Question
How does Natasha Nicholes protect her pumpkin plants from squash vine borers?
#Natasha Nicholes#pumpkin plants#squash vine borers#WeSowWeGrow
Answer
Natasha Nicholes uses several natural methods to protect her pumpkin plants from squash vine borers and squash bugs. Here are some of her strategies:
- Hand Picking: She manually removes the bugs, nymphs, or eggs she finds on the plants and drops them into a bucket of soapy water.
- Boards or Shingles: She places these under the affected plants. The bugs shelter under these at night and can be collected and dropped into soapy water in the morning.
- Soil Treatment: She prepares a natural soil treatment using water, a garlic clove, and an onion. This mixture is poured at the base of the infected plant.
- Homemade Spray: She makes a spray using liquid Castile soap and water, which she sprays on the affected plants, focusing on the base and the undersides of the leaves.
- Neem Oil: She applies this natural pesticide to the plants or makes a neem oil solution to spray on the plants.
- Diatomaceous Earth: She spreads this powder at the base of the plants to dry out the bugs.
Would you like more details on any of these methods?