David Hare-Scott wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
While checking things out in the garden yesterday , I found 2
kinds of bugs on some of my tomato leaves . The small pear-shaped
green ones are aphids , but I can't find any info on the other
one . At first glance they look like tiny pieces of white thread
about 1/16" long . Under a magnifier they're tiny little bugs
that kinda-sorta have a resemblance to a praying mantis . I
powdered the entire tomato patch with DiPel , a BT based product
, making sure I covered both top and bottom of the leaves .
Hopefully this will control whatever it is . If it's a predator
bug , it shouldn't be harmed since it won't be eating the leaves
...

I think this was a waste of time as BT specifically attacks the
lining if the gut of insect larvae (grubs and caterpillars) who
eat it. This is why it is generally safe for predatory insect and
miscellaneous other living things as either it doesn't attack
their gut or they don't eat it. Aphids don't eat the leaves as
they are sap-suckers, the BT is non-systemic so it sits on the
outside and doesn't get into the sap. For aphids you can hose
them off, they cannot climb back up to the top of the plant where
the soft shoots and buds are. Or use one of the milder contact
sprays like pyrethrum.
D

Thanks , I'll check out the pyrethrum . I have to be very careful
now about what I use and when . We have a new bee hive out in the
orchard , and we don't want to poison Our Ladies of the Hive .

Pyrethrum is strictly contact, if the bees don't get sprayed they
are not harmed. Do it by moonlight when they are all in bed.

D

I've been reading up ... was just out in the garden , noticed that
there are a lot of yellow leaves on some of the tomatoes and pole
beans , some with black spots . Also have a black mold-like substance
on the stems of some of my tomatoes . Some tomato leaves are curled
some and have black edges .
Ideas anyone ? I'm still really kinda new to gardening , and the
related pests and various diseases .

Perhaps buy a book that lists all these things with colour pictures
of the pest and the effect they produce. I have one by Valerie Swain
but it may not be available where you are.

D

I have sometthing even better , I have an older gentleman gardener that
loves to share his knowledge of local problems . I carried a couple of the
yellowed leaves over yesterday bought some 'maters from him , mine ain't
ripe yet and he knew at first glance what the problem was and how to fix it
.. He wasn't sure of the name of the particular fungus , but he knew what to
use to stop it . Sprayed fungicide last night at dusk and today they're
recovering nicely .

--
Snag