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I've planted a varieity of vegetables (eggplant, ochra, tomatoes, chilli's, sweet potatoes, cabbage and probably some others). The plants are growing alright but I've got bug problems. Some of the plants are infested with aphids and unless I do something about them soon I'm afraid I will loose them entirely. And something else I haven't identified is eating the leaves on the sweet potatoes.
I don't want to use pesticides so I'm looking for something natural that will help control these pests. Introducing predator insects isn't really an option.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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Is it still legal / environmentally acceptable to buy a box of Lady Bugs?
Sure they fly off fairly quick, but they usually enjoy the buffet you release them next to before doing so.
Posts: 1368 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Can you get a couple of chickens? As long as they're lightly stocked and things aren't fruiting yet, they'll generally prefer to eat bugs rather than the leaves, although they will eat some leaves. Also, the plants need to be big enough that the chickens don't scratch them up when they go after bugs.
I don't think chickens will have much effect on aphids, but they should clean up grubs and grasshoppers and the like. You can remove them and sell them after they're done with the insects, if you don't want to keep chickens around full-time.
If not, e-mail her saying your a friend of Dan Davis's. Tell her where you are located and what you are growing that is being attacked, and she may send you some suggestions.
Posts: 1941 | Registered: Feb 2003
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I never used them here, bugs in the Great American Desert mostly need to carry canteens. But, when I lived in Utah, some neighbor kids had ducks that they rented out to home gardners. A couple of ducks for a couple of weeks made a big difference. They also ate pigweed and redroot! Inplanting marigolds will make a difference with many insects but not aphids. Depending on what you consider "natural" some insecticides are made with pythria, a "natural" plant extract.
Posts: 1167 | Registered: Oct 2005
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I've heard garlic is good for aphids too. I've heard that lavender oil works for many other insects.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Artemisia Tridentata: Depending on what you consider "natural" some insecticides are made with pythria, a "natural" plant extract.
Look for the word pyrethrum on the bottle.
Also, insecticidal soaps are supposed to work on aphids (google it). I've found this method to be a lot of work requiring frequent reapplication; once I notice the aphids, the plant is weakened enough that they tend to take over till the damage is done. But I'm a lazy gardener. ;-)
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Unfortunately, chickens aren't allowed in either of the areas where I have my gardens. I could probably release ladybugs if I could find a local source for them (which I haven't). It would be highly illegal for me to import them to the island.
Garlic oil sounds like a good option.
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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You can try organics but if you're dead set against the use of pesticides and there's already a significant pest problem you probably will just have to be prepared for the plants not making it. :/
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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I used to use a 50/50 mix of lemon juice and water. It won't kill the aphids, but applied daily should keep them away from the plants being affected.
I hear the same works with orange juice, but you have to make sure it's 100% orange juice. Never tried that one myself, though.
Posts: 701 | Registered: Jul 1999
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Aphids are harder to deal with once they're established... here in Virginia we've got enough ladybugs around to keep them under control. The only time they're a problem is in the greenhouse in the spring; as long as we catch them early enough, we can spray Safer Soap on them. (Soapy stuff, suffocates the aphids.)
If you can get ladybugs, ways of getting them to stick around = 1) release them just before sunset, so they'll settle down for the night; and 2) spray sugar water on the plants you want them to take care of -- the sugar water will smell like the sticky plant sap that aphids suck from the plants, and get the ladybugs' attention.
Is it a bug or an animal eating the sweet potatoes? A lot of animals like the leaves -- here in the US, deer and groundhogs definitely do...
Posts: 2911 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I've never had luck with soap on aphids. Works great on whitefly infestations though.
We had groundhogs eating our garden once. Planted radishes around the edga and marigolds around the radishes. Worked pretty well except where we accidentally left gaps.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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