Treatment of diseases and pest control of zucchini. Pests and diseases of zucchini in the open field with a photo, treatment methods How to spray zucchini from aphids

Like other vegetables, they are susceptible to pests and diseases. It is better to start the fight against various unpleasant diseases or harmful insects immediately, when the first signs appear.

Pests of zucchini include spider mites, melon aphids, and sprout flies. The main diseases that affect zucchini are powdery mildew, anthracnose, white rot, etc.

General measures to combat these pests and diseases are as follows: rotation of crops, collection and destruction of plant residues and affected fruits, deep autumn plowing or digging of the site after harvesting, and in greenhouses and greenhouses - replacement or disinfection of the soil by a thermal method, strict adherence to mode (avoid sudden temperature fluctuations), warming the seeds before planting in hot water (50 ° C) for 20 minutes, followed by cooling in cold water, 2-3 times spraying with 1% Bordeaux liquid or 0.3% - copper oxychloride (30 g per 10 liters of water).

We sowed or planted most of the plants in the spring and it seems that in the middle of summer we can already relax. But experienced gardeners know that July is the time for planting vegetables for a late harvest and the possibility of longer storage. This also applies to potatoes. Early summer potato crops are best used quickly, they are not suitable for long-term storage. But the second crop of potatoes is exactly what is needed for winter and spring consumption.

Astrakhan tomatoes ripen remarkably lying on the ground, but you should not repeat this experience in the Moscow region. Our tomatoes need support, support, a garter. My neighbors use all sorts of pegs, garters, loops, ready-made plant supports, and mesh fences. Each method of fixing the plant in an upright position has its own advantages and "side effects". I'll tell you how I place tomato bushes on trellises, and what comes of it.

Bulgur with pumpkin is a dish for every day, which is easy to prepare in half an hour. Bulgur is boiled separately, the cooking time depends on the size of the grains - whole and coarse grinding for about 20 minutes, fine grinding for just a few minutes, sometimes the cereal is simply poured with boiling water, like couscous. While the cereal is cooking, prepare the pumpkin in sour cream sauce, and then combine the ingredients. If you replace ghee with vegetable oil, and sour cream with soy cream, then it can be included in the lenten menu.

Flies are a sign of unsanitary conditions and carriers of infectious diseases that are dangerous for both humans and animals. People are constantly looking for ways to get rid of nasty insects. In this article, we will talk about the Zlobny TED brand, which specializes in fly protection products and knows a lot about them. The manufacturer has developed a specialized line of drugs to get rid of flying insects anywhere quickly, safely and without extra costs.

The summer months are the time for hydrangeas to bloom. This beautiful deciduous shrub is luxuriously fragrant with flowers from June to September. Florists willingly use large inflorescences for wedding decors and bouquets. To admire the beauty of a flowering hydrangea bush in your garden, you should take care of the proper conditions for it. Unfortunately, some hydrangeas do not bloom year after year, despite the care and efforts of gardeners. Why this happens, we will tell in the article.

Every summer resident knows that plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for full development. These are the three main macronutrients, the deficiency of which significantly affects the appearance and yield of plants, and in advanced cases can lead to their death. But at the same time, not everyone understands the importance of other macro- and microelements for plant health. And they are important not only in themselves, but also for the effective absorption of the same nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, are one of the early fragrant berries that summer generously endows us with. How we rejoice in this harvest! In order for the "berry boom" to repeat every year, we need to take care of the care of the berry bushes in the summer (after the end of fruiting). The laying of flower buds, from which ovaries will form in spring, and berries in summer, begins approximately 30 days after the end of fruiting.

Spicy pickled watermelon is a savory snack for fatty meat. Watermelons and watermelon rinds have been pickled since time immemorial, but the process is laborious and time consuming. According to my recipe, it’s easy to cook pickled watermelon in 10 minutes, and a spicy snack will be ready by the evening. The watermelon marinated with spices and chili is stored in the refrigerator for several days. Be sure to keep the jar in the refrigerator, not only for the sake of preservation - chilled, this snack is just licking your fingers!

Among the variety of species and hybrids of philodendrons, there are many plants, both gigantic and compact. But not a single species competes in unpretentiousness with the main modest - blushing philodendron. True, his modesty does not concern the appearance of the plant. Reddening stems and cuttings, huge leaves, long shoots, forming, although very large, but also strikingly elegant silhouette, look very elegant. Philodendron blushing requires only one thing - at least minimal care.

