Gardening, while incredibly rewarding, can be a challenge at times. Pest infestations, disease outbreaks, and brutal weather conditions can all make or break a garden. Some of these issues can be mitigated, while some are beyond control.
The goal with the uncontrollable is to minimize damage. This article addresses common challenges in the garden and what can be done to overcome them. Nothing is bulletproof, but preparation in knowing how to react can make the difference between a successful crop and a failed one.
As a first step, we encourage the development of healthy soils and selecting vegetable varieties adapted to your environment.
There is nothing worse than walking out to the garden and seeing it ravaged by insect pests. All that hard work and time spent just to be an insect’s lunch! The good news is that pests can be managed with a few techniques.
Prevention is the first step. What can we do ahead of time to control pests before they are established?
Beneficial insects:
Developing habitat for beneficial insects helps. Various cover crops can help create habitat. Native plantings of wildflowers can create a more permanent habitat for beneficials. Another tool is to purchase beneficials if your population is low.
Early spring is the time to start building beneficial insect populations by releasing young adults into the garden to establish a breeding pool. Beneficials include lacewing, ladybug, praying mantis, assassin/pirate bugs and Trichogramma (parasitic wasps). These helpers will control most of the harmful pests and require minimal attention other than maintaining a healthy garden habitat. Keep in mind, it may take multiple releases to reach an effective population.
Along with establishment of beneficial insects, use floating row covers made of insect netting and small wire hoops. Netting comes in various micron sizes to target specific pests: 350 microns (thrips, aphids, flea beetles), 600 microns (cabbage root fly, leaf miners, whiteflies), 1000 microns (cabbage loopers, imported cabbage worms, flea ) and 1500 microns for larger pests (cucumber beetles, squash bugs).
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