I went completely organic this year and for two months now no mites. It is probably too good to be true of course but so far I am amazed.Usually I would be laying awake at night listening to those lovely little critters sucking the life out of my brugs and tomatoes. I have been using only organic fertilizers and a routine spraying of seaweed and molasses (every 2 to 3 weeks) I can still find a few mites of course but I have to really look hard. I am convinced miricle grow and peters should be labeled (mite food). there is several hot dry months to go so this could be premature thinking but so far so good just wanted to share this and ask if anyone else has had any similar experiences.
the mites are gone?
I was having a good spring without mites myself and then it turned dry. It didn't take long for them to show themselves with the draught and heat. We had rain yesterday, so I'm hoping they will stay away for a while again. These plants certainly do require a lot of care at times. LOL! I've not gone organic because I don't have the time or the stamina to put into caring for things that way, but I also don't spray if I absolutely don't have to. Mites can be bad, but the bug I hate the most is the cucumber beetle. They ruin the blooms. This year I'm armed with my Talstar and ready to get them.
funny you should mention cucumber beetles usually those little yellow spotted devils are thick around here but this year I have seen only a few individual beetles here and there and as for organic being more trouble it was more trouble in the begining of spring but now with the exception of spraying every two weeks which I had to do anyway it is easier i spend more time enjoying my plants than ever before.The granular fertilizers act like slow release and work for months no more miricle grow once a week.
I do use granular fertilizer in my flower beds all the time. It's much easier to toss it on the ground and water it in or let nature water it in than it is to mix stuff up. I do use the siphonject system tho and just toss a couple of cups of water soluable in a 5 gallon bucket, hook up the hose and water. It's the bug spraying that takes so much time for me. I'm going to cut way back this fall, with hopes of being brave enough to only keep the very best. That should give me more time to play next year.
the only organic way to deplete cuke or Jap. beetles is to plant lots of 4 o'clock
dave
Bryan, TX
(Zone 8b)
Jun 18, 2002
7:41 AM
Post #284184
4:00's are devastating to Jap. beetles. We had three 4:00 plants in the veggie garden last year, each plant grew to about 3' high and 3' wide, and around late June they were absolutely covered with the beetles. The beetles ate the entire plant, leaving bare stalks leftover, and the they all died. This year I've only seen just a couple j.beetles, and I believe it's because the 4:00's killed them all off last year.
I can't advocate 4:00's strongly enough. I'll use them every year from now on.
dave
when i was growing brugs, i had problems w/ all kinds of bugs, but since i converted to using organic fertilizer like alfalfa pellets, sea weeds, all my woes are gone. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/433894/
also quite a coincidence I planted quite a few 4 oclocks this spring also just because they are deer resistant not in my garden but all around. that could be why my cucumber beetles are disappearing. Good to know thanks for the info.
I will get some alfalfa pellets also. another coincidence I used 3 pickup trucks full of horse manure both as a direct fertilizer and for compost .Turns out these horses were fed on alfalfa pellets.