This spring, how can I keep white flies from ravaging my vegetable garden?
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I’m weary of watching the tomato plants surrender to sadness.
If it matters, I have a raised-bed garden with multiple beds.
Thank you for your green thumbs and white fly assassination techniques.
Forgot to add….things besides chemical pesticides, because I intend to eat the vegetables. Thank you.
Diatomaceous Earth (off white talc-like powder that is the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton). Wear a dust mask when applying. Don’t forget to use earthworm castings in your soil, too.
100% biodegradable – safe around pets and children (bug killer you can eat)
| Published on February 23rd, 2011 | | Posted by admin |
February 23rd, 2011 at 9:07 am
Squirt them with a nice little thing I like to call "my killer death spray". Sounds cheery, I know!
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February 23rd, 2011 at 9:13 am
Mint
plant mint around the veg.garden, and you can use mint tea that has been cooled to room-temperature in an atomizer/spray-bottle. Its safe and non-toxic for the plants and people, but those white flies problem will gradually disappear
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February 23rd, 2011 at 9:38 am
Rotate your tomatoes to another part of the garden, and open up the spacing between your plants so there’s better air circulation between plants. This will make the habitat a little less ideal for them, and expose them to insect predators. At the first sign of infestation, spray your plants with garlic oil soap spray. Make sure you spray under the leaves, where white fly nymphs hang out.
To make garlic oil soap spray, peel 6-8 large cloves of garlic, and smash with the flat blade of a chef’s knife. Chop finely and leave exposed to air for 10 minutes, then transfer to a jar with a lid that seals, and cover with vegetable or canola oil. Allow to sit on a counter for 3-4 days, turning it once or twice a day. Then strain the oil into a brown glass bottle with a lid. It should last 3-4 months if stored in a cool, low cabinet.
For a quart hand sprayer, half-fill the bottle with warm water, then add 1 tsp garlic oil and 3-4 drops of dish soap. Put the lid on, shake to mix, then fill the bottle the rest of the way, and spray your plants. For a gallon sprayer, use 1 Tbs garlic oil and 1 tsp dish soap.
Garlic oil soap spray kills aphids and white flies, both adults and nymphs, on contact. The residual garlic repels white flies and aphids for 1-2 weeks. Re-apply every week to 10 days until the infestation is under control. It also kills all insect eggs it comes into contact with, and most caterpillars. Works really well on cabbage whites, too.
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February 23rd, 2011 at 9:53 am
Diatomaceous Earth (off white talc-like powder that is the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton). Wear a dust mask when applying. Don’t forget to use earthworm castings in your soil, too.
100% biodegradable – safe around pets and children (bug killer you can eat)
References :
http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html
February 23rd, 2011 at 10:29 am
At the first signs of infestation, I squish those that I can get at and/or take off the leaves and stems where it’s worst, putting them in the bin, not the compost heap. Once you’ve made a stand early in the season, they seem to get the message that they’re not welcome and go somewhere else.
There’s more information on aphids and how to get rid of them in an eco friendly way on this website:
http://www.garden-and-patio-inspiration.co.uk/Aphids.html
Good luck for this year’s growing season
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February 23rd, 2011 at 10:35 am
I only grow tomatoes, and sometimes peppers, and I usually don’t have problems with pests other than rabbits and squirrels. I do have some ideas for you:
You could assemble a small army of fly-eating lizards to patrol your gardens. They could also perform other simple tasks to help your plants grow. I know of at least one lizard that would volunteer, if he was given a high rank.
Do you have access to carrion? If so, mount some carrion on a stick near your garden to draw the flies to their meaty lord. The flies and their carnivorous ways will soon forget about your leafy harvest. To make things interesting, place a conch near your tomato plants and see how they cooperate.
As a last resort, I can send you some leftover DDT that I used to help grow my former neighbor’s lettuce.
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February 23rd, 2011 at 11:15 am
Try Neem Oil or Rotenone Pyrethrins, both good for white flies
References :
http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BONIDE
February 23rd, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Sevin is the best. Just wash the veggies off before eating. It comes off with water so you also have to re-spray after a rain, but it’s worth it. Diatomaceous Earth is a good alternative for your needs.
~m~
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