The Colorado potato beetle attacks potatoes, eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes skeletonizing leaves and defoliating plants. Horticultural cloth draped over plants will exclude beetles from reaching plants to lay eggs and feed, diatomaceous earth will destroy larvae, and the botanical poisons pyrethrum and rotenone can kill heavy infestations of adult beetles. However, where Colorado potato beetles […] More
Spittlebugs are the nymphs of insects called froghoppers. Adult froghoppers are small oval- to triangular-shaped insects ¼ to ½ inch in length. The adults can be green, tan, brown, or black. They can jump as much as 100 times their height, giving them the name froghoppers. They can also fly. Many species of froghopper resemble […] More
Growing okra can be incredibly rewarding, but like any crop, it comes with its share of challenges. Over time, I’ve come to understand the common pests and diseases that can plague okra—and more importantly, how to deal with them effectively. From aphids and stink bugs to fungal issues like fusarium wilt, addressing these problems quickly […] More
The flea beetle is a shiny black insect 1/10 of an inch long. Some species have yellow or white curved stripes the length of the body. Flea beetles hop like fleas when disturbed. Flea beetles are particularly attracted to stressed plants; plants that are nutrient weak or underwatered. They also feed on the tender leaves […] More
Sometimes there will be problems in the vegetable garden. There is always a cause and there is often a cure or control. Pest problems are often easy to spot: leaves or fruit look chewed or puckered from sucking pests. Diseases can be fungal, bacterial, or viral; often symptoms may look the same–brown or yellow spots […] More
Houseplants are usually quick to adapt to their environment. When they don’t it’s usually because of extremes of light, temperature, and humidity. Even in the best home, houseplants can fall prey to natural enemies like insect pests and disease-causing fungi and bacteria. The quicker you recognize the distress, the quicker you can correct the problem. […] More
There are natural, organic ways to control pest and disease problems in the garden. These techniques have proven effective over hundreds and even thousands of years. Today these techniques are often called Integrated Pest Management (IPM) or Organic Pest Management (OPM). Fundamental to IPM or OPM is close observation—meaning getting into the garden often. Early […] More
Stephen Albert