Question
Hi Mike. Last year was my first year having a garden. A much too big of one to start out with- might I add ;-) I live in Washington State. Everything came up, looked great but unfortunately most of it I didn't get to eat because the bug problem was so severe by the time everything was ready to be harvested. I had cabbage aphids on my brussel sprouts, broccoli. Some slugs eating the exposed tops of my carrots (and tiny white worm things in the split of the carrots too.) As well as some sort of bugs on my corn. This was a heartbreaker. Nothing I used got rid of them. It killed them, but then several hundred were back withing days. Somebody told me that it's because they're weak plants that have been motified and that I should try heirloom. My plants didn't appear weak at all UNTIL they had the bug problem. Infact, everything in my garden was taller and had better color than some others I'd seen even with the bugs. I know everybody has a different opinion on heirloom, what's yours? Am I going to avoid some of the bug problem by using heirloom? If not, is there any other benefit to using heirloom otherwise? What can I do to protect it from bugs before it spins out of control?

Answer
Heirlooms are just as susceptible to bug damage as hybrids. It is true that once a plant is infested, it naturally weakens due to fighting off the pests. Weak plants attract more pests, resulting in a vicious cycle.

You can protect plants in a couple of different ways. Organic soil attracts "good pests" which in turn eat the pests that do damage. Amend your soil early next spring with organic matter comprised of compost, aged manure, and peat. Not only will this help deter pests, but the fertile soil will provide a constant source of nutrients throughout the growing season and will also improve the tilth and drainage of the soil.

The second thing you can do is cover the plants with reemay when they are young and vulnerable. Reemay is a lightweight row cover with a material similar to sheer curtains. The material actually floats just above the plants, and lets in water and air while keeping away pests. You can purchase this product at many garden centers or on-line through companies such as Gardens Alive or Planet Natural. Just be sure to remove the material once the plants begin to flower, in order to allow bees to pollinate the plants. At this stage, the plants are mature enough to fight off small infestations. By that time, the bugs will have already found another source of food.

Finally, there are organic products you can apply as a preventive measure once you remove the reemay. Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can be protected with BT, an organic insecticide which is short for Bacillus Thuringiensis, more commonly sold under the brand names Dipel or MVP. It is a dust that is non-toxic to humans and beneficials but highly effective against caterpillars and destructive worms.

You can also apply pyrethrum or rotenone for flying insects. These too are organic insecticides, derived from plants, and can be purchased as a dust or spray. They are non-toxic and can be applied up to the day of harvest with no ill-effects whatsoever to humans. I dust my plants every 7-10 days as a protective measure, and have no problems with pest damage. As with the reemay, all of these products can be purchased through the companies mentioned above.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike