Question
I live outside of Charlotte, NC.  This is my first year gardening here in the South, being a recent transplant from the Midwest.  I have several vines of Kirby and Burpless cucumbers.  I have the vines trained onto a wooden tee-pee.  They have grown great, with lots of blossoms and baby cucumbers.  Unfortunately, I have developed a serious whitefly infestation on my cucumbers and also my tomatoes.  I don't want to use harsh chemicals and have tried using an organic insecticidal soap, twice daily sprays of water, and Safer brand vegetable insect spray (not all at once!).  I seem to have controlled the problem on my tomatoes, but cannot get the cucumbers under control.  There are millions of whiteflies on my cucumbers!  Now the cucumber leaves are developing yellow spots, which are gradually turning into a brown/bronze color, then the leaf will turn "crunchy" and die.  The baby cucumbers are stunted, and turning yellow on the tips.  However, the vines are still growing, are still producing blossoms and baby cucumbers.  To date, I have only harvested one cuke!  I have also noticed quite a few black ants on the vines, so I am also wondering could I have aphids?  Any suggestions on how I can enjoy more cucumbers (without going to a farmstand)?  Thanks in advance for your help

Answer
Pam, my recommendation would be to spray the plants with either rotenone or pyrethrum. They can be purchased independently or as a combination. Attached is a link from an organic company through which you can purchase this product.

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/rotenone-pyrethrin.html

These are entirely organic and are non-toxic to humans and the environment.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike