"A go-to outfit for gardening? Used scrubs from the thrift store. They're durable, have plenty of pockets and are easy to toss in the wash at the end of the day." ~ Garden Gate Magazine Reader Tip
Posted on 06/01/2025 5:48:14 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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That might seem to be the most likely culprit. However, unlike descriptions I read online, the plants don’t wilt: They behave like they have some sort of plant gangrene that moves up from the lower stem, and the stem once affected appears to mostly dry out. The top half (3/4, 1/4, whatever is left) looks reasonably healthy, it’s just “static” (other than fruits dying almost as soon as they form) until the dying / drying gradually consumes the healthy portion from below. Somehow the “healthy” portion is still receiving just enough water and nutrients from below to hang in there. I was even thinking of taking a cutting and trying a “restart”, although I’ve never successfully rooted a cutting from any plant of this type...
Oh, Gee. If I saw those at a get-together I’d have to very sternly restrain myself!!
That’s my thought too, except the plants don’t die off quickly, they just “stop” suddenly (from just prior great growth and flowering), and then very slowly (usually) die off from the stem up. If it’s as though the pathogen / parasite / insect doesn’t quite completely destroy the stem, in order to maintain its “housing” until it’s ready to pupate or reproduce, and and “some” nutrients and water get through.
Also see my post above, # 701.
In the future, if I have will to try again, and assuming it is borers, is there anything that wards off the adults laying the eggs? We’ve had so many rains that pesticide would likely just wash off. Some sort of natural repellent plant planted around the squash / melons / cukes?
I know there are products that trees and shrubs can take up to help prevent or kill off borers, but I don’t know about their compatibility with squash, etc., and, they are NOT recommended for veggies (residue in the fruits, etc., I would guess.)
Thanks!
Gardening is one of the most rewarding yet frustrating things you can do! I don’t know what else could be damaging your Opo. I had borers one year, but finally quit growing squash all together because I couldn’t deal with the squash bugs any more.
As an aside, one of the most ‘fun’ things I’ve done regarding damaging pests was to hunt tomato hornworms with a black light - spooky with the garden in purple, but a great way to spot them.
Per link in 678:
Organic controls include wrapping the lower stem with nylon stockings or aluminum foil to prevent egg laying, which generally occurs within a couple of inches from the point where the stem emerges from the soil. Row covers can be used up until bloom. An old gardener trick for vining squash and pumpkin cultivars is to cover the vine with earth at various points along its length, inducing rooting at several points, thereby continuing to feed the developing fruit despite the loss of the original stem. However, this only works with the species Cucurbita moschata. After the vine has taken root at multiple points, the infected portion of the plant can be cut off, along with another inch where the larva is eating into healthy tissue, without significant damage to the plant. Some gardeners choose to place a yellow bowl filled with water and a drop of liquid dish soap to attract and drown the adult pest, a method which also provides feedback on the current level of infestation. This method, along with daily checking the plants for eggs, is popular with organic gardeners.[3]
Once larvae are present within the stems, control must be quick. Often, the first noticed sign of the infestation is wilting of the vine, and it is too late for control efforts at that point. Experienced gardeners watch the stems for signs of frass protruding from small holes, which is an indicator of the presence of the larva inside. Some gardeners carefully cut the stem along its axis and remove the caterpillar before it ruins the vine. Others use a stiff wire, a needle, or a toothpick to kill the borer without seriously injuring the vine.[3]
Sauerkraut - Natures Brillo pad.
Have you tried rooting hormone? It’s a powder, dip the cut end in it and plant.
Dad didn’t like it because it smelled awful to him when it cooked. Then he tasted how great it was with the pork. Never argued after that.
I always rinse it and strain it before cooking. Best way with pork IMO is sauteed. Sear thick pork chops til barely done inside, set aside. Put some bacon grease or tallow in the skillet, add sliced thin sweet onions, the kraut, lots of fresh ground black pepper. Keep cooking and turning until the moisture is cooked out, kraut will be nicely browned but not dried. Turn off the heat, place the pork on top of the kraut with any juices. Cover with a glass lid and let sit for 15 or 20 minutes.
That’s how we do it. Even on hot dogs (beef franks). Sear the franks till browned, remove, add the sauerkraut till browned not dried. I add caraway seeds if the kraut didn’t have any (before cooking). Put the franks back in the skillet, cover with lid for just a few more minutes.
“...is there anything that wards off the adults laying the eggs?”
It’s a fly if some kind that lays her eggs there, so your best defense is a row cover until that phase of that particular fly is over. Same works for anything in the Cruciferous family too, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. They have the white/yellow Cabbage Moth that uses those plants as a host for their eggs. Hence, the green worms you sometimes have in broccoli. Ick!
You’ll have to see what the life cycle of that bug is, in your growing zone. The culprit is at the other link I sent you. It was an orange-backed fly of some sort. There were other ideas for prevention of Squash Borer there, too.
"A go-to outfit for gardening? Used scrubs from the thrift store. They're durable, have plenty of pockets and are easy to toss in the wash at the end of the day." ~ Garden Gate Magazine Reader Tip
Heh - thanks for that last: I picked up a higher power UV flashlight on clearance from Menards recently. It was one of their online blowouts. (Fulfillment Center deals.) Some of those blowouts turn out to be junk or even don’t work (the former for some headphones I prolly ought to try to return, the latter for a USB car charger - might just be a cable - gotta test again). But, a lot are good deals. This UV flashlight has a LOT higher output than any I’ve had B4. A headlamp version would be great for hunting hornworms! They are great fishing bait, too!
The piercing type squash bugs I can zap with herbicide (or “pick and squash” - just did that to a few yesterday on an “Asian Squash” plant), but vine borers would be tougher - pending further suggestions here. Unlike the stink bugs and other external attackers, I’ve never seen any of the flies themselves, so I can only guess when they are “out” in my area. Possibly my local extension agent would have info.
Thanks again!
Yes - I don’t think that’s the problem with the Opo, though, as these are well established plants. On this last one, the vine was over 10 ft. long and growing fast and flowering well, when the problem hit.
I also have a gallon of liquid rooting hormone (some nutrients included too).
https://www.amazon.com/Green-Light-Organic-Stimulator-Solution/dp/B000BZ8HHW
I wear jeans and old t shirts from the thrift store, but this is a good idea, too!
You are the first person ever to know about cooking kraut that way. Although I’m a NO on the caraway. Even brought a dish to a kraut potluck at our parish years ago. There were about 15-20 different dishes mine was the only one like this. And people said they had never heard of it before. My Dad always made it this was with pork, although with stuffed cabbage and short ribs it was the wet pot method.
I survived the long weekend at Lucas Oil Speedway. In spite of ridiculous amounts of rainfall at the track Thu/Fri/Sat they were able to run the complete program all three nights. Packed the camper in a deluge Sunday morning and drove the first 50-ish miles home at 40-45mph due to low visibility and crazy amounts of water on the highway. That was super stressful but we made it home intact. Can’t say the same for the two vehicles that collided head-on just south of Lake Ozark on US 54 not long before we came through. What a mess that was.
Poured 1.1” out of my rain gauge after we got home. I need to pull weeds but I expect it will be too muddy in the garden to do that today. It was soggy out there yesterday and it’s looking like there’s more coming this afternoon.
My sweet corn planting is yet to sprout. Probably because it was so stinking hot for the first five days after I put it in. If this rain doesn’t bring it up I’m going to punt.
The squash, cukes, tomatoes, and peppers are rocking it now. Squash and cuke vines doubled in size since we left to go racing on Thursday. There are fist-size green tomatoes on several of the plants so it won’t be long until BLT time.
It looks like I’ve finally gotten my rhubarb planting established. Four of the Canada Red plants are waist high, the other two aren’t far behind. The Crimson Red plants aren’t taking off quite as fast. Three of the four look good, but the fourth one is still in doubt. I could probably get away with taking a stalk or two from each of the Canada Red plants now, but I’m going to leave them alone so they can further develop their roots before winter comes.
I think making it in the juices of the meat enhances the flavor for both the kraut and the meat, be it pork or franks. It’s a little bit like deglazing the pan with wine or some other liquid, don’t you think?
It’s actually a moth .... picture & behavior at this link:
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/squash-vine-borers
Sounds good but I would rather have the juices over the meat so it is not dry. I’m only talking about two thick boneless pork chops too.
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