Help me! I'm a first-timer!

17 years ago

We've just started our first veggie garden, but are having trouble controlling bugs/disease. We have peas, tomatoes, squash, and watermelon (the garden is only a few weeks old - its now the 2nd growing season in San Antonio)

Anyway, I've been using a pyrethrin-based insectide with a gallon sprayer weekly for a few weeks. I just sprayed last night. Today I go out there and see ants and flies all over, but no other pests visible. There are also many new trail-like markings, which tells me the insecticide isn't doing what I want it to do.

There seem to be 4 patterns:

First, there are yellow/white trails on the top surface of many leaves.

Second, there are holes in many leaves.

Third, there are brown wilty areas, especially at the leaf edges, (this phenomenon seems to worsen after spraying insecticide - is it hurting the plants?)

And last, there are a couple plants that were completely transected at the base.

I have pictures posted on my blog:

http://aahansen.blogspot.com/

Any ideas? Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: pictures on blog

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Comments (2)

rdback
17 years ago
"First, there are yellow/white trails on the top surface of many leaves."

leafminers

"Second, there are holes in many leaves."

Could be several things, including crickets, flea beatles, snails or slugs.

"Third, there are brown wilty areas, especially at the leaf edges,"

Could be chemical burn/sun scald. If you need to spray, you should be doing so in the early morning or early evening, or on cloudy days. Could be over-fertilization as well.

"And last, there are a couple plants that were completely transected at the base."

Could be cutworms, crickets, mice, voles, rabbits.

hth

Rick

Very nice Blog by the way. Congratulations on your new arrival! Of course, I have no idea how you have time for a garden lol.
ancfan
17 years ago
I would watch the ants........they farm aphids, now I have a infestation I have been using different things for the ants,ant traps first, now vinegar and water around the bed, and I'm going to put out some DE soon. For the aphids, tried a couple of things (organic) the aphids and ants kiled my zucs and I'm trying to save my blackeyed peas now.
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