Winter squash perimeter trap cropping for the organic grower

View the project final report

Commodities

• Vegetables: cucurbits

Practices

• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
• Pest Management: biological control, biorational pesticides, cultural control, field monitoring/scouting, physical control, trap crops

Perimeter trap cropping is a technique in which an insect-preferred variety of a crop is grown around the border of the main cash crop to attract pests. Growers have achieved effective control using this technique, but, to date, all research has relied on conventional pesticides to kill the insects. This project will investigate the viability of this system when using organic control methods. Outreach will be through workshops, farm tours, and publications.