The delphiniums in our south facing berm boxes are putting on a gorgeous display right now.
They don't look too bad inside in a vase either.
A few days ago while walking through our garden, our daughter was the first to notice an unwanted visitor. It's a small green worm that is dining on the green leaves of both vegetables and flowers. We're fairly sure it's the green cabbage looper. Papa Pea has dusted with diatomaceous earth which hasn't seemed to have done diddly-sqwat to discourage the creepy crawlies so is now working on finding a more effective natural, organic, non-toxic liquid solution to save the plants from the onslaught of these unwanted pests. Fingers crossed.
9 comments:
Bacillus thuringiencis (BT)
Sometimes it is called Thuricide, among other cute trade names. It is a naturally occurring bacteria that gives the little greenies a gut ache. I use it on my broccoli all the time. (When I eat broccoli, I only want to eat broccoli.) It is safe for birds and bees and everything except worms, who can't handle it in their guts. DE is also on my list of weapons.
Cheers!
Thanks Tim for the suggestion...I gave up growing brassicas this year after two disastrous years...
Tim - Will pass this on to the Exterminator (my husband). Thank you very much! I am so with you in not wanting any "meat" along with my broccoli!
gz - We get a lot of useful info from our friend Tim, don't we? So glad he shares.
I know a lot of people use the BT spray which is the Thuricide. It poisons the caterpillars but does not harm pollinators.
SmartAlex - Thanks!
Gorgeous! Love those blue guys. Mine were toppled in the intense wind and rain that blew through yesterday, despite being tied up.
Rosalea - Well, that's upsetting to know that even tying up your delphiniums didn't keep them upright in your wind and rain storm. :o( So sorry! We also have some light blue ones and they're not growing worth a diddle this year. What's up with that?
Another recommendation for BT spray or powder.
An off-the-wall suggestion - encourage the wasps to come. They use caterpillars as food for the babies in the nests. It's quite a sight to see the wasp wrangle the caterpillar and then fly off with it. I just wish the one time I saw it it wasn't a monarch caterpillar! :-/
Or, since pollination isn't required for a crop, what about doing a row cover over the whole row? Since the worms are already present, this might be better done next year before they show up.
JustGail - Thanks for your comment and suggestions. We do have wasps that like to build their nests back by one of our storage sheds. Hmmm, how to let them know there are delicious worms all over my garden? And that's the problem with using row covers. Those little hungry worms are ALL over my garden and flower beds. But husband has been spraying and I think he may have them on the run. I'm hoping so anyway!
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