Problems with squash plants,?

Question

It looks as if somehing has gnawed the outer layer of the plant off at ground level. This happen occasionaly and to single plants at each time so I figure it,s a small animal but could be wrong. Help anyone?

Answer 1

Seedling plant or grown plant?   If young, a cut worm is likely, if older , probably a borer.(any mushiness where it collapsed?)  An animal is more likely to eat the leaves, but they don't often mess with squash, too prickly.

Best bet is a cut worm.

Answer 2

This will keep away any critter and is organic. Everything from Bugs to small mammals will avoid this:

One tablespoon of Garlic powder per pint of water. Finer garlic powder is best since it disolves the best. Put into a spray bottle shake for several minutes and then spray leaves add a drop of dish soap per pint will help the garlic adhere to the leaves and stay longer. After watering or a heavy rain apply more. If spray mechanism gets clogged consider putting a tiny piece of nylon (from old stockings) material over spray bottle straw as a strainer to keep out garlic powder. Tapping bottle bottom will also help to free any clogs but the nylon or screen material works best. Attach material with a small rubber band. Apply liberally and respray after a rain or watering

Answer 3

a squash vine borer is in the stem of the plant,,,you should be seeing a yellowish to brown ,substance on outside of stems,,near the ground,,, borer is the larva of a moth ,,which lays it s  eggs on the vine,,hatch then enter s the plant,,,....what i do is---at first signs,  cut a small slice, where the substance is,,you ll see the  larva,,remove it ,,kill it,,,then pull dirt to the plant,, so it can make new roots,,,also a regular spraying of the leaves ,,to deter the moth from laying her eggs,,,bout once  a week,,,,more often if it happens to rain a lot,,,,

Answer 4

if you dig your finger in where the plant was you will probably find a cutworm, check the soil to both sides as he will just move down the row,  if you put a piece of board along side the row  turn over in morning and you may find slugs. Hope that helps you.

Answer 5

congratulations!  you have squash borer problems.