Pests are early this year!!!

[nachoqtpie]

It's supposed to deter cucumber beetles, harlequin bugs, bean beetles, squash bugs, and stink bugs!

 

[momofdrew]

I wonder if diatomaceous earth works on squash bugs. And cabbage worms. Since the plants are presumably not blooming yet, it should not be an issue for honeybees.

yes DE works as a bug surpressor...I usually hand pick cabbage worm off and then feed them to my chickens...they love all sorts of bugs and when they see me haeding for the garden they are just a few steps behind me...

 

[HotPepperQueen]

We have a terrible amount ticks this year. And mosquitos showed up in mid March. I'm glad i've got my chickens to keep their numbers down!

 

[retiredwith4acres]

I am hand picking them in my raised beds also. My biggest problem is I share a larger garden with my mother and she sneaks poisons in there when I am not looking, I know she does. Old school! I had rather hand pick. I will try the radishes and the DE. Thanks. We haven't gotten the ticks yet but I am sure we will with 3 dogs and a cat around.

 

[ducks4you]

You need some good predators. I watched an episode of somebody's(?) gardening show recently about organic gardening. They intervewed a bug expect--can't remember who, BUT, she said that only 3% of insects are garden pests. She has been experimenting with predators--she is hired as a plant expert--and she said that you should order ladybug LARVAE instead of the adults. She said that many of the adults will rehome, but the larvae consume many eggs and many pests in their larvae state, and are MUCH more effective.
Don't forget to put eggs shells out where you might have slugs, too.

 

[The Mama Chicken]

The bugs sure are bad here early. I found a tick crawling ON ME the other day (I don't think it bit me, but I still had a minor conniption fit when I found it), we all have so many mosquito bites we look like we have chicken pox, and those big brown beetles are dive bombing my head every time I walk outside after dark.

 

[Indyanna]

I found a tick on one of the dogs the other day...never have I even looked for ticks before May. I bet all the beasties will be early and healthy- darn!!

I have already been bit by a mosquito and this usually doesn't happen until June. Something tells me my husband won't be interested in putting in a water feature by the patio this year.