On 9 Oct 2003 13:08:08 -0700,
(Schmuck) wrote:


I am looking for pointers as to what I should spread or spray around
the place to reduce the chance of losing my "crop" to disease or
insects. I don't want to hit everything with "Round-up", so I am
looking for household tricks, "old wives tales" or something I can
mixup without rubber gloves and a government permit.

(I drink a lot of tea, so if the leaves are good for anything (other
than composting!) that could be handy.)


First, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just because
you see an insect does NOT mean that insect is going to do
any damage to your vegetables. Many insects are beneficial,
some are neutral.

I don't routinely use anything to prevent insect damage or
diseases on the crops you mention (I also don't live in the
southern hemisphere). I do routinely cover up the cabbage
family crops with floating row cover or nylon net to prevent
cabbage worms from eating them, but you don't mention any
cabbage family crops.

There are 'organic' controls: rotenone, pyrethrin, neem,
Bt. All are less awful than Roundup. But none should be
used unless necessary.

I wouldn't think that the pests I'm used to in the
Northeastern USA would be the same pests you might
experience in the southern hemisphere. So I can only
recommend that you get a gardening book specific to your
local conditions. If you have a public library where you
live, probably they have at least several such books.

Pat
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