try it this year. I've got several butternuts growing now. Save those seeds!

We started gardening about the same time! SVB is my nemesis. I didn't plant any this year bc of it. 😢 I can't wait to try these!!

I’m near San Antonio. Even though zucchini is one of my most favorite veg to eat. I just give up. Last year I got a whopping 12 zucchini before destruction. I was out there everyday picking eggs and shooting BT! I even tried growing zucchini in a netted bed, but the leaves got too big and pressed the net and the mildewed. I gave it a 6 year run. Nope, no more. LOL, this year I plan to visit my local small farmer every week and get my zucchini fix there.

I am trying parthenocarpic varieties of squash this year. I just covered them with shade cloth and we will see. Fingers crossed I get squash this year.

I’m tempted now to try pumpkin again. I tried once several years ago with no success.

Very well-done video. Been growing winter squashes in South Carolina since 2014 - some additional insights. (1) Yes, give them time the SVBs will attack tromboncino and Seminole pumpkins as well and do some damage but won't take out the plant. (2) Another one to consider is the South Anna butternut. It is a mildew resistant stable hybrid of Seminole pumpkin and Waltham butternut. I find more meat and better flavor (JMO) than the Seminole though I usually don't push them past April and process anything left by then by roasting and freezing in vacuum bags. By then we are pretty tired of them anyway. (3) The Tromboncino does not have decent flavor to me as a winter squash so I only save for seed. I do think as a summer squash it is superior though the flavor and texture are not an exact match for yellow squash and zukes. A huge plus is how nicely the tromboncino takes to spiralizing and cooking in sauce. Warning. When you cut it it bleeds this slimy good that you need to get off of everything before it dries! Very much like mucilage in okra. (4) I have finally survived both summer squash and some c maxima varieties with the BT injection but here is the deal. It requires daily inspection of the stems for frass. Easy to do with a bush squash not so with a vining squash with all those vines. Then the injection is both above and below the hole. I had a summer squash last year survive 4 separate attacks and keep on producing that way. The main reason I grow them is it takes a while for the tromboncinos to get to the proint of producing fruit and this gets you an early harvest. In both cases I hand bred best to best to maximize flavor and meat quantity and minimize seed cavity in the Tromboncino. Trellising is the way to go for me! I see another person posted with other C moschata variants. Going to check it out.

I've just learned more about squash in 18 min. than learned in 60yrs.!!! Thank you So Much 💓. I'm living in N.W. Florida and its Tough! I've got Seminole pumpkins in and was wandering just an hour ago,why they are not any larger than they are? Now I know just give them a little more time. (They are 120 day plants). Anyway thanks again and we'll see what this summer brings. 😊

Last year was the first time I dealt with the boars. This year it’s the beetles so far. 😢

kudos to you i simply gave up i think i may give it another try thanks to you THX

South Carolina here. Cherokee Tan pumpkin sounds interesting. Deep Homestead South did a taste comparison with Semiole and thought the taste of Cherokee Tan much better. Also it grows roots at every leaf node providing it with constant nutrition rather than it needing to draw all nutrition/water from single point making it very strong and prolific. (would not be able to trellis though) Not sure Seminole does. (growing Seminole first time this year) Also squash vine borer are does not like. Love, love the idea of the Trombetta Di Albenga. Will be trying. Thanks again.

I live in central,California. We get little rain but it is very hot. A lot of southern vegetables grow very well here and I have some of the same issues. Can’t wait to find out how you do and trying some of your suggested varieties

It sounds like we've had similar journeys with SVBs. My solution has been to plant later. I do sacrifice some harvest to the frost but it seems to work, especially for smaller pumpkins that mature quickly. Really interested to try the Seminole though!

I gave up on squash due to powdery mildew and squash vine borer. I'm in New England where squashes normally grows super easy. What took me so long to watch this? I can't wait to try some some cucurbita moschata next year

So this is going to sound barbaric l, but one year when I got svb I stuck a screwer in the stem and swirled it around then added BT to the area, then wrapped the base of the vine with grafting tape. It bounced back. I was amazed.

first time i ever found out about these bugs was last year when they infected all my squash through out the whole season. This year i have my squash in a bed with a bug net cover and PVC hoops. I will just have to hand pollinate but i love the standard yellow squash so much i dont want to have to grow something different! Hoping it works out.

Thx for the info. Pls let us know if you find a more traditional summer zucchini variety! I detest those bugs!!!

TY very helpful. SVB ia a nemesis for me too. I've done South Anna and Autumn Frost both were not hit by SVB but PM is a problem with both...but they did muscle through it.

I suggest using Surround kaolin clay, which is a water soluble clay. It is mixed with water and can be put in a large 1-2 gallon garden sprayer. You spray it all over the plants, and it repels insects. The plants don't look pretty but saves them from pests and you win with a nice harvest. If you want to know more about it, James Prigoni of The Garden Channel on YT uses it a lot on his fruit trees and garden veggies. Search this title: This Magic White Powder Eliminates 95% of Garden Problems. Happy gardening!

i got my last years’ squash plants absolutely demolished by squash vine borers last year- i had never even heard of them before and have had happy squash in years prior

Thanks I grow my zucchini only in the fall because of the bug problems.

Louisiana newbie gardener and last weekend found my first SVBs of this season on my yellow squash and zuccs. Grrrrrr!!!! Definitely will look into the Moschata because who has time for this!!! I don't have a lot of space to garden and wonder if there are any smaller varieties you recommend? I do have some trellis up, but I don't think it's strong enough for those huge trombettas, even though they sound yummmy!! Thanks for all the great info you share! :)

Sistah ya passion for squash warms my heart soooo much, maybe is my native american side talkin' haha 😅

I hear similar things about Everglades tomatoes, pest resistant.

I too hate SVB!! I am in SW Louisiana, 9a, and it is so humid and sweltering! I tried, just once to wrap the stems in foil and quickly decided it was not for me. I also inject with BT, but even that is tedious. I will be trying the resistant varieties you suggested. Thanks for a great video!

I’m growing both the Tahitian melon squash and Seminole this year.

Thank you for the video! Added like 3 more different varieties to grow this season (I think I still have time here in Charlotte NC!) Plus the Koreans ones from comments!!! I planted Tromboncino this year (so far was growing just wonderful!!!) and luffa, and yesterday on my morning stroll around the garden I spotted like 30 eggs of SVB all over it! Holly crap!!! Spent like an hour removing them but wasn't sure if they are just going to die naturally since it is not really eatable for them or is mine vine somehow defective?

Yeah, I finally just gave up on Cucurbita pepo. The only thing I found that worked 100% was covering with insect netting and hand pollinating, but like wrapping with aluminum foil, that got real old, real fast as there was pretty much only a short window in the mornings when the flowers were open.

I did Rampicante last year with good results. This year I'm trying Korean Zucchini.

Lost all my squash! Including my spaghetti squash, my butternut seems ok so far. I had absolutely no luck with that spray, will be trying the aluminum foil next

Thank you so much for this! Being from the north I was naive when I moved to Texas and just planted a bunch of squash my first year. Every single plant was destroyed 🙈 I’ve been using shade cloths to cover the plants so the moths can’t get to them but I will keep an eye out for resistant varieties, though spaghetti squash and butternuts attracted the borers the most for me :/