Thick Chickpea Soup with Vegetables and Egg is an easy recipe for a hearty first course inspired by Oriental cuisine. Similar thick soups are prepared in India, Morocco, and the countries of Southeast Asia. The tone is set by spices and seasonings - garlic, chili, ginger and a bouquet of spicy spices, which can be assembled to your liking. It is better to fry vegetables and spices in melted butter (ghee) or mix olive oil and butter in a saucepan, this, of course, is not the same, but it tastes similar.

Plum - well, who does not know her ?! She is loved by many gardeners. And all because it has an impressive list of varieties, surprises with excellent harvests, pleases with its variety in terms of ripening and a huge choice of color, shape and taste of fruits. Yes, somewhere she feels better, somewhere worse, but almost no summer resident refuses to grow her on her plot. Today it can be found not only in the south, in the middle lane, but also in the Urals, in Siberia.

Many ornamental and fruit crops, except for drought-resistant ones, suffer from the scorching sun, and conifers in the winter-spring period - from the sun's rays, enhanced by the reflection from the snow. In this article we will talk about a unique preparation for protecting plants from sunburn and drought - Sunshet Agrosuccess. The problem is relevant for most regions of Russia. In February and early March, the sun's rays become more active, and the plants are not yet ready for new conditions.

“Each vegetable has its own time”, and each plant has its own optimal time for planting. Anyone who has experienced planting is well aware that the hot season for planting is spring and autumn. This is due to several factors: in spring, the plants have not yet started to grow rapidly, there is no sweltering heat, and precipitation often falls. However, no matter how hard we try, circumstances often develop in such a way that landings have to be carried out at the very height of summer.

Chili con carne in Spanish means chili with meat. This is a Texan and Mexican dish whose main ingredients are chili peppers and minced beef. In addition to the main products, there are onions, carrots, tomatoes, and beans. This red lentil chili recipe is delicious! The dish is fiery, burning, very satisfying and amazingly tasty! You can cook a large pot, arrange in containers and freeze - a whole week will be a delicious dinner.

Cucumber is one of the most beloved garden crops of our summer residents. However, not all and not always gardeners manage to get a really good harvest. And although growing cucumbers requires regular attention and care, there is a little secret that will significantly increase their yield. It's about pinching cucumbers. Why, how and when to pinch cucumbers, we will tell in the article. An important point in the cultivation of cucumbers is their formation, or type of growth.

Today it is difficult to find a summer cottage on which such a culture as zucchini does not grow. And this is not surprising, because this fruit is very rich in various vitamins and microelements, which it generously shares with a person. When growing a crop on your own, you need to have information about what diseases of zucchini are and their treatment for each ailment.

Moreover, zucchini is also a dietary product, so even small children can use it. It is for this reason that this culture is so in demand today. And most importantly, even an inexperienced gardener can grow such a fruit on his own.

• germ flies.

This pest braids the foliage with its thinnest and most dangerous cobweb, and it will be possible to identify it by the following signs. So, on a leaf affected by a tick, small yellow spots first appear. Then, the affected leaf withers and dries up.

If the pest is allowed to multiply, which happens very quickly, then as a result of its activity, the squash bush will completely die and the gardener will not see the fruits.

Therefore, in order to minimize the risks of infection, it is worth regularly inspecting squash bushes.

You can expel such an uninvited guest in the following way. If there is a strong heat, then in the evening each bush is abundantly poured with water and garlic. Or use the drug, which can be purchased at any specialized store. Well, when the crop is completely harvested from the beds, it is necessary to remove all the remaining tops from the site.

melon aphid

Melon aphid settles on stems of sprouts and ovaries. As a result of its activity, the foliage twists, and the ovaries begin to fall off. There is only one way to overcome it, spray every bush with cambophos and get rid of the weeds growing in the neighborhood.

sprout flies

Pests of zucchini and the fight against them are not a difficult task, the main thing is to identify the problem in a timely manner and choose the best way to destroy uninvited neighbors.

And another important detail is the destruction of weeds. The fact is that in most cases they are the centers of infection of squash bushes. Therefore, it is so important to mulch each planted sprout when planting and timely weed between the rows. Such measures will help to avoid many problems with squash culture.

What diseases affect zucchini and methods of treatment

As well as in a greenhouse, it is due to the risk of infection with various defects, which are quite easy to get rid of, provided they are detected in a timely manner.

As a rule, experienced gardeners are able to immediately determine whether plants have been attacked, which cannot be said about beginner gardeners.

