FOR ALL YOU GARDEN EXPERTS- PLEASE READ!
The rest of you can ignore this post - sorry for its cumbersome nature.
We've just started our first veggie garden, but are having trouble controlling bugs/disease. We have peas, tomatoes, squash, and watermelon (You may be wondering why we started this late - it's because San Antonio has 2 growing seasons).
Anyway, I've been using a pyrethrin-based insectide with a gallon sprayer weekly for a few weeks. I just sprayed last night. Today I go out there and see ants and flies all over, but no other pests visible. There are also many new trail-like markings, which tells me the insecticide isn't doing what I want it to do.
There seem to be 4 patterns:
First, there are yellow/white trails on the top surface of many leaves, as in the images below:
Second, there are holes in many leaves, as in the picture below:
Third, there are brown wilty areas, especially at the leaf edges, as seen below (this phenomenon seems to worsen after spraying insecticide - is it hurting the plants):
And last, there are a couple plants that were completely transected at the base (no pictures, but easy to imagine - like a chopped down tree).
Any ideas? Thanks!
2 comments:
Hey- We had that on all of our stuff here in Houston too. I know at least for the 'trails' patterned stuff there is a specific spray that they sell at most of the garden shops. I was told to spray that on, and that it is safe to use on foods you eat. (Which is very useful!! :) ) Sorry that I can not remember the name of the spray but it was so common in these parts they will know what to sell you. Bc eventually it starts killings those leaves. Sorry to not be more informative but hope that helps a little.
Nicole ---Zach's wife :)
I know San Antonio wouldn't be included in the Central Texas category, but I did a quick search on Texas gardening and found this master gardener lady for that area: http://www.centraltexasgardening.net/
She seems more than willing to be contacted and can at least point you to the right resources if she can't help you herself.
I think I should go through her stuff too. I've been wanting to start a small garden here, but I've got no idea how to deal with the soil, pests, etc. here. I always took for granted how easy it was to grow tomatoes in Utah...
Maren -Andy's cousin's wife --the one who lives in Dallas. :)
Congrats on the handsome new addition to your family, by they way.
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