This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Aphids (Re: bark mulch)

Hi.  I keep Safer's around and use it a lot outside in the summer for aphids.  I hesitated using it on the seedlings, though.  What dilution do you recommend.  By the way, thanks for responding so quickly!  Unfortunately, I just found the little rascals on my morning glories and artichokes (giving them a shot this year - the seed catalogues finally seduced me with promises of artichokes in one season.  Thanks again.

----------
From:   Bob Carter[SMTP:bcarter@AWINC.COM]
Sent:   Saturday, April 05, 1997 12:31 PM
To:     Multiple recipients of list SQFT
Subject:        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.

***********************************************************************
To usubscribe, send to: listserv@umslvma.umsl.edu
the body message: unsubscribe sqft
See http://www.umsl.edu/~silvest/garden/sqft.html for FAQ and more info.
************************************************************************

***********************************************************************
To usubscribe, send to: listserv@umslvma.umsl.edu
the body message: unsubscribe sqft
See http://www.umsl.edu/~silvest/garden/sqft.html for FAQ and more info.
************************************************************************
Follow-Ups:
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index