Frequently Asked Questions
A: Insects that have the ability to chew plants must have special cutters
in their mouths for this purpose. Such insects may include caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers,
for example.
A: It’s most likely the honeydew from “sucking”
insects. These insects have mouthparts that allow them to penetrate the plant tissue and suck the
juices of the plant. They then secrete the honeydew which is the sticky substance found on plant
leaves. Such insects include aphids, thrips, squash bugs, and mites.
A: One of the best ways to prevent insect problems in your soil is to
till the soil. When you till it, insect grubs and larvae will be brought to the surface where they
likely will end up dying. To ensure their destruction, remove any by hand if you see
them. Be sure to till the soil at least a month or so before planting and then again right before
you actually plant your vegetables, fruit, or flowers. At the end of the season, after
you have harvested your plants, remove any leftover plant debris and till the soil again to destroy
any insects, larvae, or eggs that are attempting to overwinter in your garden.
A: Yes, they will be even better for the environment and for your insect
control needs. Organic control methods target the specific insect pest, usually without harming the
beneficial insects you want in your garden to help with insect pest control. At one
time it was thought that a general chemical pesticide which would wipe out all of the insects was
the best method, but since then, insect pest control has come a long way. It was realized that there
are beneficial insects that are natural predators of insect pests, and these should be allowed to
live in your garden, helping to control small infestations. In addition, the
environment cannot safely handle general “umbrella” pesticides, which become absorbed
into the ground soil and carried into streams and groundwater, resulting in toxic pollutants being
released into our environment.
A: They won’t be able to so. You will need to pollinate them
yourself by hand. Check with your local garden center or farm supply store to find out how to hand
pollinate them. You may want to remove the row covers during times of insect pollination.
A: Yes, many insect pests can transmit a virus from one plant to another.
Pumpkins, potatoes, lettuce, melons, cucumbers, beans and beets are just some of the vegetable
plants that can be affected.
A: Yes, many insect pests can survive cold winters by
“overwintering” under plant debris and leaves on the ground. This is why it is very
important to remove plant debris after harvesting this year’s crops and then till the
soil. By tilling, you are removing places these insects can “overwinter,”
destroying larvae or pupae in the dirt, and burying the eggs so far down in the soil they
won’t hatch in the spring. Very cold winters of the far north may kill the adult
insects or larvae, but the eggs may remain unscathed and ready to hatch as the weather warms.
A: If it’s an insect, the plant may have holes in its leaves. Turn
the leaves over and you may see the insects themselves clustered on the underside of the leaves. You
may also see and feel a sticky substance if it’s an insect because the insect will leave a
secretion on the plant.
A: It sounds like you are talking about powdery mildew. There are
fungicides on the market that can work effectively in controlling powdery mildew.
A: The best way to control anthracnose includes several measures.
Starting with varieties that are resistant to disease, especially anthracnose, be sure to prune the
tree during the dormant season by removing dead branches. Apply fungicides in the
springtime just at bud break. You will probably need to do this once every week or two until the
leaves have fully stretched out. You may need to apply the fungicide during the summer if there is a
lot of rain.
A: Since you have already planted your seeds, you will need to wait until
seedlings begin to appear. After the you see a few leaves on seedlings, you can place about an inch
or two of mulch around them. This will help in weed prevention and soil moisture retention.