Therefore, if a person decides to plant a squash crop for the first time, then you should familiarize yourself with the first signs of plant infection. This plant is most often prone to such defects:

• flour dew;
• root rot;
• ascochitos.

Anthracnose

In the vast majority, anthracnose affects plants that grow in greenhouses. Since it is in such conditions that humidity is most often high.

But at the same time, such a disease can even affect a squash bush growing in open ground. And in order to avoid it, you should not water the zucchini during the day.

You can identify such a defect by the following signs:

• brown spots appear on the foliage;
• the stem infects neoplasms of pink color.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to get rid of such an ailment, therefore, at its first signs, they immediately get rid of the diseased bush, until this defect hit the entire squash bed.

powdery mildew

If the squash bush was struck by powdery mildew, then the first signs signaling this disease will be in the form of white spots on the leaves. Such spots become wider and then turn yellow. Powdery mildew belongs to the group of viral diseases of squash.

Such a defect is very dangerous because it sucks out all the useful elements from the squash bush, as a result of which the plant dies, as a result of which the gardener does not receive fruits. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, then the disputes will affect the entire garden and even plants outside it.

The first thing a gardener needs to do when this disease is discovered is to stop its development.

To do this, watering is completely stopped for a while, and top dressing is applied very carefully. When the propagation of the defect is stopped, they begin to destroy it. For this, colloidal or ground sulfur is used.

white rot

If a whitish coating appears on the plant, this is the first sign that white rot is attacking. As a rule, diseased plants first turn white, and then darken and become covered with unpleasant mucus. Such a fungal defect appears due to abundant moisture.

There is only one way to get rid of such a defect. Completely remove all diseased leaves of the squash bush and all weeds growing around it. At the same time, the moistening of the squash bed should be moderate, this also applies to fertilizer.

After all the leaves damaged by the disease have been removed, it is necessary to treat the places of their cut with crushed activated carbon. And as a preventive measure, all bushes are treated with copper sulphate.

Gray rot

Another disease belonging to the fungal group is gray rot. You can determine it by the following signs, spots of gray color appear on the foliage, then small black spots begin to form. The provocateur of such a defect are the following factors:

• moisturizing with ice water;
• transfer of spores by insects;
• excessive amount of nitrogen in the soil;
• lack of trace elements in the soil.

You can get rid of such an infection only by cleaning damaged bushes and weeds. And also carried out top dressing with phosphorus preparations.

At the same time, it is very important to carry out the destruction of all infected squash buds and foliage in a timely manner. And, of course, preventive treatment with copper sulphate.

root rot

Often the squash bush acquires a brownish color and begins to fade, and then die altogether. If this was noticed on a squash bed, then the plant is attacked by root rot. The vast majority of spores of this defect live in the soil, and if, then such an ailment begins to attack.

The main provocateur that contributes to the development of root rot is a highly moist soil. In order to get rid of such a defect, you will need to do the following:

1. Water only with water at room temperature.
2. Timely weeding the beds, and taking out all the destroyed weeds outside the garden.
3. At the first signs of the development of the disease, it is necessary to pour soil under each bush to allow new roots to form.
4. Treat all bushes with zinc sulfate.

If watering is carried out correctly, then such a defect does not threaten the squash bush. Moreover, almost 80% of all diseases appear on the plant due to improper moisture. It is important to understand that the first enemy of this culture is ice water, therefore, by disarming such a provocateur, the gardener thereby saves the squash bed from fungal defects.

Ascochitosis

And the last defect related to the disease of zucchini, a fungal group, is ascochitosis. Such an ailment is dangerous because it can immediately hit the entire shrub. At the same time, the zucchini root is affected due to strong moisture, but if the root system is infected, then after it there is a complete infection of the ground part of the zucchini.

The first sign that ascochitosis has affected the shrub is black spots on the fruits and foliage, which then turn into rot. If you water the plant heavily, then such a disease progresses much faster.

And in order to get rid of this problem, you need to do the following:

1. Each affected stem is carefully covered with a powder made from copper sulfate and chalk.
2. Completely get rid of all infected soil, replacing it with another.
3. Perform weeding and remove all weeds from the site.
4. Re-sprinkle each bush with crushed charcoal, so that all sore spots dry faster.

Defects that affect squash bushes can be easily defeated. Moreover, diseases of zucchini in the open field are much easier to identify and correct their course. The main thing is to treat such a task as responsibly as possible. Indeed, in the overwhelming majority, it is the wrong actions of the gardener that provoke the development of these ailments.

