Boost
Your Garden’s Harvest While Reducing Pest Problems
By Melinda Myers
Send a link to a friend
[May 07, 2022]
Boost this year’s harvest and reduce pest
problems with less effort, while being kind to the environment.
Employ row covers, chicken wire cloches and crop cages to prevent
damage without the aid of chemicals.
|
Floating row covers of spun-bonded or woven
materials let air, light, and water through to the covered
plantings. The warm air that is captured protects the plantings from
frosty temperatures. The coverings also prevent birds from dining on
newly planted seeds and eliminate damage by certain insects like
flea beetles, onion maggots, seed corn maggots, and leafhoppers that
may infect lettuce, celery, and carrots with aster yellows disease.
Cover susceptible seeds and transplants at planting to prevent the
insects from reaching the plants. Insects like flea beetles and
onion and seed corn maggots overwinter as adults in the soil near
the previous season’s planting. Move susceptible plants to a
different part of the garden to avoid trapping the insects under the
row cover with their favorite food source.
Double the benefit with less effort by planting short season
radishes with long season cole crops such as cabbage, broccoli, and
cauliflower. Harvest the radishes as the larger vegetable plants
need the space. This will provide two harvests from one row. The row
cover eliminates problems with root maggots on radishes, cabbage
worms on cold crops, and rabbits from dining on them all.
Basil and beans are favorites of Japanese beetles. Cover these at
planting and since they do not need pollination to enjoy the
harvest, leave the fabric in place throughout the season. Just lift
to harvest and replace.
Cover squash at planting to prevent birds from dining on newly
planted seeds and to reduce the risk of squash vine borer and squash
bugs. The fabric prevents these insects from accessing the plants.
Remove the covers when flowering begins to allow pollinators access
to the blossoms. Don’t use row covers when planting squash in the
same location as the previous year. Since squash vine borer insects
will overwinter in the soil near the squash plants, the row cover
will trap the insects and provide easy access to the plants.
Continue to monitor for these pests throughout the remainder of the
season.
[to top of second column] |
Loosely drape the row cover fabric over the planting
and secure the edges with boards, pipes, stones, or landscape pins.
Commercial setups like the 3-Season Plant Protection Tent include a
framework and fabric covers, making it easy for gardeners to cover
and access the plantings. Systems like this include two covers; one
to protect plants from cold and a second lighter weight fabric for
preventing insect damage during the warmer growing season. Reuse the
fabrics as long as they remain intact.
Self-supporting mesh enclosures like Pest Control Pop-Ups (gardeners.com)
are another option for protecting plantings from insects, birds, and
animals. Look for products like this that are simple to install and
fold flat for easy storage when not in use. Finer mesh products keep
out insect pests while larger mesh wire covers protect plantings
from birds and animals, including hungry squirrels dining on greens
and ripe tomatoes. Various sizes and designs provide coverage for
individual plants, raised beds and berry bushes.
Make this the year to be proactive at preventing and minimizing pest
damage throughout season without the use of chemicals. Your efforts
will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest.
Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books,
including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to
Grow Anything” DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio
program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds &
Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardener’s Supply for her
expertise to write this article. Her web site is
www.MelindaMyers.com.
[Photo courtesy of Gardener’s Supply
Company/gardeners.com] |