How can I stop the cycle of aphids?

14 years ago

I will be removing peas that are the home of aphids in a few weeks, and replacing with tomatoes. Are there any organic steps can I take between crops to prevent the aphids from making my tomatoes their home? Should I treat the soil?

When I started my small square foot garden, I placed it in a spot that previously had aphid/white fly infested roses. I thought by removing the roses, the bugs would disappear, but they haven't. I didn't know much about gardening, bugs, and such when I started... When I put the bed in, I added fresh compost, peat, etc. So I know the soil mix is mostly healthy--I even had decent crops last summer. I understand that aphids love a nitrogen rich environment, and have switched from Miracle Gro to a fish emulsion fertilizer, but this hasn't stopped them...

Thanks in advance for the advice.

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Comments (8)

momma_s
Original Author
14 years ago
I just realized I posted this in the IPM section when I meant to post in the pest & diseases section... Reposting there.
jean001
14 years ago
Answer is still the same. Remain alert. And when you find them, squish or wash off.
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How can I stop the cycle of aphids?
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You are so right, kimmsr. However, insect pests and plant diseases are a part of the normal scheme of things, too. Good, healthy soil, and strong and healthy plants can tolerate a balanced population of the problem organisms. Those conditions do nothing prevent pests and pathogens from arriving. What you have been repeating over and over is tried and true. Nothing new, but certainly worth repeating. It is also important to know that a healthy garden will have aphids, will have mites and caterpillars and will have billions of spores of pathogens. Learning to accept and manage the problems is all part of 'culture'. It's good for gardeners like momma to know that, and to learn about some of the many methods of control they have to choose from. Momma has done a good thing in switching fertilizers, perhaps. She might also try to be even more watchful, especially when the crops are young, so that she can do some hand removal before those 'green buggers' get the upper hand. Which they will do, no matter how 'good, healthy, and strong' everything may be. A healthy tomato plant doesn't repel aphids....the plant is just able to withstand the onslaught longer.
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I have that same problem with my Scarlett Dropmore Honeysuckle (black aphids). I sprayed my honeysuckle last spring with Imidacloprid and then used a grandular systemic insecticide that you mix into the roots and water in. My aphids were gone in no time and didn't return. This spring, I am going to use the systemic as a precaution. I really hate using insecticides, but my aphid problem was bad enough that I would have had to yank out the honeysuckle if I hadn't been able to rid myself of the aphids. As I only had to treat a small area in an isolated bed, I chose to keep the honeysuckle and use the high powered insecticides. One word of caution: Imidacloprid will kill most insects, including the good bugs and earthworms. It is also hazardous to work with - - please use protective gear and only spray on a non-windy day.
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Kimmsr
14 years ago
Aphids are generally more likely to infest plants with lush green growth, plants growing in soils with too much available Nitrogen although they can be found on other plants. Aphids also produce live young, and start doing that almost as soon as the are born so by the time you see an Aphid you probably have several generations already present.
The simplest means of control is to knock the wee buggers off the plants with a sharp spray of water. Now many people that know not whereof they speak will tell you that those Aphids you just knocked off will simply return, but these wee buggers are so dumb they know not whereof they came and die before they figure out where they need to go. What you will see is the next generations moving into the vacancy you created, so it takes some time and repeat applications of the water spray, as well as digging into your soil to determine why your plants might be so attrractive to these pests.
Belgianpup
14 years ago
All true above. Don't think you're going to garden without aphids, because you can't. Squish 'em or knock 'em off with a spray of hose water.
organicislandfarmer
14 years ago
I tell you IMO that the lady bugs I have are having a field day munching the aphids on my plants!!! I used to have them everywhere seemingly overnight. Then I released some and I have ladybugs hanging round for weeks now munching! Most did fly away but my aphid problem is now very minimal!
Kimmsr
14 years ago
People that have continuing problems with insect pests really need to take a good look at the soil their plants grow in because plants growing in a good, healthy soil will be much less attractive to insect pests and you will see fewer of them. I see very few Aphids or many other insect pests on my plants which grow and blossom prodigously. When weather coditions are right I may need to spray to control Powdery Mildew on the Lilacs, but then i am not very diligent about the soil they grow in.
kelly922
13 years ago
The rose bushes I have in my perennial garden become completely decimated by black spot and aphids by the end of the season. I've had the soil tested every year, fertilize, mulch, weed, etc. Everything else around them does great but it truly is a constant struggle. This year I planted some lavender b/w the plants and found a fabulous homeopathic spray that has been working like a charm on the black spot (plus I've been very diligent in picking off any suspect leaves so they don't fall & pollute the ground around it) AND I bought a canister of lady bugs like OrganicIslandFarmer. I haven't seen one leaf with holes. I see the ladybugs flying around everywhere now so they must be happy! Which makes my roses very happy. And even though it's still early in the season - this is the best they've ever looked even at this early point! Go get you some ladybugs!! :-O
User
13 years ago
When I spot aphids, I go to the local nursery and buy lady bugs. My oak tree and the roses are the first targets for aphids, so the ladybugs get applied there. That's it for the season - aphid problem solved.

How can I stop the cycle of aphids?

Comments (8)

momma_s
Original Author

jean001

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How can I stop the cycle of aphids?

Comments (8)

momma_sOriginal Author

jean001

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Belgianpup

organicislandfarmer

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momma_s
Original Author