And in this case, perhaps the biggest mistake that most novice gardeners make is a strong moistening of the earth. Often trying to please the plant and give it an impetus for intensive growth, a person achieves the opposite effect in the form of excessively moistened soil.

Such efforts are not without consequences, in the idea of ​​various fungal defects. And to avoid this mistake, before watering, you just need to probe the soil deep into how dry it is. And if the soil has become dry by 3 cm, then it's time to water.

Using this simple rule, the gardener will quickly learn to determine whether a plant needs moisture.

Conclusion

Zucchini seedlings are able to please every gardener with a good harvest of the most useful crop, but with proper care. After all, diseases and pests of zucchini are the result of improper care for this crop.

It is useful to know about the possible diseases of zucchini in the open field and how to deal with them. Over the years, infections and larvae of harmful insects accumulate in the soil, soil fertility decreases, the weather becomes less predictable, all this increases the risk of plant infection. Therefore, it is useful to know how to deal with pests and diseases of gourds.

Two or three bushes of zucchini, planted by a summer resident in the garden, give a sufficient amount of fruits for summer consumption and freezing. But not all lovers of this crop are lucky; in some, zucchini diseases destroy most of the crop. From an infection (fungal, viral, bacterial), not only the surface of the leaves and stems suffers - the fruits lose their nutritional value.

Anthracnose

It is imperative to inspect the bush if the pulp of the plucked fruit is bitter, not elastic enough. A bitter taste is a dangerous symptom. If, when examining a plant, spots of a rounded shape of brown or yellow-brown color are found on the leaves, then this is anthracnose of zucchini.

Outbreaks of the disease can occur throughout the growing season, up to fruit harvest. The number of spots increases, they appear on the stems, slightly depressed, have an oblong outline, covered with a yellow-brown coating.

Diseases of zucchini and their treatment are provoked by summer residents themselves, without observing the elementary rules of care. Plants are watered during the day, in the very heat, they are flooded, causing waterlogging. To prevent anthracnose, planting zucchini is watered in the evening. Sick plants, when the first symptoms appear, are treated with Fitosporin-M, Gamair biological preparations.

bacteriosis

Most diseases of zucchini begin with the appearance of white spots on the leaves, with bacteriosis they are brown. The disease is not treated, so it can leave the summer resident without a crop. The ovaries and fruits turn white, turn yellow, lose elasticity, become glassy.

The reasons why zucchini leaves and fruits are affected by bacteriosis:

• high humidity;
• lack of air circulation;
• thickened landing;
• non-observance of crop rotation.

If the ends of the ovaries have already turned white (turned brown), they cannot be saved. It is necessary to destroy the entire plant, pulling it out along with the root. Why do this - it is understandable - in order to prevent contamination of the soil and other plants.

To avoid bacteriosis, the seeds are soaked in a fungicide before planting. Most summer residents use Fitosporin-M. They also shed a bed 5 days before planting seeds or seedlings of zucchini. Plants are watered with settled water, its temperature should correspond to the air temperature. When the temperature drops below 8 ° C, watering is reduced to a minimum.

White rot sclerotinia

Low temperatures, combined with high soil and air humidity, cause most fungal diseases of squash in open ground. Bushes with symptoms of white rot can be saved if treatment is started as soon as a white coating is noticed on the leaves of the squash.

It is necessary to prepare a mixture for powdering the affected areas by mixing crushed chalk with copper sulfate powder in a ratio of 1: 1. Crushed coal helps to stop the spread of the fungus, sprinkle the damaged surface with powder.

If left untreated, the symptoms of sclerotinia on zucchini are fully manifested. A flaky coating appears on leaves, fruits, petioles, stems. The part of the plant affected by the fungus softens and dies. Factors affecting the activity of the fungus:

• low temperature;
• high humidity;
• dense landing;
• lack of crop rotation;
• excess nitrogen in the soil.

To prevent sclerotinia, the bushes are sprayed with the composition: water (10 liters), urea (½ tablespoon), copper sulfate (2 grams), zinc sulfate (1 gram). Fruits with a white coating on the end are not eaten, they are destroyed.

Gray rot botrytis

The spores of the fungus that cause gray rot can be found on green weeds. Young zucchini get sick, the first ovaries and leaves suffer. They get wet, turn brown, they are covered with a gray coating over time.

The disease is provoked by adverse weather conditions, manifested in the form of sharp fluctuations in temperature, air humidity, and soil. Poor care weakens young zucchini, it increases the likelihood of gray rot.

Agricultural practices include:

• irregular watering;
• use of cold water from a well, water supply;
• watering zucchini after sunset;
• frequent application of nitrogen fertilizers.

Control measures: destruction of ovaries (fruits) with signs of gray rot, treatment of stems with chalk (2 parts) mixed with copper sulphate (1 part), application of phosphorus and potash fertilizers under the root, cleaning of row spacings from weeds.

Blossom end rot on zucchini is a consequence of calcium deficiency in the soil, the symptoms of root rot are more common on protected ground plants:

• brown coloration of the roots, root neck;
• small fruits;
• leaves are yellowish, smaller than on healthy bushes;
• shedding of ovaries, fruits.

Excess fertilizer is the main factor that weakens plants. The disease begins if the zucchini is watered with cold water (t<20 °С), наблюдаются суточные колебания температуры воздуха.

It is possible to save zucchini bushes if they are treated in time with a copper-containing preparation and spud a diseased plant. With a strong defeat of the root, resuscitation is useless - the bush must be destroyed along with the fruits, the earth must be treated with a solution of copper sulfate.

Any disease robs the plant of strength, reduces the number of fruits taken per season. Powdery mildew is a disease caused by a fungus. In an infected plant, at the initial stage, the underside of the leaves is covered with a gray-white bloom. Further development of the disease is accompanied by more serious symptoms:

• there is a deformation of the sheet plates, they are twisted;
• shoots die off;
• fruits spoil.

Even at the time of preparing the beds, you need to start the prevention of powdery mildew. It is better not to apply fresh manure, as excess nitrogen weakens the squash. Compost, humus applied according to the norm (5-10 kg/m²) restore soil fertility, do not disturb the balance of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium).

In a diseased plant, all plaque-covered parts (leaves, stems, fruits) are removed, healthy tissues are treated with a fungicide solution:

• Topaz;
• Fundazol;
• soon.

When buying seeds, preference should be given to varieties with increased resistance to powdery mildew. To protect zucchini from infection, it is necessary to water them before flowering, during the period of budding and fruit formation, with infusion of ash, it can also be sprinkled on the ground in the hole after each watering. These simple measures will allow you to do without chemistry.

downy mildew downy mildew

A description of how to treat peronosporosis will help save the crop. It manifests itself at high humidity, low temperatures. The leaves are covered with oily gray-brown spots, off-white coating.

The treatment regimen for diseased zucchini is simple:

• watering is stopped for 7 days;
• the bushes are sprayed with Metiram or a solution of copper oxychloride;
• carry out root dressing with potash fertilizer;
• if night (day) air temperature< 18 °C, кусты прикрывают лутрасилом.

Black mold gourd

An alarming symptom for a summer resident is if yellow-brown spots of an angular shape begin to appear on the leaves of zucchini. In a short period of time, a gray coating will appear on the leaf plate, it is formed by spores of the fungus that causes the disease of pumpkin crops.

The plant can get sick with black mold if the planting rules are violated:

• non-compliance with crop rotation;
• dense landing;
• when preparing the soil, plant roots and other plant residues are not removed from it.

Plants cannot be cured. If they are already sick, then they are completely destroyed, the soil is treated with a fungicide.

Fungal diseases and pests of zucchini are not as terrible as Fusarium wilt. It is almost impossible to fight it, the plant dies completely. The infection destroys the vascular system, which leads to the death of roots, stems, leaves - they wither.

Causes of Fusarium wilt:

• weeds;
• the remains of last year's plants in the soil;
• non-compliance with the rules of crop rotation, the annual planting of pumpkin crops in the same place.

The diseased plant must be removed from the garden along with an earthen clod. Treat the soil with Fitosporin, Baktofit. Helps the introduction of chalk, dolomite flour. The fungus loses activity in neutral soil.

How to deal with zucchini pests

Low air temperature causes a decrease in immunity, weakened plants are more likely to suffer from insects. You can fight them by using folk remedies and chemicals.

The ubiquitous aphid can destroy the plant. A small insect (3 mm) gnaws leaves and shoots, carries infection (bacteria, viruses). Pests reproduce very quickly, damage leaves, young shoots, buds.

The first activity of insects begins in spring, when the air warms up to 12 °C. Affected plants are easily recognizable by twisted leaves, buds that have stopped developing. If you look at the back of the leaf, then there will be visible colonies of adult insects and their larvae.

Summer residents avoid the invasion of aphids, who do not neglect the simple method of prevention - combined plantings. Planted next to zucchini:

• spicy plants (mint, coriander, fennel);
• flowers (marigold, lavender);
• garlic, onion.

Sick plants are treated with Bitoxibacillin, which is not dangerous for bees and humans. It is an effective microbiological agent; an aqueous solution is prepared immediately before use. For 10 liters of water, the consumption is from 80 to 100 grams. The plant affected by aphids is sprayed every 10 days.

If there are few insects, then a folk remedy is used - an infusion of tobacco. For 1 part of the product take 10 parts of water. The infusion is prepared for a day. Zucchini leaves are treated with a solution diluted in a ratio of 1: 3.

whitefly

July is the time when the whitefly begins its years. It looks like a moth, the body does not exceed 2 millimeters in length, the color is pale - white or slightly yellowish. The leaves are eaten by whitefly larvae. They emerge from eggs laid by the female on the back of the leaf.

The defeat of zucchini begins with young shoots (leaves), they are easy to recognize by the light spots that appear on the surface of the leaf plates. Larvae in the process of life secrete a sticky mass that tightens the leaves, prevents them from developing, and serves as a breeding ground for soot fungus.

Insect-affected leaves and buds are deformed, dry, fall off. To prevent the death of the plant, it is sprayed with an infusion of garlic or tobacco. Processing is carried out every 3 days. Leaves before spraying can be washed with settled water. Liquid soap should be added to the infusion of garlic (tobacco).

The insect does not exceed 0.4 mm in length; it settles on the inner surface of the leaf. The color of the mites is brown or green. They breed more actively in dry, hot weather. Affected leaves can be identified by yellow dots on their surface and the web with which they are entangled.

A large number of ticks is very harmful. Insects can slow down the growth of a plant. Zucchini begin to lag behind in development, the leaves dry, immunity suffers. Plants infested with mites tolerate cold snaps worse.

A small number of insects are dealt with by spraying with infusions of onion peel, garlic, and tobacco. With a strong defeat of zucchini, chemistry helps to get rid of the spider mite: Phosfamide, Metaphos, Karbafos, Akartan.

By the name of the insect, it is clear that it affects the young shoots of plants. Germ fly larvae can be found on young shoots and seeds. The imago of the insect is gray in color, its body length is not more than 5 millimeters.

Fly years begin in spring, from one female per season up to 3 generations of pests appear. Zucchini suffer from larvae, they can destroy young shoots in just 2 weeks. Experienced gardeners advise to dig the soil well when manure is introduced into it, and before the summer of the sprout fly, water the sprouts of zucchini by preparing the following solution:

• water - 10 liters;
• food salt - 200 grams.

To protect against flies in the spring, Fufanon is applied to the soil, the rate is determined according to the instructions.

Slugs

Slugs love zucchini, they eat ovaries, fruits. Other parts of the plant also suffer. Mollusks are fixed on any part of the stem and gnaw it out. Young plants rarely survive such an invasion. The mucus secreted by the pest spoils the presentation of the fruit.

Fight slugs manually or using traps. They are made from old bags, cardboard, plywood. Structures are placed around the entire perimeter of the ridge. To protect against slugs, they dig wide grooves around the landings (up to 30 centimeters). They are filled with sawdust or needles to prevent the movement of slugs.

In addition, they scatter Metaldehyde (granules) around the beds with zucchini and spray the soil with a solution of lime. Plants planted around beds with zucchini help to scare away pests: lavender, sage, bitter pepper, garlic, mustard.

You can save a diseased plant from a large number of sucking insects using proven products that are sold at any gardening store. Preparations Confidor, Aktara, Mospilan help from pests of zucchini. From diseases caused by viruses, fungi, bacteria, crop rotation, proper choice of variety, proper sowing and care, as well as modern fungicides will protect.

The gourd aphid mainly settles on zucchini. The larvae overwinter in weeds. The breeding season starts in spring when the air temperature exceeds +12°C. At first, aphids feed on weeds, and over time, they move to vegetable plants. The development of aphids on squash is favored by warm, humid weather. Both greenhouse crops and open ground plantings are under threat. A pest attack can be recognized by the following signs:

• twisted sheet plate;
• underdeveloped, drying buds;
• whitish "chunks" and sticky liquid on the surface of the leaf - discarded old shell and secreted by aphids;
• accumulations of larvae on the inside of the leaf in black, brown or green;
• sudden invasion of ants in the greenhouse.

