Found an interesting page on controling pests with plants:

[beac]

http://www.pallensmith.com/index.php?id=53

Much of the info I've seen before but the sprinkling dill to repel squash bug is a new one. I'm willing to try anything in the battle against those little jerks!

[bvar22]

1. P Allen Smith lives close to us (Akansas),

...though we have never been to see his place.
He has a local show on TV, and we get his newsletter.

We routinely plant most of the favorites on his list in our Veggie Garden.
The Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillars ate all our dill last year, stripped them to the bare bones, but we don't begrudge them....such a beautiful butterfly, and welcome in our garden.


We share your hatred for the Squash Bug, and have lost much to them.
Last year, we did OK, and harvested a decent crop of Zucchini with little problems from Squash Bugs.
In addition to other Anti-Squash Bug efforts, we are now using this:

This little tool, and daily vigilance, works well,... and is FUN too!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=246x8830

[beac]

2. I think it was you who suggested this method to me last summer.

Unfortunately, it wasn't in the budget, but I DID get out there with my upright vac toward the end of the season and had at the colony that decided, against all previous information, they actually WOULD attack a butternut squash!

I got some strange looks from my husband and dog, but it was very satisfying to suck up those little suckers. :)

I saved seeds and potting soil (for flowers-- they'll get a mix of re-used and compost/woom poop, veggies will get 100% fresh mix) so I could buy the hand-held for this season. Thanks for the reminder!

[MajorChode]

3. Works good with Aphids also

[NEOhiodemocrat]

4. Those Squash bugs are the pits

I have moved my vines from the upper garden to the lower, and this year eying a place in the front of the house where the wood pile sat all winter, may just rotor till it up and move the squash there. But will definitely try the dill, have loads of it in the pasture, may as well have it be useful. Thanks for the idea. I don't know how those little suckers find where I plant them every year. I did get a good supply of butternuts last year however, so can't complain I guess. Two years ago the squash bugs even went after them.

[beac]

5. They destroyed my butternut last year too. I had such high hopes b/c I'd been told they

wouldn't bother a butternut, but NOOOOOOO... they went after it like a pack of ravenous beasts!

I'm going to try the dill and supplement with the Dirt Devil. Watch out, squash bugs, this time I mean business!

[Vinca]

6. Squash bugs are the biggest problem in my garden.

I'm going to be searching for a little vac at yard sales and planting dill with the squash. Thanks for the ideas!

[beac]

7. Maybe we should have a Squash Bug Support Group this summer?

;)

Let's hope we'll be discussing our big dill & handvac successes!