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Vegetable Gardening

SVB moth sighting in Maryland

16 years ago

ARGH!!! The dreaded SVB is back! I immediately went out and used a whole bottle of insecticidal soap on my vine crops, wiping the stems in case an egg had been laid. Then of course we had a huge thunderstorm, which washed it all away.

I'd never actually seen the moth before, and at this point I guess I can only continue to monitor the stems for eggs.

Any other ideas, short of suicide?

Comments (5)

ruthieg__tx
16 years ago
I can't figure out how anyone monitors...my plants are so big and in every direction...I couldn't possibly check it inch by inch...
blanesgarden
16 years ago
Wow! I cant believe it! So far none here in MS, but then again the lack of rain for 5 weeks now is the ultimate trade-off I guess....GG
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Any SVB sightings yet zone 6
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i havent yet. i live in zone 6 in west virginia. i really watch for them. i grow giant pumpkins and them thangs really love the vines on them. one thang i fount that helps with them is to till some 7 dust in the ground in spring. it kills the ones sleeping in the soil over the winter.
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I got tired of growing pumpkins and squash that were always killed by the dreaded SVB. I found an article in Mother Earth News that explained all about the moth that lays the egg that grows into the SVB..anyway if you grow Cucurbita moshata..a type of squash that has dense solid stems they are totally immune to SVB damage. I grew a Rumbo pumpkin that was wonderful. It is actually a cross between a winter squash and pumpkin. If you read the seed catalogs that give the real botanical names you can find other types as well. The Rumbo's were delicious and beautiful too. The only thing is that you can't carve them like a jack o lantern because they are dense. I got my original seeds from Jungs but Parks used to carry them too. There are also several varieties in the Baker Creek catalog as well. I attached a link to the Rumbo so you can see it. Here is a link that might be useful: Rumbo pumpkin
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Well you can bury the edges of the blankets or sometimes I make garden staples out of sticks. Just take a short thin stick, preferably not dry. Bend it which will likely snap it if it is old wood. But the key it is to not break it into two pieces you just want to make a V shape that you can use to poke through your mulch and into the ground. I also sometimes cut up old metal clothes hangers to do the same thing. Though I am fully aware of how thin those blankets are and I suspect the wind will cause then to be torn to shreds if they are able to move too much.
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SVB moth sighting in Maryland
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Comments (1)
I talked to the Master Gardeners at the Farmers' Market last weekend, and they said to expect to lose some/all of my vines eventually unless I want to spray poison (which I don't), and that if I wanted squash, I should start more seeds at intervals through June. Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but probably the bitter truth. That said, I ignored their advice and am hovering anxiously over my plants inspecting them everytime I walk by. So far so good, and I just had my first two harvests. Still I'm walking on eggshells. I do have a great solution for the powdery mildew that appeared on them last week after all the rain. 1/2 tsp. baking soda and one Tablespoon olive oil dissolved in a gallon of water and sprayed on each leaf. Cleared the mildew right up. Tried it preemptively on my bee balm too.
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carol_71
16 years ago
Just got many pumpkin volunteers in the compost. While observing all the bugs that were walking on them, I saw for the first time a SVB-adult version walking on a seedling... So tiny and so much trouble it brings to all of us!
iacche
16 years ago
SVB in Lehigh Valley, PA, just now. I almost caught it too. Sneaky thing got away. I'd never seen one before.

I saw where it laid an egg (which I crushed), so at least I know what the eggs look like for inspections. (They're round and sort of a dark brown.)
vgkg Z-7 Va
16 years ago
Just lost my first zuke to SVB yesterday, all other plants ok so far but will plant a 2nd batch of summer squash seed tonite to take up where these leave off. In this heat they'll take off quick and be blooming in a month.

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