Peas

I'll be right there witcha.

I don't know if it's all the rain we've had lately, but I'm experiencing an aphid explosion on the peas like I've never seen before! There are a small number of lady beetles, but no nymphs.

I squished a few hundred aphids this morning!

Ha!! It's NOT just me :(. I have never had aphids on my peas before, but this year I'm seeing them. Now, we've had vey _little_ rain, so I can't blame it on that. Have to go see how they are today. I'll let you know if I find anything.

I squished even more aphids this morning! I even took the drastic step of removing the entire tips of several plants so I could detroy the aphids.

Strange thing is, there is a huge infestation on the "Burpeena Early" but very few on the "Alaska" and "Wando" peas in the next bed.

I wonder if one of the rows has more amendments and therefore the plants there are healthier and less susceptible to pests? I've heard that that can be the case.

greenhouse_gal - I wondered that, too. But I'm such a "mother hen" to my vegetable plants that I don't think that could be the problem.

There are more aphids at one end of the bed, than the other. Our huge oak tree over-shadows that end of the pea bed during part of the day, and I am wondering if the aphids have fallen from there.

Next year, I think I'll sow a single 50ft row where the sweet potatoes are this year. This year's bed was sown thickly, and the aphids got away from me. The other row of peas in the next bed are a single row of peas.

(As I'm typing this, an aphid crawled up my arm! - It's dead now!)

I wondered because one of my flats of tomatoes has plants that are twice as large and vigorous as the other two flats, with the same seed, and I think I used a different potting soil for that one. Now to figure out where I got that bag!

Another thought occurred to me this morning:

The peas being attacked by aphids are hybrids - the other two are heirlooms!

Speaking of aphids -- they are all over one of my five cabagges. ???? So smarty me went to kill these wierd worm things too (saw those before the aphids). Two days later I check on the worm things to see if I got them all -- this is when I notice the aphids. so I get the neem oil and insect soap. Spray spray. Then I think -- could those be lady bug nymps. so I go look them up in a book. DANG! I just sprayed the good guys! Now what?? So I'm giving myself a good chewing out.

By the way, they have not touched my peas, but then my peas are very stunted this year. Wondering why. . .but am clueless.

Gardening sure can be challenging.

Send rain -- please!

if I could send rain your way I sure would, gardening this year is with boots and a snorkel. I have lots in pots since the ground is saturated. Thank goodness for raised beds for the veggies.

I spotted the first lady beetle nymph this morning on the peas. I hope it's enjoying all those aphids.

I also watched four chickadees picking something from the tomato plants. There are a few aphids on thos plants, so I'm hopefull the birds are enjoying them, too.

Try using a kelp spray. Aphids really hate it. I soak the kelp in hot water overnight, dilute it and spray it on the plants. I also use Neptune's Harvest kelp and fish concentrate and have no problems with aphids. Its worth a try.

Kelp -- sounds easy enough, so I ran to my cubbard to see if my seaweed stuff was kelp, no I have dulse. So, can I find kelp in the -- wait I think I have some in capsules, dang, no, they are all gone. Guess I get to go shopping. Think capsules emptied and soaked in water will work?

I use kombu from the Korean grocery store. They use it to make soup and its relatively cheap. I really do like the Neptune's Garden stuff though for the convenience.

Thanks for the tips on using kelp.

I'll have to check the labels of some of my liquid organic fertilizers to see if any of them contain kelp. I know I have some Neptune's fish fertilizer and Maxicrop.

Will kelp hurt Lady Beetles or their nymphs?

Well, I checked my "bag of tricks" and found an unopened bottle of "Nitrozime" which is sea algae. I looked up the main ingredient, and found it was KELP.

So, I sprayed the peas - DEATH TO ALL APHIDS!

Thanks again for your help, yehudith.

We ate our first mess of peas last night. I had forgotten just how wonderful fresh-from-the-garden peas really taste like.

I googled Nitrozime and I think before you use it anyone should read about it- Here's an excerpt--"The timing Nitrozime application is essential. If you apply a hormone to a plant, the result will be stimulated growth of the type which the plant is currently undergoing. If the plant is forming roots, more root growth can occur. If tillering is underway, more tillers will be formed. If stem growth is in progress, that is what will occur. If flowering is in progress more flowering will occur"-- I did not see any reference to aphid control-only the nutrient benefits.

That's very interesting, Jo.

My peas are in the process of producing more peas - so hopefully, the Nitrozime will help with that, even if it doesn't deter the aphids.

I was not familiar with the word "tillering" so I looked it up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiller_(botany)

Kelp is really great for you. Its sovereign for lowering blood pressure and some types have more protein than meat and 10 sheets of nori has more Vit A than a pound of butter. Oh and its really great as a rinse for your hair.

