RE: Virus + Attracting Bugs
I think that bugs are present no matter what crop is or isn't nearby. A
companion crop will attract and retain bugs that otherwise would wander off
(kind of like a good employee benefits package). I had about 10 eggplants
that I transplanted out in the middle of a field that had nothing but field
corn in it for many years. Yet within one week Colorado Potato Beetles
found these dinky plants and chewed them down to nothing. How could they
possibly find these few plants in the middle of nothing? I have to conclude
that the trillions and trillions of insects are constantly foraging about
until they find a place to dwell, then they come to rest. This observation
would support the idea of growing alfalfa but not cutting it to attract and
retain aphids.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@mallorn.com [o*@mallorn.com]On
Behalf Of Pumkinguy@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 7:52 AM
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
Subject: Re: Virus
Glenn,
I'm not sure if planting alfalfa near your pumpkins would be a good idea
or not. It certainly is a nice home for them. Does this strategy keep the
aphids preoccupied or attract more to the vicinity of the
pumpkins?????????????? Floating row cover in the summer tends to heat up the
plant ( even the lightweight stuff). Put a thermometer under there...it gets
pretty hot. My experience with lightweight remay covered greenhouses has
been
bad when a thunder storm hits. I have not had trouble with cucumber beetles
if you use sevin once every week or two. Cucumber beetles do keep coming in
waves. It's not resistance, just a new bunch moving in. It has been my
experience that if you knock them down 2 or 3 times, you do ok. Asana
(restricted use) is the best for vineborers, beetles and squash bugs...but
you need a licence to buy it. Licence not hard to get. Stay away from mown
alfalfa and hay fields. Some areas you get the virus no matter what you do.
Wayne Hackney (pumkinguy)
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