Sunday morning, with coffee

[ksmith]

Found aphids on my tomato plants yesterday, populating the undersides of some of the leaves. I don't know whether they do as much damage to those as they do to roses--with roses, they munch on buds, which pretty much ends that story. One site mentioned that they can deform tomato leaves and fruits by munching, but nothing was said about complete and utter destruction. In any case, soapy water was administered, and it looks like it worked. I will have to keep an eye on matters, though. With small gardens, mention is made of allowing nature's predators to maintain the balance. I know there are ladybugs in the area, but they don't seem to come around when they're needed. They wait until autumn to swarm, so that they can come inside my house and die in my light fixtures.

I also have a Japanese beetle problem this year--they attacked my Rose of Sharon and my hardy hibiscus. I'm supposed to squelch those by picking them off the plant and dumping them into warm, soapy water, which both kills them and prevents them from giving off the pheromones that attract other Japanese beetles. I am afraid, however, that I upset nature's balance and resorted to a spray--they were tucked right into the half-open flowers, and I didn't savor the idea of digging in there to pluck them out. On most plants, they're content to munch on leaves--found them on the crabapple and one of the weed grapevines--but on plants like the Rose, they seem to prefer to munch on the crepe paper-like flowers. One site mentioned that they have no natural predators in the area, so maybe I didn't upset matters too much after all. I will try soapy water spray next time, and see if that helps. I want to keep the beetles away, but I don't want to chase away the bees wat the same time.

I also bought deer repellent--I think Bambi and friends were the culprits that wiped out my lilies and begonias. Well, this week they're going to get a dose of garlic and other stinky compounds, and we'll see how that works.

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

You're probably too urban and civilized to apply the Maine deer-repellent -- a .30-30. Hoofed rats, we calls them . . . but useful in stews and chili.

Japanese beetles are swarming our rugosa roses.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think discharging a firearm within the city limits is against the law around here. Are you in a rural area?

So far, the aphids have not returned to the tomatoes. I'll give it a few days.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Oh, we're about three miles inside the "No Discharge" signs. That doesn't stop us from finding a moose in our yard. Literally.

I'd probably use my hunting bow, just for discretion.

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

I had problems (BIG PROBLEMS) with aphids in Hawaii. I was out sloshing soapy water on all the plants weekly (the rains kept removing the soap film). I have heard (though not completely confirmed with concrete research) that coffee grounds assist in pest control. I know they're rich in nitrites etc and make good fertilizer as well.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I grew up in Florida, where entire large shrubs would disappear overnight due to pest predation.

My Dad used to spread around the grounds. Is it sufficient to fold them into the soil, or do I need to (don't laugh) rub them on the leaves as well?

If it would help to spray coffee on the tomatoes, I'll do it. I wonder if it would work as a deer repellent...?

Spotted a couple of aphids on the tomatoes this morning. Most were dead, but a couple were still crawling. Gonna spray the backs of all the leaves tonight.

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

For the coffee grounds : they can either be spread over the top of your soil or mixed in. Linkies here (http://www.google.com/search?q=coffee+grounds+gardening&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a). Links have both coffee ground enthusiast and coffee ground critic opinions.

A number of chain coffee stores and independent shops keep bags of used grounds (20-40lbs bags) that you can snag for free.

[(Anonymous)]

Your local nursery should sell packages of live ladybugs. Call around. But here in town it's no problem to get them. Many will fly away, but the necessary few will make a home on your tomatoes.

Adrianne

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

That's a lot of predators at once!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I feel like my yard is a Walt Disney target range. Forest Creatures, Unite!

[(Anonymous)]

I've had good luck repelling deer and other smaller furry woodland creatures by putting mesh bags of dog hair around. And I mean it has kept them at bay for months on end. I use the bags that cherry tomatoes come in. You can secret them under shrubery if you're concerned about appearances.

Jody in PA

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. Dog hair, I have. In abundance.