The surface of the leaf is contaminated with insect secretions that disrupt the vital activity of plants.

The main methods of destruction of aphids

If appropriate measures are not taken in time, the plants stop growing. Aphids infect zucchini with pathogenic viruses, which leads to damage and death of the plant. The existing methods of combating melon aphids are schematically displayed in the table:

Ways	The essence of the method	Events
Mechanical	Mechanical destruction of insects	Manual collection of larvae; removal and burning of affected leaves and flowers; use of glue traps; flushing with water
Biological	Attracting biological enemies of aphids - insects and birds	Planting bait plants for hover flies, earwigs, lacewings; Placement in the garden of birdhouses, feeders and drinkers for birds
Agrotechnical	Increase plant immunity and resistance to pests	Top dressing with complex fertilizers; timely watering and weeding
Chemical		Spraying plants with herbal remedies and insecticides; preventive treatment of greenhouses; destruction of soil ants
Folk	Prevention and destruction of pests	Treatment with herbal infusions, ash, soap and soda solutions

You can start with the simplest.

The basis for protecting greenhouse zucchini from aphids is prevention. When growing zucchini indoors, it is important to observe the norms of fertilization, maintain optimal humidity (up to 80%) and temperature (not higher than 25 ° C). Weeds must be carefully eradicated. ". It is necessary to prepare a greenhouse or frame-film shelter for the next season in the fall, immediately after the last harvest.

• Collect and destroy plant residues (weeds, old tops, garbage).
• Remove the top layer of the earth to a depth of 5 cm. Once every 5 years, it is recommended to completely replace the entire soil.
• Rinse the glass and walls with a solution of copper sulphate. Whitewash the supports, wooden parts of the frame with lime.
• Ignite the sulfur flask.
• Repeat lime and copper sulphate treatment in April before the start of the season.

It is impossible to defeat aphids that have settled in a greenhouse without destroying greenhouse ants. To combat them, special crayons, adhesive tapes and insecticidal agents Pochin, Ant, Medvetoks, Anteater are used. A complex of agrotechnical and preventive measures allows you to completely get rid of greenhouse aphids.

During the combustion of a sulfur checker, sulfurous anhydride is released, which has a detrimental effect on pests.

The effectiveness of modern insecticides

To get rid of the aphid invasion, special insecticides are used.

A drug	How to apply	Advantages	Flaws	Efficiency mark
Bitoxibacillin	Multiple (with an interval of 10–15 days) spraying in dry weather with an aqueous solution (80–100 g per 10 l of water)	Harmless to humans, bees, birds, animals, used in any phase of vegetation, does not accumulate in fruits	Ready solution cannot be stored	Highly effective microbiological preparation
Akarin	Spot treatment in dry calm weather of lesions (6 ml per 1 liter of water)	A single spray is enough; processing during the harvest period is allowed	Detrimental to bees	At an ambient temperature below +18°С it is ineffective
Fitoverm	Double spraying (6 ml per 1 liter of water)	Ecologically safe, does not accumulate in fruits	Cannot be mixed with other drugs	Highly effective biopreparation of the 4th generation
tanrec	Single spray (5 ml per bucket of water)	Economical (consumption no more than 5 liters per 100 m²)	Toxic to bees, birds and earthworms	Highly effective, long period of protective action

In cloudy weather, the effectiveness of insecticides, as a rule, decreases, so the treatment is carried out on a dry, warm and calm day. Even the most effective drugs should be alternated so that pests do not get addicted.

Tip #1For spraying insecticides, you should choose a sprayer with small holes, such as an old perfume sprayer.

With a strong aphid infestation of small greenhouses and hotbeds, the following processing method is effective: a film is laid on top of the plants on the arcs, with an insecticide applied to the inside, sprinkled with earth on the edges. As a result, the pest completely dies in a day. ".

Folk ways to destroy aphids

If the use of toxic insecticides is undesirable, folk methods are resorted to. They are also effective, but their use is advisable only in small areas and in closed ground. It is problematic to prepare the amount of the drug required for a large area. In addition, infusions made according to folk recipes require repeated use once a week.

