Protecting apples organically from insect/worm damage
carol_the_dabbler
5 months ago
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 months agocarol_the_dabbler
5 months agoRelated Discussions
Absence of Insect Damage and Disease in Weeds and Wildflowers
Comments (40)I am in the "confused by the difference between wildflowers and weeds" camp. I grow a lot of things on purpose that other people call weeds, and I call wildflowers. On the other hand, I have so much goldenrod in my yard that I always pull it out of my gardens, and I thus consider it a weed. Technically it is also a wildflower. Anyway, I have a LOT of it that is stunted, because it is a favorite target of whatever it is that goes around to plants and puts a milky colored frothy sticky substance with some kind of baby bug in it. The baby bug then eats at the plant while maturing. I have found this goop on a wide variety of plants but there is more on the goldenrod than anything else put together. Hence I have significant insect damage on a native weed/wildflower. But not knowing if you call that a weed or not, I am not sure if I invalidate your theory or not. I have even seen creeping charlie with some sort of big lumps in the stem that suggested a creature had attacked it and laid eggs. Certainly creeping charlie is a weed. Alas, it did not spread enough to wipe out my creeping charlie. But it was really freaky looking. Marcia...See MoreBagging figs to protect against insects
Comments (11)I'm wondering if anyone has results on bagging figs. I read one article from Hawaii that was promising. Theory can go all sorts of directions. I would love to hear about results. I will plan on bagging some in 2015. Little early to do it now - 18 degrees outside. :-). Planning gets me through the cold days. I can see bagging being especially helpful for Brunswick, which ripens late and gets moldy. If it speeds ripening, maybe I will get more of those sweet figs. I could also see benefit of paper bags to deter birds. Or find some mylar or use aluminum foil maybe. The bags wont deter ants but I have tanglefoot arpund the trunks for that. I made bags for apples using zipper sandwich bags, polyethylene. Cut the corners for drainage. I can set some aside for figs. I read newspaper can be made into bags but in my clinate rain would be an issue....See MoreStinkbug damage and protection?
Comments (34)The type of DE used in swimming pool filters is an inhalation hazard, but the food grade DE is not particularly dangerous. I've read that people who work for years mining it have no particular lung damage. Still, we should take reasonable precautions. Yes, Nobel used DE in making dynamite, as it helps stabilize the otherwise volitile nitroglycerine. All my life, I used to use chemical sprays on my gardens and on my fig trees, but this year, I decided to go organic, so I only use DE for bugs, compost tea for fertilizer, lots of mulch and a little less water. My garden and my fig trees did great. Since the DE is not a poison, but kills bugs by physical action, the bugs can never ever build up an imunity to it. On the other hand, pesticides are poisons, and the ones that work best are the ones with the strongest poisons. That's not such a good thing really. BTW: I've taken a teaspoon of DE for several weeks now, and not only is the pain gone, but I have wonderful circulation again in my poor diabetic feet, plus I have double the energy of former times. I don't even nap any more. And I'm giving it away in sandwich baggies to some older customers of my appliance business. They love it too....See MoreWhat is this worm like insect eating my plant?
Comments (7)That is it!!! Thank you so much. I took the two off, but it's amazing how quickly they damaged the plant. I have my bug guy coming to spray the yard again after Isaac has left, and I'll be sure to keep a keen eye on the papaya. I was glad to read that they are almost always found on papayas, so my other 8 trees are (cross your fingers) in the clear. I have had such trouble with papaya here. This is my second try after my first one was overcome with spider mites. Thank you again for the quick response!...See Moredchall_san_antonio
15 days agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
15 days agocarol_the_dabbler
14 days agodchall_san_antonio
14 days ago
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)