Information and discussion regarding garden diseases, insects and other unwelcome critters.
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
May 5, 2017 | #16 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Southeast GA, USDA 9a, HZ9, Sunset Z28
Posts: 396
|
I use two tablespoons per gallon of water in a pump sprayer. Just started a few days ago, and we had a heavy downpour last night. I was thinking of reapplying, and then maybe once a week or so. Am also using Daconil once in a while to keep ahead of any blight.
I know I can get DE locally. Might keep an eye out for Spinosad. Looks like most of the damage is done, and hopefully I can interrupt their life cycle. Am seeing a few flies from the larvae. Can DE be applied by mixing with water and sprayed on? I've seen that 4 tbsp per gallon might work.
__________________
You'll be surprised what you'll never have to do, if you put it off long enough. Last edited by edweather; May 5, 2017 at 09:37 AM. |
May 5, 2017 | #17 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Burton, TX
Posts: 294
|
Pretty sure I saw an Imidacloprid label that included tomatoes. It's a soil systemic and the waiting period may have been fairly long. Fortunately some systemics aren't translocated to the fruit. I can understand folks being a bit reluctant to use them on vegetables.
|
May 5, 2017 | #18 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Burton, TX
Posts: 294
|
Thought I'd better check the label. It was a Dominion Fruit Tree & Vegetable spray and it does include fruiting vegetables but you have to wait 21 days after application before harvesting and you can only use it once per year. Eggplant, peppers, tomatoes and tomatillos are some of the fruiting vegetables included. They also have an ornamental tree labeled product and though they include the same active ingredient you have to follow the label so don't be tempted to extrapolate. My biggest concern is intercropping which I do a lot of. It's often impossible to keep roots from say a leafy vegetable growing close by, from taking up some of the systemic insecticide. It's imperative that only roots of vegetables included on the label have access to the treated soil! Caution advised!
|
May 5, 2017 | #19 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2013
Location: glendora ca
Posts: 2,560
|
Went out to prune this morning and found a great example of what happens to a caterpillar or other leaf eating bug when they eat a leaf sprayed with Spinosad. The caterpillar is the shriveled up brown piece on the leaf. Another win for me on this one.
__________________
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." |
May 5, 2017 | #20 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: On The Mason Dixon
Posts: 93
|
Neem oil must be pure/cold pressed. The neem oil sold at most box stores does not work because the pesticide (azadirachtin) has been taken out. Neem oil is the best control I have found for leaf miners.
I'm sure Spinosad works well to and may be the better option if you cannot find pure neem oil. DE does not work when wet, and will only work if it makes contact when dry. Will also kill beneficial insects and good stuff in the soil. Neem only kills problem insects that ingest it. |
May 6, 2017 | #21 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Southeast GA, USDA 9a, HZ9, Sunset Z28
Posts: 396
|
I bought the Garden Safe neem oil from Lowe's, and will be returning it tomorrow. I just purchased some 100% Pure Neem Oil cold pressed organic.
__________________
You'll be surprised what you'll never have to do, if you put it off long enough. |
May 6, 2017 | #22 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: SE Louisiana
Posts: 27
|
Quote:
|
|
May 6, 2017 | #23 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Southeast GA, USDA 9a, HZ9, Sunset Z28
Posts: 396
|
I haven't used the 100% stuff yet, but have seen suggested amounts of 1 1/2 TBSP per gallon of water, along with 1/2 tsp of dish soap. Does that sound ok?
__________________
You'll be surprised what you'll never have to do, if you put it off long enough. |
May 6, 2017 | #24 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 287
|
|
May 7, 2017 | #25 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Southeast GA, USDA 9a, HZ9, Sunset Z28
Posts: 396
|
Yes, I think that's for spraying it. Have done a little research, and most people spray later in the day after temps have cooled a bit, or in the morning.
__________________
You'll be surprised what you'll never have to do, if you put it off long enough. |
May 7, 2017 | #26 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: On The Mason Dixon
Posts: 93
|
I use 1.5-2 teaspoons of neem per quart of water. I also mix in a mild soap; I'd guess a teaspoon or so. I use Dr. Bonners, but Dawn,softsoap, etc, can work to. Different soaps need different concentrations. Add enough to break up and disperse the neem when you shake the bottle. If the neem floats back to the top of the bottle quickly, add a little more soap.
Just be sure to test spray a few leaves and wait a day or so before spraying all of your plants with it. Last edited by Country Breeze; May 7, 2017 at 08:20 AM. |
May 7, 2017 | #27 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: SE Louisiana
Posts: 27
|
Quote:
|
|
May 11, 2017 | #28 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,069
|
I would personally avoid neem on flowering plants. Pollinators can ingest neem through contaminated nectar and pollen. And while it may not always be reliably lethal, it can produce lots of sublethal effects that can hurt the health of a hive/nest.
https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscie...s-of-Botanical And if predators are eating pests that have ingested neem, there may be upstream effects. Neem is broad-spectrum, and whether natural or not, I try to use broad-spectrum agents very carefully. However, I admit that preserving a healthy balance of insect populations is a primary concern of mine. It may not be as important in other people's calculations. |
May 14, 2017 | #29 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Southeast GA, USDA 9a, HZ9, Sunset Z28
Posts: 396
|
So I've given the plants a dose of Neem and Spinosad. Hopefully no further damage. From what I've read, leaf miners aren't serious most of the time, but these were bad. They did extensive damage, but only to the tomatoes. Very little damage to melons, beans, figs, cucs, and citrus. Probably could have gotten ahead of the situation, but this was my first year here in Z9a. Might have a second chance at a fall crop.
__________________
You'll be surprised what you'll never have to do, if you put it off long enough. |
May 15, 2017 | #30 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: SE Louisiana
Posts: 27
|
I noticed my first leaf miners this weekend on a few zucchini leaves. I sprayed with Spinosad. Two days later the leaf miner tracks have not progressed and no new ones have appeared. I am impressed.
|
|
|