How do I get rid of a cucumber beetle infestation?
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How do I get rid of cucumber beetles. Last year I was infested so badly they ate everything in my garden from sunflowers, zinnias, roses, basil, to vegetables. The only thing they didn't bother were my tomatoes and butterfly weed. I didn't not want to spray chemicals at this point and kill all the bees. This year I am not even doing a garden, but I want to be ready next year. (I have raised beds)
Apply a horticultural oil.The oil smothers the battles. Spraying will have to be done on a regular basis.
There are things called beneficial nematodes that are a natural enemy and won't hurt anything else. You would have to research on Wiki How or ask a garden center for help.
1 part vinger 2 parts water an a drop or 2 of dawn original dish soap
Change plant locations and burn all vegetable matter from the affected plants, don't compost it. Purchase some beneficial insects such as lacewings, ladybugs, praying mantis, etc, from a reputable garden shop to bring the pests under control. Since you're not going to have a garden, I'd sterilize the raised garden beds and be ready to start fresh next planting season.
Monterey Garden Insect Spray is approved for organic use. A home remedy is
soapy water sprayed early in the morning especially under leaves. shake plant
so they will fall into a container. You can also add vinegar to the spray bottle as well
there is a substance called tacky ( I think that it's an equine product?)that you can put on bright yellow items that attracts them and then they stick to it. It really works. They are a difficult pest because they spread powdery mildew as well as bacterial wilt and other nasty things to your garden. Other things to do attract birds (bird houses) snakes and frogs (an overturned pot) into your garden.
You can also pan for their arrival by restarting the plants they kill off like cucumbers and squashes in another part of your garden and cover with screaning material until it's time to allow pollinators in. At least they are healthy up till that point.
I do caution using horticultural oils until the end of the season because if you use too much or at the wrong time and temp you can fry the leaves of your plants. Cleaning up plant debris and tossing it is a good reminder..especially if ts contacted bacterial wilt.
they drive me crazy too.
Thank you for your suggestion, I will definitely look for this product. I plan to try to sterilize the soil in the beds I am not planting in this year to try to get the infestation under control. I do however have a few beds with perennials I will need to protect and this product sounds like it will help!