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  • From: Richard Moyer <ramoyer AT gmail.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Trouble with insect feeding in tunnels
  • Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2013 13:38:49 -0500

Robert, Beth and Todd,
It's been 15-20F in my tunnel a couple of nights, by design, to try to kill off these creatures, or at least induce dormancy.  Takes out some cool season weeds as well.

One can selectively cover crops within the tunnel (or not), instead of all or none of such cold treatment.  

I've been transplanting winter-hardy lettuces and mustards into the HT, that I sowed in the field nearby, and have raised under row cover on the worst nights.  So bringing clean plants in.  But the strawberries in the HT still provide plenty of habitat.

Robert, would sticky cards or other trapping methods help with ID?  May be needed to understand their life cycle, then implement effective control.

Which predators are most active in winter tunnels, and how to encourage them/help them survive, and reproduce as well?

Our spinach in the field (winter-hardy cultivars) has been through multiple nights in mid-teens with no protection, without apparent injury.  Am covering some of it now, to increase growth rate after this cold treatment.

In summary, one can populate an (early) winter HT with very cold hardy crops for winter markets, let Jack Frost wreak havoc on at least some bugs, then introduce under increased protection the more tender cold crops as winter moves into spring.

If two HT or other protective structures/methods, can completely open one up for the Mr. Freeze, Killer Frost, Captain Cold treatment, then transplant into it.  

Good questions!
Richard Moyer
SW VA, where we are forecast a week of temps 20 degrees above normal, both day and night.  What's that going to do for all these life cycles?


From: "Robert G. Hadad" 

Greetings,
    I am trying to see if others have run into problems with insect feeding on greens in tunnels during the late season/winter months? Specifically, we are are seeing small worm (like very tiny loopers) and finding pin-hole feeding damage on spinach. However, not actually seeing these insects feeding so it could be something else. Has anyone seen feeding like this and actually seen the insects responsible?

Thanks.

Robert

Robert Hadad
Cornell Vegetable Program
Fresh Market Specialist
4487 Lake Ave.
Lockport, NY 14094
rgh26 AT cornell.edu
585-739-4065

Message: 2
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 17:09:40 -0500
From: "Beth Spaugh" <lists AT rhomestead.com>
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] trouble with insect feeding in tunnels
To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <5BC62E091F9D4267A10510098E91FE1E@BethPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1255"

We still have grasshoppers.


Message: 3
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 19:30:22 -0500
From: Todd Lister <toddlister1 AT gmail.com>

I find winter in the hoop houses to be a real battle with the pests. They
love the protection.  Backpack sprayer is busy in winter.  Every week.
Todd



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