New to organic gardening, Need help please...

I'm quite new to organic gardening and have heard that I need to dust my veggies to keep the bugs from eating the leaves, What is the name of the dust as I only want to use something that is safe/organic??

Diatemaceous Earth.

Howdy, Iris!

The dust will depend on what bugs/insects you have. What kind have you noticed so far? And what kind of plants are they?

Usually for worms/caterpillars you'd use Dipel, which is Bacillus Thuringiensis. Or if you prefer a liquid form of the same you use the brand name Thuricide.

DE, as mentioned above by Dean W, works also but is a bit more expensive.

Glad to hear you have a garden this year!

Shoe

As the guys said, you need to first determine what bugs you are trying to get rid of. BT is specific for worms only btw, so there's no point of spraying or dusting for anything else using that product. Check gardensaway website, they specialize in organic pest control methods. At btw, just because it says it's an organic pesticide does not mean it is not toxic! Same rules apply, read and follow the directions carefully to apply, dress correctly and use common sense.

Thanks Everyone!!
And Shoe, It's GR8T to see you!!! I'm starting to see little round holes ( I haven't seen the bugs that are doing it though) in the snap pea leaves, What I have in the garden are Tomatoes, Snap beans, Brocolli, cucumbers and Peppers which all seem to be doing good but I'm worried about bugs as everyone around here says to make sure you dust your plants and I did notice some small holes in the peas allready and don't know what to use as I would like to try and stay as organic as possible. I'm sooo excited having the garden Shoe! I just hope I do the right things to keep it going good! Thanks for the info, I'll be checking into it!

This message was edited May 17, 2008 1:45 AM

Not so much a dusting thing, but a way to help chase the bugs away: Grow a few marigolds here and there with your veggies.

When we would garden in Maine, we put marigolds everywhere. We rarely had much of a problem with anything other than potato bugs (and even then, not too bad). Mom loved them when they bloomed, but they had a strong scent that carried all over the garden, so we planted them among pretty much everything.

I don't know, but it might help, in addition to the other great ideas that are being generated.

You want to look for the marigolds that have the very strong scent, nasturtiums are another one that's good as a repellent.

I heartily recommend marigolds as well, along with basil. I planted an alternating border of tangerine-scented marigolds and basil all around my tomato bed last year. It was the ONLY bed in the garden that didn't get slammed by a huge aphid infestation. To add incentive, the marigolds looked beautiful and the basil was, of course, delicious. :)

Amen, Moonpye, the veggies are food for your body, but the flowers are food for your soul. Very relaxing to just take a moment and admire them while working up a sweat........LOL

I absolutely agree with you doccat. It is nice to stop to smell the roses. My mother grew roses during my youth and I remember mint from childhood also.
Those two have prominent places in my garden. Funny the flowers that take you waaaaaaay back.
I saw my first cucumber beetle yesterday. I ran in the house for the dust.
Also, IRIS, remember to dust following rainfall. I forgot as I was busily capturing water for compost tea. Well, that little bug reminded me ever so gently.

Misty over Petals

Thanks for all the information everyone!! I appreciate it! And I need to get some marigolds! Thanks again! ~Iris

Plant some radishes around your cukes and squash. They will draw off the beetles as well as the dust. Just pull up and discard any diseased or damaged radishes. Cheap fix.......:)

Doccat, you just reminded me!

We used to plant Daikon radishes in with the cukes all the time. Never got a bug on the cukes - or the daikon for that matter. I used to think that dad did it to thin the cukes, but I bet he was also driving off bugs.

Yummy way to get rid of the bugs. :D

Amen, Hastur, wish we lived closer to each other. Got a feeling we're kindred spirits.........LOL

doccat5- Thankyou!

No problem, just d mail me if you have something that needs a longer explanation. Glad to help :)

Will do and Thanks again! :)