Is this little thing really what's destroyed my gardens?

[z_willus_d]

Originally Posted by beeman

Please don't 'bite my head off' for suggesting the following, but it strikes me there is something drastically wrong here, I have followed this post from the beginning.

Have you considered that all the spraying you have done, with some pretty fierce chemicals, might have killed off any beneficial bacteria.

It seems to me we need good guys to help combat the bad and ugly. We know the plants are dependant on beneficial bacteria in the soil to produce the sugars etc that the plants need to stay healthy. Is it possible you have destroyed most if not all the 'good guys', leading to an endless parade of 'bad guys'?

I do question 'Bills' bleach spray, surely he must be killing off a great deal of his soil bacteria, which doesn't make any sense to me.

I do know, where I live, that things are different, but my approach is totally different. Early in the spring I spray to supply the 'good guys' to all my planting, including all my berries and fruit trees. I do not get anything like the problems you do, a few aphids and that's it.

This year we've had endless wet, dull, warm weather, ideal for fungus etc, but to date nothing.

It's too late this year, but how about next year?

I use Biotamax. In a 5 gallon pail, add 1/2 cup molasses and brew with an air stone for at least 24/48 hours. My microscope tells me it's alive with bacteria when I spray or soil drench, and the difference in the plants is amazing, the yellowing disappears and bright green results, plus the plants look stronger.

Beeman, no head biting I promise. Until recently, I have been spraying quite frequently but always with an arangement of organic products, many of which are supposed to be fine for the beneficials; and some including them. I'm talking about things like Mycotrol O (a beneficial organism), Actinovate (another), BT, various oils (Azamax, Neem, Cedar, Mineral, Canola); compost teas (made with worm castings I produce myself, seaweed, and other goodies), and, yes, some less than optimal organics, like Spinosad, Pyrethren, Excel-LG, and this awful safer soap stuff. So, I agree that I've caused all kinds of damage with the safer soap / pyrethren combo. I'm not sure what to think about the other things I've sprayed, most of which should be additive rather than deleterious to my beneficial populations.

I actually also use Biota-Max, MycoGrow, Great White Mycos, and Actinovate in a couple soil drenches when I plant out. Each hole gets a handful of composted worm castings. In short, I'm right with you on all this stuff. I am only now going over to the dark side with this Mycobutinil spraying. Last year, it was less spraying in general, but all the same deadly results.

Ok, head hopefully still fully attached. You make very good points.
-naysen