Serpentine Layering & the Squash Vine Borer

This is so easy........got a shovel? You can do it. Serpentine layering serves a specific purpose: to help prolong the life of a vine crop after the crown has been damaged, usually from feeding insects. A shovelful of soil every few feet over the stem is adequate. Roots will form under the new soil and help with water/nutrient uptake for the plants.

Above is the adult 'Squash Vine Borer.' No it's not 'kinda pretty.' They are night flyers so you will seldom see them, kill if you do. They typically victimize summer & winter squashes, pumpkins, and probably gourds too.

So here is their routine. The adult lays eggs near or on the crown of the plant. After they hatch, the larvae burrow into the plant and begin to feed. You will notice a brown/yellowish wet sawdust looking stuff on the plant.....good indicator they are present....it's poop man! A trained gardener can attack! Get a knife, bamboo skewer or open a paper clip....choose your weapon! The borer will always be traveling toward the stem tip, ahead of the poop trail. A gentle stabbing motion can often take care of them without to much harm to the plant.  If you are not vigilant, the plant may look like the above photo before you realize you have been had. This is where the serpentine layering can really help your plant survive. 

Often, just one stem may be affected. So if one vine suddenly looks bad, another key indicator. If you need to remove the entire vine or plant, slice it apart to kill all the intruders. Where do they come from? Well this is their territory too. But, if I haven't convinced you yet not to compost your garden debris or till it in.......here is another reason. The SVB winters over in cocoons from leftover plant debris. What a surprise! Till it under and plant them for next year? Why would you do that. Rake off, or for big operations, a spring tooth works to drag off material. It's rewarding to have a big garden bonfire just knowing how many bad insects you are killing.  You can use floating row covers to cover the crowns early in the season to exclude the SVB. Covers will have to be removed for pollination to occurr. Bt can also be injected into the crown to kill them. Be vigilant my friends!