Broadmite Cure? Companion Planting at its Best!

14 years ago

Hi Gang-

I have an interesting observation that I thought would be helpful if I passed it along- I have a Suavenola White brug with 2 branches- the left branch became infested with broadmites- the new leaves were curling & stunted, (no webs), very similar to Cyclamen mite damage)in terrible shape.. the left branch wasn't growing much- but the opposite right branch was not affected at all! It was enveloped with the branches & flowers from a nearby Russian Sage- and it never came down with them! In fact- this right branch grew taller than the left one- so what did I do? I wrapped the nearby branches of that Russian Sage all around the mite infested side- and the affected branch was completely healed in under 2 weeks! Now that branch has grown to the size of the right side, with no trace of mites... I have a Harliquin Glory Bower tree with the mites now- & plan to stew some of that Russian Sage in a pot, cool it down- & spray it on... I will keep you all posted to see if this works! Anyone else see this? Here's a photo of the planting-

as well as my newest garden- with bananas, cannas, etc Kasha77

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Comments (9)

karyn1
14 years ago
That's really interesting. I wonder if any of the sages would work though Russian Sage isn't really a sage.
kasha77
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes- that's right- also-I took before photos of the Harlequin Glory Bower tree with mites- & will post more after a few treatments of the Russian sage tea spray. more to come!
Kasha77
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Here are the results of my companion planting experiment. I'm knocking on wood as I type since the growing season isn't completly over, but I had no svb's in the garden companion planting squash with nasturtium and borage. The results are inconclusive however. In the main squash bed I interplanted with both companions. I moved one volunteer squash to another area and planted only borage nearby. I moved another volunteer to the other side of the house near the garden where my next door neighbor lost her pumpkins last year. I planted nasturtium near this one. My neighbor who lost her pumpkins to svb's in the past lost all of her squash and most of her pumpkins to them again this year. We disected the affected vines and got a positive i.d. on the borers. She decided against using Bullseye out of concern for inadverantly harming bees. She told me a neighbor down the block lost all of his zucchini to svb's. My squash seeds were sown in average soil, good sun, topdressed with compost and were given a foliar feeding of kelp early on and alfalfa/nettle tea a bit later, before they started vining. I don't think my neighbors made any special efforts with their plants. My next door neighbor bought plants from a greenhouse. I don't know if the companions were responsible for keeping the svb's away. They couldn't possibly have not seen my squash as they traveled through the neighborhood. If I ever plant squash again (the worry over svb's became excrutiating at one point), I'll definitely include these two companions in the bed.
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fool4flowers
14 years ago
Very interesting. Now that you mention it I didn't get any mites on mine that were planted next to the russian sage last year either. I might have to buy more of them, lol.
dimples31312
14 years ago
Kathy,
Great Idea, Let us know if it works.
I enlarge your picture so I could see it better.
It really looks great.
I also seen the pictures of the Botanical Garden! (Sorry of peeking) LOL
They are beautiful. Looks like I have to add it to my Much See List.
Hugs
Dorothy
jeep461
14 years ago
dorthy made me peek. Lol Wow, what Z7 looks that pretty. I am looking for a cooler spot to retire in a few. I really need some forest and green everywhere. I would like to have a garden and it grow well.

Jim
phoenixryan
14 years ago
If it weren't 11pm, I'd be headed to the local nursery right now!! I had some Russian Sage a year or two ago, not sure what happened to it, but it's gone now. I'll definitely give it another try.

Thanks!
PKponder TX Z7B
14 years ago
That's a great tip and your garden is so lovely!

Pam
kasha77
Original Author
14 years ago
When we first moved here- you couldn't get a shovel in the ground! After many truck & trailer loads of amendments, ( aged horse manure, leaf mold, compost) it's finally starting to look good- we HAVE to keep my sandy soil covered here- it just dries out too fast! Thanks for looking!
Kasha77
givelittle_getlots
14 years ago
Kasha interesting subject for me. Maybe one of the reasons why I have no mites etc problem. Got that Russian Sage ALL OVER and almost every flowerbed lol

Last year I rooted a lot of runners and no one wanted it. Who knows..maybe now I could get rid of it if that really cures our brugs :-)

Lucy

Broadmite Cure? Companion Planting at its Best!

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kasha77
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Broadmite Cure? Companion Planting at its Best!

Comments (9)

karyn1

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