Looking for a few round-eyed and effective method to protect your cucumber vine plant from the dreaded Cucumis sativus mallet ?
The cucumber beetle is by far the most unsafe and destructive pestilence to cucumber plants . As you will see below , a single bite from a cucumber beetle can actually cause bacterial wilt . Unfortunately , that can spell the destruction of the line for an otherwise healthy Cucumis sativus plant .
But beyond wilt , cucumber beetles can decimate plants by run through the foliage , blooms and even in some showcase , the fruit itself . And they do n’t stop with just cucumbers , these voracious beetles also lash out melons , pumpkins , zucchini and squash too !
The most ordinarily found Cucumis sativus beetles are the black and yellow coinage . There are many variations of the black and yellow , including beetle with spots or stripes on their back . They are small in stature , jolly resembling the soundbox vogue of a ladybug without the fully raised , rounded plate .
The life cycle of the plague is quite interesting , and know when they come along and lash out at each leg is a big part of winning the conflict against them .
In late fall , adults winter in brushwood and rubble . If garden plants are left up , it provides the perfect covering for them . Cucumber beetles begin to become combat-ready as the outside temperatures warm . In most climates , they start to appear in late May to early June .
At this point , the female mallet issue to lay their testis . And their favorite objective ? Right at the base of your cucumbers and other curcurbits growing in the garden . From there , the immature larva feeds on the roots and small underside of plants .
As the cucumber beetles grow , they proceed to feed on more of the plant . A few beetle here and there are not ordinarily enough to cause an issue . However , if left to multiply and their universe grows to big numbers , they can quickly annihilate plants .
As an added danger , cucumber beetles often carry and transmit bacterial wilting . When infected with this , a single chomp on a plant can taint the flora . unluckily , once a plant has the disease , it must be pulled up and destroyed to keep from spreading to other plant .
There are several method for getting rid of adult beetles . But the real key to success all starts with prevention .
For starters , clearing your garden every fall of all plant junk is decisive . Without a plaza to overwinter , the beetles will depend elsewhere to detect a suited home for winter . If you allow them to draw close right in the garden , infestations are certain to surveil !
Beyond that , covering your plant when the cucumber beetle first become active is another great elbow room to forbid attacks . By covering plants with float row covers or micro - lean netting , the adult females can not rest their ballock at the works base.(Product link up : Floating Row screen )
dustup get across need to be installed early in the time of year to be effective . They should be get out in blank space until the end of June in most clime . By this gunpoint , the female beetles will have stop laying their eggs into the grime and plants will be out of harms right smart .
If you have experienced grueling infestations in retiring geezerhood , you may want to even wait to plant your cucumber plants or seeds until late June or the first of July . There is still plenty of grow season left for plant to develop , but no young eggs can be lay near them by mid summertime .
Beyond bar , there are several methods you may hire to keep adult cucumber mallet in stay . The first of those is bridge player - pick , and it can be surprisingly effective .
By just walk your growing rows daily and plucking any mallet off , you’re able to usually keep damage to a minimum . Unfortunately , spraying insecticides at first good deal is not best . It in reality eliminates many of the beneficial insects along with the beetle it may obliterate .
Ladybugs , green lacewing and braconid wasps all flow on beetles . kill these insects can pave the path for the beetle to issue forth back with no natural predatory animal or enemy . As you will see below , only serious infestations need an organic spraying solution .
Another effective way to protect your plants from cucumber mallet is by plant a snare crop . A trap crop is a sacrificial plant that grows to attract the beetles aside from your Cucumis sativus , mash and courgette .
Alyssum has long been known to be a great trap crop to grow to lure cucumber beetles . By planting it near your cuke and other curcurbit plants , the beetle will visit the more attractive genus Alyssum first , keeping your veg plant life good .
Many gardeners fuck to plant a sacrificial squash works called Blue Hubbard . This dissolute arise plant produces edible squash , but more significantly , appeal cuke beetles like disturbed . Keep in mind you still require to reach pick or kill the beetles on the trap crop to keep them from spreading to your cucumbers . intersection Link : Blue Hubbard Squash Seeds
Sometimes , in spite of a gardener ’s good efforts , the population of cucumber beetle can spike out of control . At that distributor point , it may be necessary to use an organic spray to get them under control condition .
One of the salutary choices for this is neem fossil oil . Neem crude is an all - lifelike , organic pesticide made by pressing the seeds of a neem tree . The result oil is extremely effective at killing beetle and other pests.(Product Link : Pure Neem Oil )
Fortunately , it does spare pollinator such as bee , wasps and butterflies . It will , however , belt down other beneficial insects , so only use for serious infestations . One good affair is that is extremely safe for pets and human race .
To utilise , conflate two teaspoon of neem oil with one gallon of H2O . In addition , you could add in a teaspoonful of olive oil , which will help the mixture bewilder to the foliation of plants .
Spray the plants with the potpourri , being sure to get the bottom of leaves where the beetles like to hang out . You may require to reapply in 7 to 10 Clarence Day to wholly control the beetles .
Here is to protecting your plants from Cucumis sativus this year – and to harvesting a banner crop of fruit ! felicitous Gardening – Jim and Mary .
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening , DIY and formula articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 Accho Ohio farm . The two are frequent speakers on all thing garden and making love to travel in their spare metre .
