If you are a home gardener, now is the time of year to plan
ahead for having a successful organic garden. While many residents
rely on chemical pesticides to control garden pests that damage our
plants, these compounds kill the beneficial insects, those that
prey on garden pests and control them naturally, along with the
pests.
If you are a home gardener, now is the time of year to plan ahead for having a successful organic garden. While many residents rely on chemical pesticides to control garden pests that damage our plants, these compounds kill the beneficial insects, those that prey on garden pests and control them naturally, along with the pests.
This often results in the pest population recurring without the control of the beneficial insects and leads to a cycle of greater and greater pesticide dependency. The organic gardener knows that a variety of flying, crawling, and buzzing critters indicates a healthy garden.
The eco-approach to pest control starts with healthy soil. Refrain from adding chemical pesticides and nutrients to your soil, and amend it with natural ingredients such as compost and mulches. Companion planting, strategically locating “bug friendly” plants together, attracts beneficial insects to your garden, while organic mulches give them a place to hide from their own enemies.
Beneficial insects need different types of food during the varying stages of their life. Larvae, for instance, may prey on pests, while their flying adult counterparts may feed on pollen and nectar. Generally speaking, small-flowered plants are the most attractive companion plants.
This information suggests that we should expand our thinking to include blossoming plants or herbs among our vegetable gardens – or even vegetables among our flower beds. For example, plant eggplants around Queen Anne’s lace, parsley, dill and cilantro, whose flowers attract insect predators of the eggplant-eating flea beetle.
You can pick up more specific tips by reading organic gardening books and magazines. The library has a number of excellent publications on organic pest control. In addition, you may call the County Master Gardener Hotline from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 299-2638.
Eco-Fact of the Week: Organic vegetables have higher levels (10-50 percent) of secondary nutrients. These include antioxidants which help to mop up harmful free radicals implicated in cancer.
Eco-Web Pages of the Week: Since much of our town has soil that has, to put it charitably, an ample supply of clay, I found a great article on improving clay soils at http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00012.asp . If you are really interested in learning more about soils and soil fertility, check out http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/EC1561.pdf/
Anthony Eulo is an assistant to the city manager for the City of Morgan Hill who absolutely loves eco-gardening. He welcomes your questions, comments and thoughts and can be reached at en*****@************ca.gov or 779-7247.
