The Vegtable Garden Thread (19 Viewers)

[rusty_tlc]

What are you folks using for pesticide? I'd like to keep it natural as possible. I read online about making a cayenne pepper spray, has anyone had success with this?

I interplant garlic and onions as well as a lot of marigolds. Every couple of days a strong blast from the hose help keep aphids and mites under control.

NEVER spray, you also kill the predators and they don't re-populate as fast as the nuisance bugs.

In general learn to accept a certain level of damage from insects, you produce won't look like the stuff in the grocery store, ie picture perfect, but it will taste like real food and won't poison your body. I only get worried if the insect damage starts to significantly affect yields. At that point I'll use something like insecticidal soap. This is a last resort and I've rarely used it in the last 25 years gardening.

 

[BrotherRob]

I interplant garlic and onions as well as a lot of marigolds. Every couple of days a strong blast from the hose help keep aphids and mites under control.

NEVER spray, you also kill the predators and they don't re-populate as fast as the nuisance bugs.

In general learn to accept a certain level of damage from insects, you produce won't look like the stuff in the grocery store, ie picture perfect, but it will taste like real food and won't poison your body. I only get worried if the insect damage starts to significantly affect yields. At that point I'll use something like insecticidal soap. This is a last resort and I've rarely used it in the last 25 years gardening.

^^This. I've had good luck with tobacco tea. I've also done the same with dried basil which is lethal to some insects. BT is a biological that is lethal to caterpillars but harmless to humans, I use it sparingly, it's messy and a bitch to wash off. There are a few insecticides that claim to be safe for veggie gardens, but anything that kills bugs can't be to swift for humans.

 

[TXLX100]

I sprayed some cayenne potion on the leaves of my peppers, seemed to take care of whatever was eating it. I like cayenne, it's made of peppers... So can't be too bad.

My okra has little black bugs, but I suspect the okra growth will be exploding soon anyway. My tomatoes have exploded and are growing fruit now.

 

[rusty_tlc]

T

^^This. I've had good luck with tobacco tea. I've also done the same with dried basil which is lethal to some insects. BT is a biological that is lethal to caterpillars but harmless to humans, I use it sparingly, it's messy and a bitch to wash off. There are a few insecticides that claim to be safe for veggie gardens, but anything that kills bugs can't be to swift for humans.

At one time you could buy nicotine sulfate, IIRC it was made by Green Light.

 

[BrotherRob]

T

At one time you could buy nicotine sulfate, IIRC it was made by Green Light.

It's easy to make. Just steep some butts or a cheap cigar and fill a spray bottle.

 

[BrotherRob]

&%^*$ birds. I usually don't need bird netting until June. Little fawkers just thrashed my first Romas.

The garlic harvest has starting at a trickle. I'm pulling the underdeveloped ones out one at a time and chopping the entire plant up in my meals. Fresh, uncured garlic is a once a year treat that is always welcome.

 

[rusty_tlc]

We got some diatomaceous earth I'll give that a try to kill the ant mounds. It should also take care of whatever has been lunching on my green bean plants.

 

[BrotherRob]

We got some diatomaceous earth I'll give that a try to kill the ant mounds. It should also take care of whatever has been lunching on my green bean plants.

Bait traps work much better on ants. Your bean munchers are prolly caterpillars, get some BT to take care of them.

 

[rusty_tlc]

The damage on the beans looks more like beetle than caterpillars, small holes in the middle of the leaf rather than scallops around the edges.

 

[BrotherRob]

You may have different critters than me. I have seen caterpillars make holes in the middle but it's not common. I would try to ID the beast before throwing stuff at it. If it doesn't seem to be harming the plant, you might be better off leaving it alone.

 

[myquestoyota]

It's coming along nicely

 

[rusty_tlc]

You may have different critters than me. I have seen caterpillars make holes in the middle but it's not common. I would try to ID the beast before throwing stuff at it. If it doesn't seem to be harming the plant, you might be better off leaving it alone.

I'm going to have to replant' whatever it is hits the first set of true leaves and the plant never develops. The plants seem to be okay once they get a second set of leaves, so I'll start them in the green house and transplant. The green house will get them to near the same size as the ones I planted directly in the soil pretty fast.

 

[BrotherRob]

I'm going to have to replant' whatever it is hits the first set of true leaves and the plant never develops. The plants seem to be okay once they get a second set of leaves, so I'll start them in the green house and transplant. The green house will get them to near the same size as the ones I planted directly in the soil pretty fast.

You may want to talk to someone at a local nursery and see if they have a clue what's getting them.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Cut worms.
Found one today when I was transplanting. Odd they leave everything alone except the beans. I'll make some collars for my new transplants when they are ready.

 

[BrotherRob]

BT should 86 them.

 

[Silverbullet1997]

In my garden right now, I have tomatoes, Rhubarb, Strawberries(red and alpine), Peas(snow and snap), grape vines(just for the leaves), bay tree, onions, garlic, Chives, Dill, Mint, Raspberrys. The list goes on and on.

 

[spressomon]

Related: Pickling & canning local asparagus this morning...got it all done and realized I forgot to add the fresh wild dill...

 

[surfpig]

My little postage stamp is starting to produce...



I'd post pictures,

But new MUD fxxxing sucks...

 

[surfpig]

My little postage stamp is starting to produce...



I'd post pictures,

But new MUD ****ing sucks...

 

[surfpig]