Bugs in my containers?

lapk78 · September 15, 2012

Hi all!

I have three pots growing Ghost peppers and three EarthTainers that were used for growing toms in the spring/summer. Well, the other day as I was pulling out the remains of my dead tomatoes, I saw a few cockroaches running around in the grow mix. Where there are a few, there are probably many others, yes? Further, as I was watering my Ghosts, a saw a few small beetles (probably baby roaches) as well as lots of ants and coming up from the mix. Also, there are aphids on the peppers.

I want to plant a fall crop in the EarthTainers. What would you recommend doing about the insects living in the grow medium? Also, how can I get rid of the ants and roaches living in the potted Ghost peppers?

Thanks,
Lyle

**mdvpc** · September 15, 2012

I am interested in this answer because my wife and I will be moving to San Antonio, hopefully in the second half of 2013.

Ken4230 · September 15, 2012

Last year was my first garden at this location. It was probably the worst garden I have ever grown.
When I started pulling plants, I discovered hundreds of white grubs and too many of their eggs to count in each container and in some of the raised beds.
Ants, pill bugs, and termites were in all the containers and the raised beds.

After several organic attempts to kill them, I surrendered and used Imidacloprid as a soil drench last fall and at planting this year.
It worked like a charm, I had my best tomato garden in the last 20 years. I am thinking about using it at planting again next year.

The only pest I had this year was three dead hornworms and two Japanese beetles.
Even though it works, I'm not really comfortable using it regularly.

lapk78 · September 21, 2012

Hmm... I looked up Imidacloprid, and I see it's listed as "moderately toxic" to mammals if taken orally. Well, I have two cats that will sometimes bite and/or eat the leaves off the pepper plants, so Imidacloprid is not an option for me.

Are there any other suggestions within the vast wealth of knowledge that is TomatoVille? Anyone?

-Lyle

Rockporter · September 21, 2012

Would powder Diomataceous Earth work on those kinds of bugs? Maybe dump the mix onto a ig tarp and mix DE into the mix.

September 15, 2012	#1
lapk78 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Antonio, TX Zone 8B Posts: 118	Bugs in my containers? Hi all! I have three pots growing Ghost peppers and three EarthTainers that were used for growing toms in the spring/summer. Well, the other day as I was pulling out the remains of my dead tomatoes, I saw a few cockroaches running around in the grow mix. Where there are a few, there are probably many others, yes? Further, as I was watering my Ghosts, a saw a few small beetles (probably baby roaches) as well as lots of ants and coming up from the mix. Also, there are aphids on the peppers. I want to plant a fall crop in the EarthTainers. What would you recommend doing about the insects living in the grow medium? Also, how can I get rid of the ants and roaches living in the potted Ghost peppers? Thanks, Lyle

September 15, 2012	#2
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	I am interested in this answer because my wife and I will be moving to San Antonio, hopefully in the second half of 2013. __________________ Michael

September 21, 2012	#5
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	Would powder Diomataceous Earth work on those kinds of bugs? Maybe dump the mix onto a ig tarp and mix DE into the mix. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

September 15, 2012	#3
Ken4230 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Western Ky Posts: 282	Last year was my first garden at this location. It was probably the worst garden I have ever grown. When I started pulling plants, I discovered hundreds of white grubs and too many of their eggs to count in each container and in some of the raised beds. Ants, pill bugs, and termites were in all the containers and the raised beds. After several organic attempts to kill them, I surrendered and used Imidacloprid as a soil drench last fall and at planting this year. It worked like a charm, I had my best tomato garden in the last 20 years. I am thinking about using it at planting again next year. The only pest I had this year was three dead hornworms and two Japanese beetles. Even though it works, I'm not really comfortable using it regularly.