help with bugs- please

17 years ago

I'm losing my mind with bugs this year. Slugs, cuc beetles & squash bugs and other unknown assailants. My string beans, cucs, squash all have been planted 4-5 times due to something unknown eating them as soon as they germinate. I've always been organic but I'm thinkin poison. I spend all day running to the garden to squish & vaccum. My garden is very large & there's not enough time in the day- as soon as I leave 1 plant to go to the next they're right back on the previous plant. I'm in upstate NY & it rains, rains, rains. So anything I usually use like my soap,pepper & lavender mist has to be constantly reapplied and its also to strong for seedlings. I'm usually further along by now so the plants are stronger and can take more abuse but due to the weather I'm limping at best with seedlings. I tried cayenne dust for the slugs & they turn around & leave but the other bugs are ruthless. Help me please I don't want to change to poison but I rely on the garden for my yearly supply of vegetables. I also have many birds and even they can't keep up. Don't give me the compost- good soil speech! I need help asap.

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Comments (7)

Kimmsr
17 years ago
Since the deterent sprays get washed off so quickly have you even thought about using F;oating Row Covers?
kippie
17 years ago
Hey there, I have heard of some people planting mugwort in their squash plants because the cucumber beetles don't like them. I don't know how well it works since I've never done it first hand =)

If someone on here doesn't have an answer, you could always try calling or emailing the agricultural extension at Cornell University. They really are a magnificent resource your lucky to have in New York.

Kathryn
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Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
17 years ago
I use row covers and companion planting.

Dan
poutmouse
Original Author
17 years ago
My garden is so big- floating row covers would be expensive and then I would have to self pollinate- right? I've never done that.I'm already companion planting but never tried mugwort. I've got tansy, catnip, mints, lots of radishes, anise-hysop,yarrow,etc. Nothing is working this year. Could it be the continuous rain? The cayenne did work great for the slugs, but of course that washes off but the cuc beetles just laughed at me.I would think if they took a chew I'd be getting the last laugh. Right now I think the weather has me so depressed- if this keeps up the way its predicted there will be no vegetables and my perennial gardens are as depressed as I am. Thanks guys for your suggestions. Today they're predicting large hail, damaging winds so this all might be moot. We lost our Hickory tree last Thurs. to lighting.
organicguy
17 years ago
It's way too late for row covers and using organic soap at this point is like shooting a horse with a BB gun.

If you are infested with a number of different pests and you are losing you crop, spray with Rotonone if you want to save your crop. If there are some beneficials there, they may also be killed, but they are apparently not enough of them to make much difference anyway. More will come. In just 2-3 days, the Rontonone will lose all of it's effect and your crop will be perfectly safe to harvest. Rotonone is a standby for most organic farmers and it's organic.

Ron
The Garden Guy
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Kimmsr
17 years ago
Rotenone would get washed off just as quickly as everything else that has been tried so that would be a large waste of money, time, and energy.
poutmouse
Original Author
17 years ago
Kimmsr- any suggestions? Sounds like this rotenone kills where as everything I've used in the past just dissuades them.Rather than loose my crop altogether would this get me through the crunch. Also anyone have any suggestions for squash vine borers? They got me last year.