This afternoon, with no warning at all the very back squash plant died of I think bacteria wilt. I don't count on any of these plants living for long. All the leaves dropped, every single one of them, it looks healthy above, that was a day ago. It's the one at the middle far left. I pulled the root, it was dark green and becoming yellowish at the root. There was no squash vine borer in the plant and the eggs have been removed for 2 days now. I think maybe my potion killed them, or maybe it was bacteria wilt. It's been 2 days and none of the rest are dying, but there some leaves that look bad, some are nice, new, healthy, and green, even the old ones look healthy. This link shows 150 different squash/pumpkin types, can anyone vouch to their resistance to squash bugs and borers. I have to say right now the patty pans, although still small, are doing fine, and the sweet dumpling had only one or two eggs on them, none at all today saying maybe they are resistant? The cucumbers didn't have any on them either. The sweet dumpling plant had lots of flowers, so it should be under the same attack as the other. I see my method of removing eggs is not working, I didn't go as far as to put the eggs in soapy water afterwards, so I don't expect to have rid them of my plants. They will just drop down under the leaves and hatch there. Oh, well. My local hardware store does not sell any of the organic bug control, no pyrethrin, no potassium salts with fatty acids, no neem oil, and no nematodes or BT. I couldn't get to the farmer's coop today, but tomorrow I will go. I'm thinking a winter crop of chrysanthemums? Can they grow in the winter? What varieties can you think of on the link below that have similar tastes to crooked neck, which I liked better. I didn't like the crooked neck I got this year, not as tasty or resilient and really was supposed to be long neck yellow squash. I'll plant a fall crop of the ones I have and put them under hoops or plastic for cold weather. Here is a link that might be useful: Squash/Pumpkin Varieties

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

Thanks, I will look into lorsban. Is this the only option or just the most preffered/effective?In reading MrsG thread on borers it sounded like this may not be available to hobyists. My reasons for organic are many....some more rational than others. Certainly whats on the fruit is near the top of the list, but also longevity in the environment, as well as what it breaks down into, and effect on non-target species....after those it gets more philosophical "touchy feely" But despite how it might sound on another current thread, I don't live in terror of synthetics. I just want to start from the most benign options and work my way up until I find a balance that works. I have read up on their life cycle and time my present methods of slurry and inspection accordingly but here I am... So far I have never seen injury above 6" from soil line. The larva have always been found within 3" of soil line. And the 1 exit hole I have seen (apparently I am effective at getting them at larval stage) was just a bit higher. I have not had them on the pears yet, but I have far fewer of those.

SVB are really a bugger to control. The adult looks like a wasp and is easily overlooked. She comes around during the day a little before the flowers bloom so covers do work. I suspect they find your plants by sight. Uncover at night, during blooming, and the pollinators (bees) will be there early in the morning. It is said that nasturtiums help if planted around the squash hills. I've tried it last year and it seemed to work but I've no real proof yet. Looks pretty though. SVB is the only pest that has tempted me to stray from strictly organic practices. It's very discouraging to see squash plants fail just when they really start to produce. I've found that planting them in a half whiskey barrel allows me to examine the plants easier. It keeps the leaves off the ground too. You can also wrap aluminum foil around the base of the stem with some of it buried by piling dirt up around it. Gotta do this early though. Last year, along with the nasturtiums, I built a four foot square mezzanine around the top of the whiskey barrel out of furring strips. Then screened it. It gave a flat platform for the vine to rest on. No vine borers last year even though I saw a couple lurking around. Eventually powdery mildew got 'em. But what a harvest! Best of luck.