Aphid problem: outdoor citrus, basil, and fava bean plants
karabas1543
5 years ago
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karabas1543
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Millions of Aphids on my lettuce
Comments (22)There you have it Michele. Lady bugs or trap crops if you want to tackle the problem at the source. I am fortunate enough that my home is off-white and a true magnet for them. They don't have to fly out very far in the spring, and I spend some time in April scraping them off the windows for release outside. Aphids show up (in minimal numbers) only after they turn in for the winter sometimes in late October. There are companies that will sell you ladybugs, and flowers and aphids are the only two things they really need to thrive. But planting fava also is worth a try, specially if you plant cattle fava (a cover crop, sold under the name of Banner), which is inexpensive and comes up very early in the spring. You can plant the favas where the tomatoes are going to go, fertilize the soil, and cut them down when you plant the toms (or when they are covered in bugs). If fava fails for you, you can always eat the fava greens, they are very good....See MoreCompanion planting to citrus in containers?
Comments (3)Herbs can be mite and aphid magnets, rather than a deterrence. There are other reasons for not planting them with citrus, as well. There is only so much room within the confines of your container and I'm afraid that the rather large root systems of the herbs you've mentioned will create problems for the citrus...and vice versa! Those herbs need plenty of full, direct sun in order to thrive as well. And, boy, can they (except for the chives) get large quickly. Nasturtium, by the way, are considered a 'sacrificial' plant....which means that they are truly magnets for an assortment of pests, aphids in particular. It's said that if you plant them near your other crops, the aphids will go to the nasturtium and leave the rest alone. NOT! Anyway, my suggestion would be to allow your citrus to have its own room (so to speak), but cluster other plants, in their own containers, around it....See Moreunhealthy basil
Comments (4)I'm not sure if you're having the same problem but my indoor basil plants are ridden with black bugs and yellowish specks, which seem to grow in size, almost covering half the leaf in maturity. During this growth, the leaf appears to have yellowish areas with tiny bumps that burst with larvae that squirm around. Quite disgusting. :( The black bugs on my basil are tiny about .5-1mm, long in shape with long tails (half the body of it consists of its tail), crawl all over the plant (top and bottom of leaves), and jump. I have searched and searched for pictures or postings on the internet and this website to find anything similar. They're definitely not spider mites since there is no webbing but perhaps I have some type of mites? If so, what is the best organic way of eliminating and repelling them? Gcook, would you be able to post pictures of your plant with close-ups of the critters? If you've tried the garlic spray, has it worked? I recently tried using neem oil, rubbing alcohol, and removing any suspicious looking leaves and is waiting anxiously for results... Is my plant salvageable or should I just trash it? What are these bugs? Are they harmful to cats? Any information would help. Please help me save my plant! Thanks in advance. :)...See MoreGrowing Fava beans in Northeast Arkansas - UPDATE!!
Comments (8)Three weeks since my last posting... MUCH MORE TO REPORT. Anybody who watches national news knows this has been a spring to test the toughness of our plants and the patience of all serious gardeners. NOTE: all my legumes are innoculated before sowing. I have Fava bean Aquadulce of 3 ages in one row now. All were from same seed lot. Their soil and location: partially improved clay loam, but low enough on hill that feet stay wet 1-2 days longer than they would if 100 yards farther up the hill. Full sun and wind and rain... totally exposed to all elements. Direct seeding of January 9 is now 10 inches tall and making flower buds. Those hatched inside in large cups and transplanted: only 2 survivors. They are 6 inches tall and not yet making flower buds. Direct sowing of February 24 is 6 inches tall and shows same development as the two transplanted plants. Direct seeding of March 15 (last planting date for Pisum here)came up in 2 1/2 weeks (instead of a month)and they are 4 inches tall with 2 sets of leaves. NOW ... A POSSIBLE PROBLEM, but I can't identify the condition from what books I have on plant diseases. The older plants (January and February sowings)are lighter green... and some are showing just the beginning of drying up edges on their upper leaves. Those planted March 15 are still bright green. Those black aphids that I've been led to expect ... they're on the way. I saw 2 winged adults, and 3 plants had ants looking for a place to farm their "cows". The planting of Feb 24 that is watered by dripline of a small shed (thus effect of standing in water for 2 1/2 days when the rains produced the Midwest floods of mid-March.) Variety is the Grano White, an early large variety from Italy. This is a sunny south-of-building, full sun exposure with sun reflected off light colored siding, protected from prevailing northwest winds and vegetation to south breaks any wind from that direction. They came up just as the heavy rains ended, a couple of days before the same date planting in open site farther down the hill. They are now 8 - 10 inches tall, still bright green and look good. However, there are specks of black / thin black edges on their upper leaf margins. Their soil is heavy clay with almost no improvement, but site drains fast because it is near top of hill and the slope is 1 yard drop per 50 feet. No signs of aphids here yet. Other legumes that are up and how they are doing. Lentils (my first attempt). They were 2 days in ground when the heavy rains came... on a hill top in soil developed with considerably organic applications in late 1980's. The row washed, but they came up a near perfect stand... 3 inches tall and still look healthy. Garbanzo beans... planted a couple days before the heavy rains as single seed sticks in clay with some organic development. About 1/3 came up... and it took them 3 weeks! I presume most to have been washed in so deep they could not find the sun in time. Those up are 3" tall and growing rapidly. Variety is Black Kabouli from Baker Creek>Afghanistan originally. Snap peas -- 3 varieties. Those planted February 24 came up well and are now 8 inches (Amish Snap) and 12 inches tall (Golden Pea from India). A planting of Super Sugar Snap on March 15 was badly eroded by the heavy rains and many washed in too deep. Spotty stand, but those who came up are now 6 inches tall and growing fine. Planted before the announcement of the last few days unexpected cold... and still not up: 2 seeds Insuk's Wang Kong in chat with some organics; Scarlet Runner was sucessful and survived winter in that location a decade ago. Adzuki beans (per time advice for my region in S. Ashworth's SEED TO SEED), Agate Soybeans. Planting of this time period of another variety soybean in 2007 would have come up... except that the Easter Freeze destroyed them less than 1/2 inch from emerging! This planting was made within by my County Extension Agent's suggested earliest time window for this area. Agate chosen because it originated in New Mexico (hotter than I am and generally dryer as well), is early to mature, and it went into ground newly broken this year and nearly raw clay / rock, where no water will be available. Plenty of soil moisture right now, and seeds are sited to use "basin" method of SW Pueblo Indians. greentongue aka Jan Foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Northeast Arkansas...See Morekarabas1543
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5 years agoEmily Jenkins
5 years agoriver_crossroads z8b Central Louisiana
5 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
5 years agojenny_in_se_pa
5 years ago
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