January 21, 2016
Probably the pest control
that works best for me and is not toxic is none other than floating row covers.
I am a huge fan of this agriculture product. When I tell folks what all that I
use it for (much more than just pest control), most times they are amazed, but
(always that but) a lot of people think it is unsightly.
This is a personal thing: is
the visual experience of greater value than the pesticide free vegetables?
Immediately after I have
finished seeding or planting a bed, the fabric goes on. Everything is started
under fabric. Only okra (eventually out grows the fabric) and the cucurbits
(cucumbers, squash, melons…) need to be pollinated by insects and are uncovered
when they begin to bloom.
These are some of the
insects that can be eliminated from devouring your veggies: flea beetles,
blister beetles, grasshoppers, tomato horn worms, tomato pin worms, cabbage
lopper, deer, fowl, curved bill thrasher, big leg bugs, saw flies and until the
cucurbits begin to bloom cucumber beetles and squash bugs. This is not an
all-inclusive list.
Who hasn’t gone through
their cabbage or broccoli leaves looking for cabbage loopers or even looking
for that elusive tomato horn worm? You can see the defoliation from the horn
worm but finding a green worm in the midst of green foliage can be difficult.
The use of fabric eliminates these bugs. That is as long as the fabric remains
on to prevent the hummingbird moth’s and the cabbage looper moth’s access to
the plants. The usual method of their control is by hand or the use of Bt.
(Bacillus thuringiensis). Bt. kills ALL moths and butterflies, from Luna moths
to Monarch butterflies. Row covers will eliminate this problem but needs to
always be in place when not working the beds.
Another bug that is easily
controlled by fabric is the flea beetle. Flea beetles absolutely love beans and
eggplants. With large populations the leaves of these veggies begin to look
like Swiss cheese.
Flea beetles DO NOT like shade.
They abhor it!! This is one reason I like bed culture where I have a bed of
beans 4.5 feet wide and 45 feet long. Once there is crown closure there is no
more flea beetles. Flea beetles also love mulch around veggie plants, it is
where they afford cover and lay eggs for future generations. By covering, one
can mulch for moister retention and not have to wait for crown closure to chase
off the flea beetles. If you have flea beetles, spray the plants with a garlic
spray and then cover the plants. Flea beetles do not like garlic.
Fabric will also keep deer
and fowl at bay but if there is a rip, all bets are off. The best exclusion for
these critters is a deer fence, at least 6 feet tall.
Questions? I can be contacted at markdirtfarmer@gmail.com. Or more
garden notes at redwagonfarm.blogsot.com
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