Squash Beetles

I've had several calls about squash beetles this week.  The squash beetle is native to the eastern US and is a member of the lady beetle family.  While most lady beetles are beneficial, eating plant pests like aphids, the squash beetle feeds on the leaves of cucurbits such as squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, musk melons and water melons.  Squash beetles feed on the undersides of the leaves often creating a skeletonized effect.   

The mature squash beetle is similar in shape to most beneficial lady beetles but the squash beetle is larger (about 3/8 inch long compared to (1/4 inch for most beneficial species).  The squash beetle is yellow in color and has seven black spots on each wing cover.  The larva of squash beetle are yellow, oval and have rows of long, forked spines on the back. 

Squash beetles can be controlled by handpicking in small plantings.  The best time to look for squash beetles is around noon, pick the beetles off the plants and dump them in a bucket of soapy water to drown. 

Mulch!

Mulch is a marvelous addition to planting areas. Gardeners rely on mulch to sup­press weeds and make garden beds look tidy. But mulch offers many additional benefits. It conserves moisture, keeps soil cooler, and reduces plant diseases. Over time, proper mulch­ing builds better soil by adding organic matter, reducing compaction, and preventing erosion.

Many types of mulch are available. Popular options include pine straw, pine bark, and hardwood bark. Pine straw is easy to transport, attractive, and stays in place fairly well. Although many people worry that pine straw will acidify their soil, it has little effect on soil pH. Pine bark mulches come in different sizes, from large nuggets to small chips. The drawback to pine-bark nugget mulch is its tendency to float, so don’t use it where water flows or ponds. Shredded hardwood mulch holds together well, making it a good choice in wet or windy locations.

Aim for three to four inches of organic mulch around trees and shrubs – too much mulch can reduce the amount of water that reaches the soil.  If depths are adequate but mulch looks weathered, rake it to loosen the surface and freshen its appearance.  Apply mulch evenly over the plant’s entire root system.  For trees and shrubs, this means out to the edge of the canopy.  Keeping mulch away from the trunk of trees and shrubs helps prevent insect and disease problems.  In landscape beds, mulch the entire bed evenly.    

Two to three inches of mulch will suppress weeds in most vegetable gardens.  Shredded leaves, clean straw, compost and shredded bark are all good options for vegetable gardens.  Mulch can be applies to vegetable gardens any time but the best time is late spring after the soil has warmed.  Applying mulch in early spring will delay soil warming and possibly plant growth.   

Organic mulches break down over time increasing soil organic matter, structure and water retention.  Avoid the use of landscape fabrics or weed barriers which prevent this movement of organic matter into the soil. 

Fruits for Onslow County

Each spring, local garden centers teem with a selection of fruit trees and shrubs.  As tempting as these displays might be, some plants are better options for Onslow County than others.  If you want to successfully grow fruit here, you will want to do your research first.  You will want to know which plants grow well here and which are likely to present challenges.  It’s also important to make sure that your planting site is suitable and prepared appropriately for the crop you are growing. 

Choosing Fruit Plants for Onslow County

Some fruits are steady and reliable producers here, while others have more insect and disease problems or do not produce fruit consistently under our growing conditions. 

When homeowners ask for a recommendation of fruits to grow, my short list includes the following easy-to-grow options: muscadine grapes, blackberries, blueberries (southern highbush or rabbiteye varieties), figs and strawberries.  Pecans, pears and plums can also be grown but they will require more management because of disease and insect pressures.  Apples, peaches and nectarines are harder to grow and usually require a diligent spray schedule throughout the growing season to produce quality fruit.  Some fruit just don’t do well here.  English walnuts, apricots, cherries, raspberries, grapes (other than muscadines), citrus (except in containers) and rhubarb are poor choices for Onslow County.

Some fruit crops require cross-pollination for best fruit set.  Pecans, apples, pears, plums, many muscadines, and blueberries require another compatible variety planted nearby for best fruit set.  Peaches, nectarines, strawberries, blackberries and figs are self-fruitful.  Many fruit trees are pollinated by honeybees which are susceptible to most insecticides, so never apply insecticides when fruit trees are in bloom.    

Good site selection is important for success.  All of these crops require good drainage, correct pH and full sun for optimum yield.  Choose a site with well-drained soil.  If you don’t have well-drained soil, build a berm or raised bed 4 to 5 feet wide to plant on.  Sample your soil so you can adjust the pH prior to planting. Blueberries are acid loving preferring a soil pH of 4.5 to 5.8.  Strawberries like a sweeter soil with a pH from 5.5 to 6.5; all the other fruits do best in the range of 6.0 to 6.5.   Fruit trees require full sun for optimum yield, good ripening and best flavor.  Blueberries and muscadines can tolerate a little bit of shade but will not perform as well as if given full sun.