Aphids

Spray them off every two days and then when you think you have it under control, do it two more times for good

measure. The reason being is that they are so small you can easily miss one and it starts over again. Lets follow the

old adage, better safe than sorry.

Increasing beneficial insects are a great way to reduce the number of aphids. The natural enemies of the aphids

are ladybugs, hover fly larva, parasitic wasps, aphid midge larva, crab spiders ,lacewings, entomapathogenic fungi.

Plant mint, fennel, dill, yarrow, clover and dandelions for lacewings. Ladybugs like cilantro as well as carrot flowers.

Herb flowers are always a treat for beneficials. You must remember to plant flowers that are small flat and open for

the beneficial insects. They need a source of carbohydrates to eat and they also need water to drink. You want to

keep them around so that they will eat the bugs when they are in your garden.

You can also use Safer Insecticidal Soap. This will not hurt beneficial insects. You can only use it 3 times in a row

so make it count, spray the plants off with water first and let them dry. Why?

It is much more efficient to spray off all the aphid that you can with water and then apply the soap for the kill. If

you do not wash them off first, they may be stacked three or four deep and the soap may not penetrate through all

of the aphids. The reason you want to let the plants dry after washing off the aphids is because you will dilute the

soap solution and then it will not be as effective.

You can also make your own sprays as well and they are much more inexpensive. Remember that overall soil health

and fertility are your best defense. When the plants are strong and healthy they can fend off attacks. Think about

you and the flu. You usually get the flu when you are run down and stressed out. Don’t run down your plants by

not feeding them or watering them. Keep them healthy, don’t overcrowd them. Aphids love overcrowded plants,

they thrive in them.

Spray them off every two days and then when you think you have it under control, do it two more times for goodmeasure. The reason being is that they are so small you can easily miss one and it starts over again. Lets follow theold adage, better safe than sorry.Increasing beneficial insects are a great way to reduce the number of aphids. The natural enemies of the aphidsare ladybugs, hover fly larva, parasitic wasps, aphid midge larva, crab spiders ,lacewings, entomapathogenic fungi.Plant mint, fennel, dill, yarrow, clover and dandelions for lacewings. Ladybugs like cilantro as well as carrot flowers.Herb flowers are always a treat for beneficials. You must remember to plant flowers that are small flat and open forthe beneficial insects. They need a source of carbohydrates to eat and they also need water to drink. You want tokeep them around so that they will eat the bugs when they are in your garden.You can also use Safer Insecticidal Soap. This will not hurt beneficial insects. You can only use it 3 times in a rowso make it count, spray the plants off with water first and let them dry. Why?It is much more efficient to spray off all the aphid that you can with water and then apply the soap for the kill. Ifyou do not wash them off first, they may be stacked three or four deep and the soap may not penetrate through allof the aphids. The reason you want to let the plants dry after washing off the aphids is because you will dilute thesoap solution and then it will not be as effective.You can also make your own sprays as well and they are much more inexpensive. Remember that overall soil healthand fertility are your best defense. When the plants are strong and healthy they can fend off attacks. Think aboutyou and the flu. You usually get the flu when you are run down and stressed out. Don’t run down your plants bynot feeding them or watering them. Keep them healthy, don’t overcrowd them. Aphids love overcrowded plants,they thrive in them.