Most vegetable gardens are now planted and growing. It is finally warm enough for all those crops like pumpkins, beans, tomatoes and peppers. Thankfully we have had some regular rain and haven’t had to do much watering of our transplants and seeds. I don’t know if it is just me, but it seems as soon as I get things in the garden the bugs and caterpillars find there way. Now is the time to take a little extra care and watch for all those garden pests.
Insect Damage
Check plants regularly for holes in the leaves or other damage. Some pests can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Cutworms, slugs, beetles, other caterpillars can damage plants from cabbage to potatoes. I walked out to the garden a few days ago and found on of my one Roma tomatoes on the ground. I thought maybe the rain and dirt had “glued” it to the ground, but it had been chewed off by a cutworm. I guess I will have a little less salsa this year. Handpicking bugs and putting them into soapy water works great in smaller gardens. Various sprays and granular insecticides, are available as well. We also have a range of organic and natural products for insect control. Look for Eight and Captain Jacks Deadbug Brew on the shelf.
Finally, don’t forget to protect your garden from pests of the larger variety. Deer, rabbits and raccoon will invade your garden so fencing is the best way to keep them out. Make sure the holes are small enough to keep the rabbits out. If fencing is not an option, repellents like Liquid Fence and Repels All are good options.