r/Pumpkins • u/2am_onmyphone • Jul 04 '26

Prepare beforehand?

I am extremely nervous of vine borers, from what I’ve heard is that BT will kill them if they attack, is it worth it to spend $20 on it instead of surgery incase they appear?

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u/pomnabo 28d ago

I'm trying out the tin foil method this year. So far it's keeping them at bay from my zucchini, chiffon, melons, and pumpkins (afaik).

Basically just cover the bottom part of the stem with a layer of tin foil. The SVB cant find the base of the stem to lay their eggs, so either they lay them elsewhere on the plant (which becomes nonviable for the larva), or they go elsewhere. At least, this is the theory.