by Francesca
FuoriBorgo
The other day, I noticed that my chard patch got infested by some bugs. Several leaves had turned yellow, and many others had large brown spots. Looking closely at my chard, it wasn't difficult to find the likely culprit: hiding right among the stems I could spot many good-sized brown bugs!
When disease or insects attack my vegetable garden, I often simply uproot and destroy the affected plants for fear that they might spread to the rest of the garden. But there are exceptions, and my poor chard was one of them: it's one of the few crops that survived my summer travels (here), and moreover it will continue producing for several months, until springtime. I needed to treat my chard. So I turned to the Internet.
After a little research, I found the best book on natural insect and disease control I've ever come across, entirely published online in Google books. What an amazing resource! The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Disease and Insect Control edited by Barbara W Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley, allowed me first of all to determine that the “brown bugs” in my garden were “brown stink bugs”. This book also suggested ways to prevent them, or - as last resort - to control them by dusting the affected plants with pyrethrin powder, a natural organic compound with potent insecticidal properties. I happened to have pyrethrin powder, but because this book is mainly about North American insects and diseases, I wanted to be sure that my bugs were definitely stink bugs. So I asked my neighbors.
Farmers for generations, my neighbors have taught me most of what I know about gardening, and always have the answer to my gardening troubles. In the rare cases when they don't, they have at least a couple of suggestions, which normally solve the problem. My 86 year old neighbor unhesitatingly confirmed the diagnosis I'd made with the help of the ebook, but didn't agree with the treatment. “Oh, no! You just remove them one by one, and squish them dead.” he said. “They are very prolific, you know” he added to make his statement more urgent.
And so I went to find my gardening gloves. And my pyrethrin.
What steps to you take when insects or disease infest your garden?
12 comments:
There is nothing like experience of those in your area for answering gardening questions. The book you mention sounds like a good one for answering questions. I just may need something like that, sadly, my sunflowers will not be blooming this year due to some disease. The stem rotted right at the base of the flower head that was forming. I will try again next year.
-Brenda
I've never been a big fan of Swiss chard, having been Swiss-charded to death as a kid because it grew so well for my mother, but I tried a four-pack of it this summer to see if I've learned to like it. Nope.
So it's still sitting in the bed between the carrots and the celeriac (not that I plant alphabetically, mind you) and I've found that in the evenings the Goldfinches show up and perch on the chard and peck at the leaves. I can't tell if they're eating the chard, or if they're eating bugs running around on the chard, but either way, it draws them into the garden and gives me something to watch besides the news at dinnertime. I'm leaving it there for now.
Thanks for the info on those darn bugs. I have had those brown spots on my chard and did not know why why why!!!!! I am just about to re-plant the chard and I will keep a better eye on it. Thank you! Emily
I've found squishing works well for bean beetles and potato bugs - stink bugs are harder to catch and kill. I've not been able to grow squash for the last two years 'cz of these nastys. I'll try pyrethrin next year.
I haven't had a case of stink bugs (knock on wood) but I do get your average snail. I prevent them from eating my basil by circling my plants with 4" wide light-weight copper tape. This repels the snails without harming the plant or snail.
Good luck with your stink bugs!
I remove the bugs and then I spray neem oil diluted with olive oil and mixed with water. (90% water 7% olive oil, 3% straight neem oil)
The neem effects the bug's reproduction cycle somehow, they can't reproduce - this has worked great. But beware - be sure to dilute the neem - it is very strong. Straight neem or oils with no water will burn the plants, and is hard to spray :)
Japanese beetles are horrible here, and the only success I have had (not in reducing population, but limiting their damage) is to pluck by hand into soapy water.
Snails...egg shells around the plant, a little saucer of beer to the side if they are out of control.
Our big worry for the past two years is late blight. It is wiping out tomato and potatoes all over the midwest, and last year was horrible. Not much to do but pull the plant and either bury/burn/garbage bag.
For other general bugs I smash up garlic and chili peppers and let ferment in a gallon bucket for a few days and then add a bit of oil to the water and spray. Seems to deter aphids, flea beetles, and other things.
Of course my worst problem right now is MOSQUITOES. Makes me avoid the garden all together. Hope it rains! ;)
In my neighborhood there is a garden center that has a knowledgeable staff; I typically stop in and talk to them. Thanks for the link - I'm sure it will come in handy!
Hi Francesca, Some of my Swiss Chard has been affected by something I cannot see. I remove those leaves and give them to the chickens. In turn, my chickens are set free once in a while to scour my garden for pests. They (chickens) have keen eyesight for anything that moves. Chickens are also destructive and will eat my most favorite butter lettuce. So I restrict the time they get to spend in my vegetable garden.
So THAT's what those bugs are on my tomatoes! Thank you!
I'm not saying your bugs are not eating the swiss chard. However, goldfinches do not eat bugs unless they happen to accidently ingest the odd one. They are strict seed eaters. Goldfinches will themselves snack on swiss chard leaves by pecking the out the tender portions between the veins.
mmm...stinky bugs. I use neem, and pepper sprays for the bugs. thanks for the link to that book!
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