Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Tiny white/green bugs

market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Market Farming

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: OakCamp2 AT aol.com
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tiny white/green bugs
  • Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 19:01:16 EST

In a message dated 2/24/2004 1:48:21 PM Central Standard Time, herbthyme AT simcon.net writes:
They are all just huddled together in rows up and down the stems of the plants. 
That sounds like aphids.  Find some ladybugs, they are voracious aphid eaters.  Even the lady beetle from Japan (the pesky one introduced into this country) will eat these.  Also, thorough watering of your plants will reduce aphid populations.  They tend to show up during the winter when watering is low and the soil is dry.  Put them in the shower and give them a good spraying, keeping the water pressure gentle.  If you can't get hold of any ladybugs, the cayenne pepper spray will work on aphids.
Recipe:
spray bottle, 1 qt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, ground
liquid dish soap, 2 drops
 
Fill the spray bottle with water.  Add the cayenne pepper and 2 drops of dish soap.  Invert several times (don't shake).  Spray the entire plant and especially right on the aphids.  The soap water itself will kill the aphids and the ones that you don't see will no longer feed on your plant because of the cayenne.  Aphids will die in place, so you may still see aphid bodies on your plant until you physically remove them.  Repeat weekly until you no longer have an aphid problem.  Safe for all plants including edible ones.
HTH,
Barb Birkinbine, Member
Oak Camp Herb Farm, LLC
Lodi, WI



Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page