On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 03:14:02 GMT, "Jim Carlock"
wrote:

"Sue" wrote:
Thanks, Pat. Maybe it's the white flies.

White flies seem to like nutrient deprived plants. I just read:

"greenhouse whiteflies attack tomatoes only when magnesium
or phosphorous is deficient in the soil."

The book indicates that nasturtiums planted around vegetables
helps discourage white fly attacks. It also indicates that you
can pulverize nasturtium leaves and throw the dust/powder
on other plants and on the soil.

Also, it indicates that ants benefit from and benefit whiteflies.

Grits thrown around the soil seem to help control ant problems.
I've not had a whitefly problem this year.

So as far as magnesium goes, I think epsom salt works for
that. Perhaps someone else knows of a plant that provides
beneficial magnesium to other plants?

The book indicates alfalfa, comfrey and valerian contain good
amounts of phosphorous, and indicates all three are good for
the compost pile. It indicates that cats like valerian and valerian
is used to get rid of rats (by attracting cats).

I'm interested in any comments any others have. I seem to have
a phosphorous defeciency myself. Sunflowers do well, but
other plants seem to fail (the book indicates that the soil is high
in potassium when sunflowers grow like weeds).

Hope this helps.

Thanks. This is all really interesting and here comes the stupid
question. When you say that "grits" thrown around the soil help with
an ant problem are you meaning the kind of dry grits you buy at the
grocery store for grits and gravy or whatever it is they eat in the
South? My gentleman friend is growing corn and mentioned that he's
starting to get ants. I lost an entire corn crop to them a couple of
years ago.
Sue