endeitz

Do a GardenWeb and Google search on row covers, which are great for keeping insects out and letting light in. You can get material that is so lightweight that it rises on top of the plants as they grow.

Once it's in place, you'd need to check carefully under it to kill all the stinkbugs that may already be on the plants, and if I'm not mistaken, stinkbugs overwinter in the soil and emerge when the weather gets warm -- you need to be on the lookout for those that emerge from the earth around your plants if you use a row cover, too.

anney,

This is a good suggestion and I have considered it. However, the row covers I have seen (and used for extending the growing season) typically have insulating qualities that make them less than ideal for summer gardening. In the heat of a Texas summer, lack of airflow can be death to your plants. That is why I am looking for a netting material (a mesh, rather than spun polyester that is typical of row covers) that doesn't appreciably reduce the airflow.

Cheers,

Ed.

I know I'll probably get flamed for this, but I have used Sevin on my stinkbugs and they are gone gone gone. One application last year, and they still haven't come back.

Just a thought, if you are willing to forgo being organic.

Ed,

Yes, most polyester fabrics with a small enough weave to keep stinkbugs out are going to give you a pretty warm space underneath. Mosquito netting might work, though anything you use is going to restrict air flow some, simply because it's replacing some of the air space. Cotton cheesecloth is another possibility, though it might cut down on light.

I'm sure there's something around that will keep the stinkers out but give you better airflow than polyester.

I lost the link, but this guy built a cold frame along the side of his house with old shower doors. It worked great, but soon found that he had a huge problem with grasshoppers. So he went and bought some old screen sliding doors, made a frame and velcroed the screens to the frame to keep them out. Maybe you can do the same....voila, no more stink bugs and you have access to your plants. Hope this helps.

Bill S

I had a terrible problem with them last year, and Spinosad took care of them. I had to spray more than once. It is difficult because the big ones fly away the minute you try to spray them. If you can get them when they are small, they are much easier to control. I bought it at Natural Gardener in Austin, but I saw it at Lowe's the other day. Good luck!

People still use Sevens Dust?.. Flame!!!!!

You can get tulle netting(used for ballet tutus and wedding apparel)at fabric stores or fabric section of Walmart. It is very light and inexpensive.

Thanks to all for your insightful suggestions. The tulle sounds like a good thing to try. I also read where someone bagged the fruit in sections of nylon stocking. I might try that too (if the wife can spare some!).

Cheers,

Ed.

I saw little ants on my pepper plants and I used the insecticide spray to kill them and prevent more happening. Try link below, you might find something else helpfull.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bug Sprays for Veggies

We here in North Western Virginia were overwhelmed by these little (explitive) stink bugs last summer. They destroyed the local apple crop, corn, tomatoes and more. And by the sheer number of "tick-like" babies I saw, this growing season will be a huge challenge.

I have attended several lectures sponsored by the local Agriculture Extension folks who admit they do not have a solution in site.

With that in mind I am considering some kind of netting for my tomatoes in particular. The stink bugs do not seem to assault greens, onions, leeks, beets etc. I hope to find the proper netting and secure it to heavy duty tomato trellis' with clothes pins. I realize this will be a bit of a hassle when harvesting but that's got to be better than watching the tomato crop destoyed at the height of the season.... it's heart breaking. I'm going to Wal-Mart to check out the "tulle netting" suggested by "noinwi".