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Aphids (Re: bark mulch)

Hi,

> Now, my question.  I start all my vegetables from seed.  This year, my peppers
> (both hot and bell) have aphids, in the house.  They haven't infested anything
> else.  I was them off everyday, and by the next day they're back.  I used a
> sterile soiless potting medium, and cleaned all the pots before seeding.
> Anybody have any guesses as to how this happened and what to do before I lose
> all of my peppers?  (I only use organic products).  Could this have come from
> the seeds themselves.  The peppers were ordered from a different source than
> my other seeds, but I've used this seed company before, with no problems.

Aphids have a real taste for peppers, among other things.  The aphids likely
hatched from eggs somewhere in your seedling area. If you have other plants
around, perhaps some that spent some time outside last summer, or that a friend
gave you, they could have hitched a ride in that way.  I've never heard of
aphids coming in with the seeds themselves and I don't think it's very likely.
Aphids are insidious, seemingly appearing out of nowhere despite the best plans
to prevent them, and incredibly prolific once established.  Fortunately they are
vulnerable little things and on the menu of many other insects!

Washing them off may work at times, othertimes not.  Better is to use something
like Safers Insecticidal Soap, which contains potassium salts (I think) that are
toxic to soft bodied insects.  You have to spray regularly for awhile to beat
them back and although this too might not wipe them out it will control their
population.

   ____________________
  |                    |
  |     Bob Carter     | Kootenay Bay, BC, Canada
  |  bcarter@awinc.com | Zone 6b
  |____________________|


TACT: Knowing how far to go in going too far.

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