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mxyzptlk · 07-10-2004, 03:02 AM

I don’t know about soil treatments, never used them, but lime also works for the flea beetles on eggplant, which are one of the flea beetles favorites. Just sprinkle the lime on the leaves. The bugs don’t like the taste. Some say planting catnip with flea beetles deters them, but I haven't tried that...just use the lime.

For any caterpillar, including hornworms and cabbage fly "worms", there is a product called Dipel (Bacillus thuringiensis) that, in effect, gives them the "flu" rather quickly. It is readily available. You can also simply sprinkle salt on the caterpillars. It burns their skin and they die pretty rapidly. The old Dutch farmers around here use the powdered lime on everything...it doesn't kill the bugs but makes the vegetables less palatable for them.

For beetles, we usually just transplant and ladybugs, preying mantis or assassin bugs we find. They are voracious killers. There are natural japanese beetle traps on the market, but you need to place them away from your garden cause you want to attract them away...not to you garden.

Windex works on white fly, believe it or not.

Diatomaceous Earth is a powder that is made from crushed small sea creature shells and apparently dehydrates most bugs rather quickly. Harmless to us. I haven't used it but it is touted in most organic publications.

I have had a lot of success with, believe it or not, leaving some weeds in the garden and sometimes just leaving a row of weeds (cutting them down before they go to seed). The smell and color seems to confuse many bugs. Also, interplanting with aromatic herbs like rosemary, basil, tansy and garlic has the same effect. There are lots of articles on "companion planting" online and in gardening books. We always plant more than we need so as not to be so distressed when the rabbits grab a nibble (when the dogs aren't looking) or when a turtle takes one single nip out of a perfectly good tomato.

Most of all don't get discouraged. Watch and read what works. Veggies from your garden are so superior to what you get from the grocery store it is worth the hassle.

Enjoy.

07-10-2004, 03:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
mxyzptlk Tilted	I don’t know about soil treatments, never used them, but lime also works for the flea beetles on eggplant, which are one of the flea beetles favorites. Just sprinkle the lime on the leaves. The bugs don’t like the taste. Some say planting catnip with flea beetles deters them, but I haven't tried that...just use the lime. For any caterpillar, including hornworms and cabbage fly "worms", there is a product called Dipel (Bacillus thuringiensis) that, in effect, gives them the "flu" rather quickly. It is readily available. You can also simply sprinkle salt on the caterpillars. It burns their skin and they die pretty rapidly. The old Dutch farmers around here use the powdered lime on everything...it doesn't kill the bugs but makes the vegetables less palatable for them. For beetles, we usually just transplant and ladybugs, preying mantis or assassin bugs we find. They are voracious killers. There are natural japanese beetle traps on the market, but you need to place them away from your garden cause you want to attract them away...not to you garden. Windex works on white fly, believe it or not. Diatomaceous Earth is a powder that is made from crushed small sea creature shells and apparently dehydrates most bugs rather quickly. Harmless to us. I haven't used it but it is touted in most organic publications. I have had a lot of success with, believe it or not, leaving some weeds in the garden and sometimes just leaving a row of weeds (cutting them down before they go to seed). The smell and color seems to confuse many bugs. Also, interplanting with aromatic herbs like rosemary, basil, tansy and garlic has the same effect. There are lots of articles on "companion planting" online and in gardening books. We always plant more than we need so as not to be so distressed when the rabbits grab a nibble (when the dogs aren't looking) or when a turtle takes one single nip out of a perfectly good tomato. Most of all don't get discouraged. Watch and read what works. Veggies from your garden are so superior to what you get from the grocery store it is worth the hassle. Enjoy. __________________ Never practice moderation to excess.