Pest Prevention

[Britt Fullerton]

As we are heading into the cooler climate season and plants are changing out in my media bed system what is the recommended first step in the  prevention of pests Dipel or otherwise for leafy greens? I know their are mixed emotions about Safer Insecticidal Soap and Neem so preventative is my main goal.

[TCLynx]

Healthy plants growing during the right season or in the right conditions tends to be the best bet.

 

BT products like dipel or Thuricide work well if you are having caterpillar eating your greens issues but that is only effective against leaf eating caterpillars.

 

Soaps and oils are dangerous around fish systems.  If you use such things be ultimately careful about over spray or dripping and I would say remove plant from system and carry away for treatment if you want to be really safe.

 

My systems are outdoors (no greenhouse) and for the past two years, I've largely ignored pests and let nature take isn't course and we have still gotten to eat food from our systems, the pests have not gotten it all.

I don't know if that makes me a genius or just lazy.  Inside a greenhouse you may need to be a bit more proactive to keep certain infestations from really causing devastation.

[Britt Fullerton]

Thanks.  I let my lettuce be free last winter and did have some worm activity and had aphids this summer that did stay around but didn't win ultimately.  I guess as I look at IPM's I know prevention is the best cure so i was going to be ahead of the game.  I do agree with you about the healthy plants and last year my system was brand new...so that could have added stress that led to some pests.

TCLynx said:

Healthy plants growing during the right season or in the right conditions tends to be the best bet.

 

BT products like dipel or Thuricide work well if you are having caterpillar eating your greens issues but that is only effective against leaf eating caterpillars.

 

Soaps and oils are dangerous around fish systems.  If you use such things be ultimately careful about over spray or dripping and I would say remove plant from system and carry away for treatment if you want to be really safe.

 

My systems are outdoors (no greenhouse) and for the past two years, I've largely ignored pests and let nature take isn't course and we have still gotten to eat food from our systems, the pests have not gotten it all.

I don't know if that makes me a genius or just lazy.  Inside a greenhouse you may need to be a bit more proactive to keep certain infestations from really causing devastation.