Using Season-long Row Covers for Winter Squash ePLUS Collaborating Farms
OBJECTIVE Demonstrate applicability of pest management tactics of using seasonlong row covers in winter squash production.
OSU Extension Athens, Morrow, Pike, and Sandusky
STUDY INFORMATION Planting Date 06/17-07/03/2024 Harvest Date(s) 09/10/2024 – 10/2024 Varieties 8 Management Organic System Plasticulture, irrigation – drip tape, row covers Study type Randomized Complete Block Part of larger Yes replicated study? Treatments 4 Replications 3-4 Size of trial
1 acre
STUDY DESIGN
Native cucurbit bees, Eucera pruinosa and E. strenua were captured by picking closed flowers and transferring to a plastic bug for counting and removal of errant cucumber beetles.
This study involved replicating plot treatments across four Ohio sites: OSU North Central Ag Research Station, OSU Couth Centers, and two commercial farms, located in Sandusky, Pike, Athens and Morrow counties, respectfully during the 2025 growing season. Plots at the Sandusky, Pike, and Morrow county sites consisted of three rows of winter squash, each 50 ft long. Each site contained plots which were either covered with lightweight mesh row covers (ProtekNet) supported by 3 ft tall hoops, polypropylene fabric (Remay) row covers supported by 3 ft tall hoops, or left open as controls. Table Ace squash was used at both OSU locations. The Morrow county site utilized a mix of varieties that were distributed evenly at planting across the three treatment plots. At the Athens county site, two plots of each treatment were established, each composed of two rows of Black Futsu squash, 33 ft long. Further, the row middles were seeded with Teff grass, Eragrostis tef, as a weed suppressing cover. All open plots were sprayed with OMRI approved insecticides and fungicides following organic practices. At flowering, native cucurbit bees, Eucera pruinosa and E. strenua, were captured from nearby cucurbit fields while resting in closed flowers and transferred to a plastic bag. Any bycatch cucumber beetles were destroyed prior to release into each covered plot beneath the row covers. Bees were stocked under each cover at a rate of ~1 bee/ 10 feet of linear row. All fruit were harvested and graded according to USDA standards. Marketable fruit grown on commercial farms were used for fresh and seed sales.
84 | Ohio State Digital Ag Program
Row covers worked well to exclude pests.