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Glosta

I have been on the search for all the best organic products to get my patch safe from fungus, disease, and insects. Does anyone have an all organic treatment program that has been proven to work. I know SVB will be the hardest to control. Really need recommended time frame and which products to switch to to avoid tolerance build up.

thanks Bryan

2/10/2010 11:41:53 AM

Colorado Springs, CO

Have you considered a crushed corn (kernel) meal for application in and on the soil for defeating arrival and presence of bad-fungi ? Have you tried making a cracked corn meal water solution (screened/filtered before using) to spray on leaves and stems periodically when weather is dry so that precursor (bad) fungi can be minimized ? That same dry horticultural cornmeal is good for "problem areas" in one's turf lawn. Soil Mender Products offers a Horticultural Cornmeal product.

SVB walks, right ? They have legs and move around. Have you considered using diatomaceous earth to cause mobility problems for that critter before he can get TO your vine ? Soil Mender Products also has their Crawling Insect Killer which is this freshwater DE substance. Apply it around the base of your pumpkin stump when you plant it. Dust same powder upon the stems and leaves as your pumpkin grows. Sure, if it rains heavy, you re-dust. This powder is very small pieces of silica and insects get it into articulated leg joints and body hairs and imparts a death-by-razorblades action that cuts the exoskeleton and critters die from dessication ! No chemicals, all natural, and actually puts silica into your soils which is yet another helpful element for plants in successive season.

Many add to surface soils as spring thaw is complete. Over-wintering critters in larval stage are emerging and do not like to walk through razorblades. I applied some around base of my tart red cherry tree in '09, about 4" ring around trunk and about 1 foot up the trunk. I DID NOT HAVE ONE....black cherry aphid on new green leaves as tree blossomed and fruited. In prior years I HAD aphids, and then had to wash them off with soapy water blasts. What a hassle. Used DE, and experienced none on that cherry tree ! Also scattered "Greensand" upon the ground in February under that tree. Best cherry crop in 11 seasons.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Such appli

2/13/2010 11:52:57 AM

Glosta

Thanks Tomatoman, Yes DE is on my list, I am familiar with most organic pesticides and some fungicides, I am really looking for a schedule with rcommended organics. SVB's come out of the soil so i will be using DE around time, but they fly around after emergence. I plan to use pyrethrins, BT, spinosad, nematodes, and parasitic wasps for their control too, along with neem oil and garlic spray. It is just more the cycle of these products I am uncertain about.

Thank you again for your reply.
Bryan

2/16/2010 11:54:26 AM

Colorado Springs, CO

I would plan to apply the nematodes as SOON as you are confident that the spring thaw has softened the top 6" or so. They will certainly be challenged if a severe cold re-freezes the surface. Consider a weighted cover with a tarp to shield ground from truly cold winds, perhaps.

After a few days of their migration into deeper levels make a generous application of the DE (and NOT the swimming pool filter stuff !) over your entire garden and lightly rake it into the top inch, and then another fine dusting over all.

The pyrethrins and spinosad are contact killers, as I recall, and will be ineffective if not sprayed ON the critter. Your Bt is eaten by the insect and that disrupts their metabolism and the bacteria snuffs 'em out.

In that end, you never want to kill the benefitial insects, anytime, and there are many. Prevention just might be your best alternative, DE and nematodes.

2/20/2010 12:42:13 PM