Yes, kelp is great for people- but according to the links on plant use, it could cause a plant to get "stuck" in a phase that you don't want-i.e, leaf growth or root growth- so use with educated caution! (I have no experience- just going by what several articles stated)

So am I mistaken? I was thinking aphids thrive on the new growth.
If you provide a beneficial fertilizer to stimulate growth, would that not provide more encouragement for the aphids?
Guess I need to go do some more reading...

yehudith, I love making kelp/miso/carrot soup. Yummy! I use kombo for that if you are familiar w/it.

In the garden I just by powdered kelp (Gardens Alive, maybe?) and mix it with my fish emulsion on an as-needed basis.

Jo, I would be interested in reading those articles. I use kelp sparingly so it would be great to read about when or when not to use it.

Pod, I agree, aphids love the nice juicy tender new growth. The only thing I read about kelp spray was it is believed to dry out the aphids if they are sprayed with it. I'll have to go find that web page again.

Shoe, who mixed kelp, fish emulsion, and Texas Pete this evening to ward off bugs and DEER! Wish me luck. *grin

shoe, just google Nitrozime and there are many links to read- it is new to me-

Yesterday, I saw a small army of lady beetles, plus some eggs on the pea leaves. YAY! The good guys have finally arrived!

Yes, the aphids are gathering on the youngest leaves/shoots/flowers - which in a way is a good thing, because very soon it's going to get real hot and the peas will not do well anyway.

I picked and froze lost of peas yesterday.

I forgot to tell you, when you spray with the kelp you start BEFORE you see the infestation start and you spray every 8 days there after. If you have any before you start spraying, just pinch out the infested tips (its good for the plant anyway) and then start your spraying. Sorry

Thanks, yehudith, I'll know this for next time.

I saw several birds pecking at the leaves this morning. I'm assuming they are enjoying an aphid feast.

It's supposed to be in the 90's here this week, so the peas won't be around much longer. Once they begin to fade, I'll pull them out and bury the stalks in the compost to destroy the rest of the aphids.

I think mine are done, got a last meal last night. Those left will be next years seed.

catmad - I picked two baskets full of peas this morning before it got too hot. I'll pick more tomorrow morning, or perhaps later today if daughter and I don't go for a walk. I think that will be the end of the "Burpeena Early". The "Alaska" and "Wando" look as though they will go at least another week.

Wow, that's a lot of peas! Mine are just beginning to flower and form. How do you shell all that bounty, and do you blanch and freeze them then?

Shoe,
Would you please post your miso soup recipe? I LOVE miso soup, and would like to learn to make my own.

Thanks!

Gymgirl ^^_^^

I've picked a couple of pods, just to taste them. I do love fresh peas. Sadly, I'm leaving town for 2 months tomorrow, so my son's family will get to enjoy them.

Gym

Here's my recipie

10 X 10 in sheet of Kombu, you want to wipe it off abit and slash it through the skin
6-8 or so dried shitake

Soak them all in about 4-5 cups of cold water over night
You can simmer them in hot water for half an hour, but the broth will taste better soaked in cold water

Take them out and slice them into matchsticks and set aside

Heat the broth and add the miso (1 tbs per cup of broth) and the shitake and kombu or . Do not let the broth boil. Taste the soup and add more miso if you like. I like using the white miso and usually add cubed silken tofu. My kids like it with an egg poached in it.

greenhouse_gal -

What cute dogs!

I knew there was a reason for daytime t.v. - I just don't watch it myself. Usually I sit out on the screened porch shelling my peas, and then blanch and freeze them. When my granddaughter is handy she's a big help.

yehudith - here's an update on the aphids that were sprayed with Nitrozime.

At first I didn't think the Nitrozime had worked, but now that a week has past, it seems that the aphids have given up. Either they stopped eating, or they died!

Another anecdote: I was sitting watching the birds and this awful smell kept wafting up. At first I thought it was one of the dogs, but I kept thinking it was a familiar smell. Then I harkened back to my childhood when my parents and I would collect seaweed during the winter after a heavy storm to spread on the dormant garden.

The awful smell was Nitrozime! Not as bad as rotting seaweed, but familiar never-the-less!

Thanks again for the tip, I will be well-armed from now-on when aphids come a-callin'

I pulled up the Burpeena Early peas and replanted the bed with sweet peppers. I'm planning to add edamame seeds down the middle tomorrow.

I pulled the Wando peas this morning.

Alaska peas are still producing, so I'll wait on them. They were the last to be sown, the first to bear fruit, and the last to finish. Guess I'll sow more next spring.

Yesterday there was rain to the West of us. I saw lightning and heard thunder. It started to get windy and I thought, good, it's going to rain! But no.

Last night we had rain to the East of us, but not a drop here!

If someone has rain to spare, could you please send me some?