Beating the Borers

Each year I plant those wonderful yellow summer squash seeds. I get one or two squash and then the healthy plants droops and dies. The enemy is a borer germane to Long Island but I would imagine elsewhere. There have been hints to avoid them. One suggested planting these seeds after June 20th or around Father's Day. The borers are a June pest. The problem is that the summer squash is at its peak here on Long Island in July and planting them that late misses the peak of fruit bearing.

I decided to try something else this year and it has worked! We use seaweed to fertilize the tomato plants. i took some and heavily went around the squash seedlings. Evidently there is something in it that keeps these pests away because here we are coming up to the last week in July and all is well with the plants. They look great!

Experiments like this take place all the time in my backyard. Happiness is success!