Garden

[Twins Mom]

I thought zucchini was easier to grow than tomatoes!  I noticed small critters on underside of leaves so I tried spraying with Neem oil as well as added coffee grounds around plant.  Condition just worsened.  Any suggestions for next year?

[CritterKeeper]

Sounds like "squash bugs". They are a real pain. They completely destroyed my zucchini and squash last year. :-( 

[RedTop]

We put a heavy squirt of dish detergent in a spray bottle, added water, let it dissolve then sprayed top and bottom of the leaves.  You must remove any bugs and eggs on the leaves by hand before you spray.  

[PA Mom-mom]

@Twins Mom  Squash bugs look like fireflies, but somewhat larger. If you see squash bugs, chances are they have already laid their eggs in the stems of the zucchini. If so, the larvae will eat the insides of the stems and your zucchini will start to wilt and die. If the pest is something like whitefly, there are topical sprays (per @RedTop ). I've only have experience with squash bugs. 

[Twins Mom]

@PA Mom-mom 

Any way to head them off before they get inside stems?

[PA Mom-mom]

@Twins Mom You can put netting over the plants, but it has to be held down on the edges so the bugs can't get in.

[Twins Mom]

@PA Mom-mom 

The bugs I saw on underside of leaf were extremely small. I can't imagine netting that small.  I saw ants on stems when I pulled out.

[PA Mom-mom]

@Twins Mom  No, they were not zucchini bugs. Probably whiteflies or aphids. For those, you can buy a safe insecticidal soap or @RedTop mentioned, make your own.