New Website!
After a year of stating I plan to create a new website it has finally become a reality! So far I only have two tabs, one with a class listing and another linked to this blog. In the next few months I plan to add videos, a consultation tab, and a recommended resources tab. Also, I plan to update this blog on a monthly basis but as you well know "the best laid plans of mice and men..." We will see.
http://thegardeninsectary.com/
posted by Diana Liga @ 11:31 AM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
Diana, I attended one of your urban harvest classes about a month ago. I have a question I'm hoping you can help me with. We have been suffering a terrible aphid infestation. They completely took out our cantaloupe and they've now got a hold of our fairly recently planted squash. What can I do? This is a LOT of aphids, not a 'scrape them off' type situation. Interestingly, our apple tree is untouched.
Heather, In a healthy garden a few aphids are never a problem but when the infestation continues to grow exponentially over the course of a few weeks then you have a problem. The best thing you can do to manage insect pests is to plant an insectary, a garden to attract beneficial insects. For example did you know that the juvenile form of a lady beetle eats up to 400 aphids a day! The juvenile lacewing does the same. That being said, Texas is undergoing some intense weather conditions lately. The lack of rain and the strong winds are not only drying out our plants but their drying out or insect allies. So this is the horrible cycle that we are in: The plants dry out due to lack of water and excess wind, they start to overproduce sugar as a sign of stress, when this happens insect pests (in your case aphids) attack the plant and take advantage of its overproduction of sugar and its compromised natural defenses. In general a healthy plant is less likely to be overcome by insects than it's stressed out counterpart. Cantaloupes like lots of regular watering while they are forming. Even regular watering has been insufficient due to the wind pulling water out of the leaves' stomates and drying it out. I'm guessing like most vegetables right now your plants are stressed. So back to your question: What should you do? Mulch with alfalfa if you haven't already, either spray or do a soil drench with a high quality compost tea, and start planting some flowering plants (anything with daisy-like flowers, and starting at the end of this month herbs.) Many people will recommend insecticidal soap. I tend not to because it is a broad spectrum insecticide, so if you use it be sure to check your plants for beneficial insects before you spray and pick a time when it's not too windy. Hope this helps! Thanks!
That helps a ton Diana - Thank you!!
Is there a local source for alfalfa hay that you recommend?
Heather, First you should call your local feed store and get their price for a bale of alfalfa hay. Just know that they sometimes sell it in half bales so if the price is less than $10 then it's probably a half bale. A full bale should run you about $15-$18. Be forewarned that they will sometimes try to sell you coastal hay because it is cheaper. Coastal hay is not a good garden mulch substitute. First of all it's a grass instead of a legume which means it doesn't have many nutrients and secondly coastal has a reputation for being sprayed with herbicides. Even if you are a conventional gardener the last thing you want in your veggie beds is an herbicide. If you have problems finding a local feed store, then try Wabash Antique and Feed in the Heights.
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