Moreover, for repeated treatments, it is better to alternate the means, which is not economically justified for an industrial scale. The most popular pest control among gardeners is a soapy solution. It is used both as an independent preparation and as an additive to herbal infusions for sticking to the leaves. The most common recipes:

• decoction of ash: boil 300 g for 15 minutes in 10 liters of water;
• infusion of onion peel: 1 cup of raw material is poured into 3 liters of boiling water, insisted for 3 hours, diluted in 10 liters of water;
• infusion based on tomato (possibly potato) tops: brew 500 g of greens in 10 liters of boiling water, leave for a day;
• mustard solution: 100 g of powder per 5 liters of water;
• dandelion infusion: take 300 g of greenery and roots per bucket of water, soak for 3 hours;

Tip #2 Some gardeners spray aphid clusters with vodka using a spray bottle. Vodka has a detrimental effect on aphids, but alcohol can leave burns on the leaves.

Complex fertilizers / dressings for aphid control

Plants with resilient, strong and dense leaves have a higher chance of resisting aphids. Therefore, as a preventive measure, abundant watering and regular fertilizing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are recommended. An overview of complex fertilizers that increase the resistance of zucchini to aphids is shown in the table below:

Fertilizer	Operating principle	Application method	Dosage	Advantages
Agricola-5	Increases resistance to pests and diseases, adverse weather conditions	Root and foliar (spraying) dressing up to 5 times per season	25 g per 10 liters of water to irrigate up to 25 m² of bed area	Does not contain chlorine and heavy metals, environmentally friendly
Hello Turbo	Reduces the negative impact of stress factors, promotes the active absorption of nutrients	Root top dressing (with watering) once every 2 weeks	15 g per 10 liters of water per 1.5 m²	Without chlorine, contains an optimal set of macro and microelements
Blank sheet	Stimulates growth, increases resistance to pests, diseases, weather conditions	Root and foliar top dressing, dry application before watering is allowed	10 g per 8 liters of water	Compatible with all organic fertilizers
Multiflor	Increases immunity, stimulates growth, strengthens the root system of plants	Root and foliar top dressing	10 g per 10 liters of water	Reduced consumption rate and 100% nutrient uptake

Health stimulates the development of zucchini, increasing resistance to aphids and other pests.

Mistakes of gardeners when getting rid of aphids from zucchini

1. You can not overfeed plants with nitrogen fertilizers, since aphids are primarily attracted to juicy young greens.
2. It is unacceptable to leave "green" paths in the greenhouse. Aphids in closed ground settle first on weeds, then affecting cultivated plants. All grass in a greenhouse or greenhouse must be carefully weeded out.
3. You can not buy seedlings of unknown origin in the market. Often such planting material is already infested with aphids.
4. It is wrong to assume that homemade preparations are safe for humans and animals. Sometimes poisonous raw materials are used in folk recipes, for example, tobacco, dope, henbane, celandine. It is necessary to work with them, as well as with chemicals, in personal protective equipment. In addition, violation of the dosage can lead to leaf burn. Vegetables after processing can not be eaten for at least 10 days.
5. You should not place squash beds near bird cherry, viburnum and linden. These trees are a favorite wintering ground for aphids.

Questions of gardeners on the fight against aphids

Question number 1. As you know, ladybugs are predators that eat aphids. How to attract these insects to the squash bed?

First, it is necessary to limit the use of chemical means of protection. Secondly, plant buckwheat, dill, tansy, legumes nearby with zucchini. Ladybug loves dandelion, yarrow. You can buy ladybug larvae in specialized stores to populate a greenhouse with them.

Question number 2. What is the difference between systemic and contact insecticides?

Contact insecticides such as Intavir, Kinmiks, FAS kill pests when applied directly. The drug acts only at the spray site, without protecting other parts of the plant. Apply only in dry weather, since the effectiveness depends on precipitation.

If the aphid hides in places inaccessible for spraying, it is advisable to use systemic insecticides Aktara, Biotlin, Tanrek. The damaging substance penetrates into the vessels of the leaf. The pest dies when eating any part of the plant. The weather does not affect the effectiveness of the drug.

Question number 3. Are there two-in-one products that combine disinfection with top dressing?

The composition of the newest drug Iskra, in addition to the active substance to combat melon aphids, includes potash fertilizers. This is a very economical tool. Take 1 tablet per bucket of water. This solution is sufficient for spraying 100 m² of plantings. Before processing, ripe fruits must be harvested.

Question number 4. Why does the effectiveness of insecticides decrease with repeated treatments?

Aphids, like other pests, get used to the chemicals used against it, so the means must be alternated, using each no more than 2-3 times in a row.