Cucumber beetles can destroy your crops, leaving you without cucumbers at the end of the season.Cucumber plants are sensitive to pesticides so it's better to stick with natural options.Adding straw mulch and deterrent plants nearby will deter beetles from eating your crops.You can take them out of the plants.Taking steps like rotating crops and removing brush from your garden will discourage beetles from returning.
Step 1: Cucumber plants can be planted into the ground.
Cucumbers can be grown from seed.Cucumbers are more likely to be permanently damaged when they are first sprouted.They can be more resistant to these pests if they are started inside.
Step 2: Cucumbers with corn and broccoli can be planted to discourage beetles.
Intercropping is the practice of planting different kinds of plants together.Cucumbers are not as attractive to beetles when planted with crops like corn and broccoli.Cucumbers can be planted in rows with corn and broccoli.Between rows of cucumber you can add corn and broccoli.Make sure you leave enough room for each plant to grow.You can try other plants.
Step 3: Near the edge of the crop, plant a buttercup or Blue Hubbard squash.
There are beetles at the edges of the garden.If you plant something else they will stick to it and not destroy your cucumbers.You sacrificing the plant near the exterior to save the cucumber plants is called using a trap plant.If you want to rid your garden of beetles, you can treat the trap plant.turban squash can be planted in the Cucurbita maxima family.These beetles like zucchini.
Step 4: Straw mulch can be used to discourage beetles and encourage spiders.
Straw mulch won't keep the beetles out completely, but it will provide a physical barrier.Wolf spiders will eat beetles if they hide in the straw.There is a layer of mulch that is about 2.5 cm thick around the young plants.Plastic mulches can be used to discourage beetles.
Step 5: Cucumbers can be moved from year to year.
Cucumbers can be moved to a new spot next year to discourage beetles.Even better if there is a hedge in between.The beetles will eventually find the new spot.
Step 6: Pick the beetles off using gloves.
The bugs are hard to pick off one by one.The beetles can be pulled off the plant with the help of petroleum jelly.The beetles have stripes or dots on their body.They are 0.25 inches in length.Drop the beetles into a bucket of water.
Step 7: The beetles should be sucked up with a vacuum.
A handheld vacuum can be used to remove beetles from plants.If you want to suck the beetles out, use a reversed leaf blower.If you're worried about harming the plant, you can buy a vacuum that's specifically made for insects.The underside of leaves should be vacuumed around the plant.It's important to empty the vacuum when you're done.Take the contents of the zip-top bag to the trash.
Step 8: There are spiders in the garden.
Spiders are natural predators for pests like cucumber beetles, so it may be tempting to take them out.Wolf spiders eat a lot of beetles, and the beetles tend to avoid the area if there are wolves around.It's still important to be careful around spiders.If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone.Wolf spiders cause redness and swelling when they bite you, but they are not venomous.They are not as harmful to humans as black widows or brown recluses.
Step 9: Introduce a predator.
Cucumber beetles are one of the garden pests that are taken care of by the Ladybugs.The growth of cucumber beetles is discouraged by the ladybugs eating the pests' eggs.You won't harm your garden by releasing too many ladybugs, but you should start with 1,500.There are many organic garden stores that sell ladybugs.When you buy the ladybugs, put them in the fridge to slow them down.In the evening, spray down your yard and release the ladybugs.Taking precautions will help keep them out of your yard.
Step 10: Adding floating row covers will keep the beetles out.
There are floating row covers that are made of plastic.They keep pests out by allowing light, water, and air in.To prevent beetles from getting underneath the row covers and into your plants, cover the edges with soil.If you remove them when your plants start to flower, they will be easier to pollinate.
Step 11: The clay can be sprayed on plants.
The beetles don't like the surface kahuna clay creates.The powdered clay should be mixed with a gallon of water.To get both sides of the leaves and the stems, spray the clay on the plant.About 400 square feet will be covered by this amount of spray.There are plants.If you spray on a cloudy day, the water will burn the leaves.Check to see if you need to reapply the mixture after a heavy rain.The cucumbers are safe to spray on.Don't eat the vegetable unless you wash it off.It's good for many pests, such as squash bugs, and should be applied to other plants.Fruits and vegetables may benefit from being sprayed.
Step 12: After harvesting cucumbers, remove dense grass.
The beetles will likely show up in your garden next year if you've seen them on your plants.You'll end up with fewer cucumbers next spring if you take away places where the beetles would hide during the winter.Clear the garden of leaves and other trash.You don't want the beetles to hang out in the hiding places near the cucumbers.