Row covers

Rotate garden crops with green manures such as alfalfa Cover seedlings and plants with row cover or mesh, hand-pollinating squash-family plants. Apply parasitic nematodes to the soil weekly to control larvae. As a last resort, spray adults with pyrethrin. 

What to do In early morning, shake beetles from plants onto dropcioths, then drop into soapy water to kill them. Cover crop plants with row cover or mesh. Plant pollen- and nectar-rich flowers to attract native species of parasitic wasps and flies. 

Wbat to do Early in the growing season, cover vines with row cover or mesh uncover later for pollinators, or hand-pollinate flowers. To save attacked vines, slit infested stems and remove the borers, then heap soil over the vines to induce rooting. If squash vine borers have been a serious problem in previous years, spray the base of susceptible plants with pyrethrin to kill young larvae before they enter vines. 

Hot caps, small domes made of translucent paper, may also prevent insects or disease spores from reaching individual plants. Other barriers can protect entire rows of plants. Spun-bonded row covers, for example, can be placed over young plants of the cabbage family to exclnde various cabbage feeding insects, or over cantalonpe and encumbers to keep... 

Some birds also consume vegetables. Do not permit any seed to remain visible on the surface of the ground when planting vegetables. It may also be necessary occasionally to make use of netting or spun-bonded row covers to protect vegetables from birds. Imitation snakes, owls and hawks repel birds only if they are moved frequently from place to place and then only for a short time. Plastic foam cups inverted over com ears after pollination may protect ripe com ears from blackbirds. 

Trinka, D.L. and M.L. Pritts (1992). Micropropagated raspberry plant establishment responds to weed control practices, plastics, row cover use, and fertilizer placement. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci., 117 874-880. 

Basil is rarely troubled by pests or diseases. Protect plants with row covers when temperatures drop below 40°F or dark spots caused by cold injury may appear on leaves. Fungi may also cause dark spots on foliage. Remove spotted leaves and spray foliage with compost tea or sulfur if problem is severe. If leaves are mottled yellow with tumed-down edges, plants may have cucumber mosaic virus. Destroy infected plants. See the Herbs entry beginning on page 116 for other problems. 

Leaves with wandering, white or translucent tunnels. Cause Leafminers. Adults are tiny black-and-yellow insects. Larvae are pale green and maggotlike and tunnel into leaves. Remove and destroy mined leaves. Apply row cover as soon as plants emerge to prevent problems. Use yellow sticky traps to catch adults. Certain parasitic nematodes can actually attack leafminer larvae inside leaf tunnels. 

Pods with chewed holes. Cause Caterpillars. Cover plants with row cover to exclude egg-laying moths if caterpillars have caused damage in the past. Control feeding worms with BTK spray. 

Pods pitted and browned. Cause Cold injury. Most cultivars may be damaged at temperatures below 45°E Protect late crops with row cover. 

Leaves stunted and crinkled. Cause Curly top virus. There is no cure once plants are infected destroy infected plants. Leafhoppers spread the virus as they feed control them with sprays of insecticidal soap, or for severe infestations, neem or pyrethrin. Prevent problems by covering seedbed with row cover after planting. 

Leaves riddled with small holes. Cause Rea beetles. These small, shiny, black, brown, or bronze beetles hop when disturbed. Prevent problems by covering plants with row cover as soon as they emerge. 

Heads with black or discolored centers. Causes Fungal rot cold injury. Broccoli heads rot when water collects between the individual flower buds. Avoid wetting heads when watering. Cold weather can also cause black areas in the center of heads. Protect plants with row cover when temperatures below 40° F are predicted. 

Curds will also turn brown in response to cold and freezing injury. Protect cauliflower heads with row cover below 45°E... 

Prevent adults from laying eggs on or near seedbed by covering it with a large piece of row cover after planting. Remove row cover when tassels appear. 

Leaves with numerous small holes. Causes Rea beetles billbugs. Leaves may develop bleached-out spots or stripes. Rea beetles are tiny black insects that hop when disturbed. They can transmit disease and are likely to be more numerous after mild winters. Cover plants with row cover as soon as they come up to exclude beetles. Remove row cover when tassels form. Treat plants with a commercial neem or pyrethrin spray to control severe infestations. 

Cover plants with row cover until tassels emerge to exclude the first generation of pests,... 

Cucumber seeds need 60°F soil to germinate, so wait until weather is warm to plant. Make a second planting 4-5 weeks after the first so you will have fruit all season. Cover plants with floating row cover to protect them from insects and late cold snaps. Remove row cover when plants begin to flower so insects can pollinate the blossoms, or you will not get any fruit. 

Leaves turn yellow, then brown. Cause Lace bugs. Leaves eventually die. These flat, gray to brown, Vio" long insects have lacelike wings and feed on the undersides of leaves. Treat plants with a commercial pyrethrin spray or dust if damage is severe. Prevent problems by covering plants with row cover until they flower. 

Aphids are soft-bodied, small, green, black, gray, pink, or white fluffy-coated, sucking insects that can spread diseases. For light infestations, knock pests off plants with a blast of water. Spray plants with insecticidal soap to control or with neem or pyrethrin if infestation is heavy. Cover plants with row cover when they come up to prevent problems. 

Temperatures below 35°F cause outer leaf margins to turn tan and leaves to blister. Protect plants with row cover if low temperatures are predicted. 

Seed pods pitted, discolored, or with water-soaked areas. Cause Cold injury. Prevent damage by protecting plants with row cover when cold nights are expected. 

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