@Zealist :blobthinkingeyes: *is* it the vine borers? I learned that you can cut into the stems and pull them out (and feed them to the chickens! :pepereeeee:), and then cover the stems back up, but not all will survive that, and I still missed a bunch last year. The pumpkins were more affected than the zucchini for me, but the pumpkins were easier to cut into and then bury the stem (a bit tougher with the zucchini).