Primula Maggots
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Primula Maggots
- From: "* D* C* <m*@PIPELINE.COM>
- Date: Sun, 30 May 1999 07:25:26 -0400
At 09:11 PM 5/29/99 -0400, you wrote:
>
>I grow (try to grow) Primulas in a bed to which I have contributed my best
>compost, manure etc. over the years. Its under/behind a couple of
>rhododendrons and except for about an hour at noon, is shady.
>My primroses (carefully covered with fir branches, etc. etc.) barely hung
>on through the winter.
Hello; the best protection against pests is general good health. Most
primroses need full sun in the spring for maximum vigor. I have grown them
in areas which were primarily shady year-round, but they were notably less
vigorous (grew slowly, wilted easily, attracted bugs, etc.) than others
planted in sunny spring/shady summer sites. Also, I do not know how
thickly mulched they were - since most are evergreen, you have to be
careful not to suffocate them. I would think the fir branches would be OK
if placed lightly over the primroses.
Diazinon will kill maggots of most kinds, if you don't object to such a
strong poison.
Sheila Smith
mikecook@pipeline.com
Niles, MI USA, Z 5/6
