sunflower moths

[simplycreative]

Hello all,

i have a small patch of sunflowers that i am growing, striped grey giants and another large variety that will produce nice large seeds to eat and share with my chickens. I am starting to cut down the plants and have noticed that i have moth catipillars in several of the heads..

i really do not want to spray my garden with a cemical as i like the bee's, birds and other things that are not causing any damage.


my question is this, could i dip the heads, after i have harvested them in a soapy water solution, leave it on for a few moments to kill the larvea and catipillars and then rince the heads well and let them dry out after? i just would like to stem the population of moths as safely and quickly as possible without spraying my whole little patch.

simplyceative

 

[hoodat]

You might have trouble getting the soap off but even if it didn't kill them it should drive them out. You could use BT and it's harmless to you but that smell might make you lose your appetite for the seeds. Rubbing DE in might be a better alternative. You wouldn't be wetting them and perhaps starting mold.

 

[simplycreative]

thank You, im not sure what BT is, if it smells im not sure i would want to use it........ chuckles. i could use DE on them after i harvest the flower heads.

Thank You for the response


simplycreative

 

[hoodat]

thank You, im not sure what BT is, if it smells im not sure i would want to use it........ chuckles. i could use DE on them after i harvest the flower heads.

Thank You for the response


simplycreative

BC is bacillus thurensis (not sure about the spelling) It's a bacterial disease that kills catterpillars. Warm blooded animals are immune to it but as I said it stinks to high heaven.