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Farm Kitchen:  Fruit Flies  |
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Denise
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
4 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 17 2004 : 12:51:04 PM
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Hello Everyone~
We are having a huge problem with fruit flies this year - they keep coming and won't go away! We haven't done anything different from prior years and I am clueless about how to get rid of them.
Any ideas?
Denise |
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n/a
deleted
64 Posts
Dave
Vestal
NY
64 Posts |
Posted - Oct 17 2004 : 1:14:27 PM
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| "fruit flies" are also known as "fungus gnats" The two best methods (both harmless) are using yellow sticky cards, found in most gardening catalogs, Jung's and Gardening Supply come to mind. They usually arrive when you bring bananas home, or after bringing potted plants inside this time of year. There is a brown liquid that you can add to your plant water and water with that will control the larval cycle in your pots called Gnatrol. It is harmless to humans, but I am not sure where I bought it, sorry. Hope this helps....Dave |
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cecelia
True Blue Farmgirl
497 Posts
cecelia
new york
USA
497 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2004 : 10:06:35 AM
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Do you all wash off your fruit/vegetables after you bring them in from the garden or store?
Unless the fruit is very perishable, I try to wash everything off asap and I don't have a problem with fruit flies (well, very seldom). I think the washing cuts down on the larvae, or the flies themselves.
Cecelia
ce's farm
"Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery" Victor Hugo |
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Denise
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
4 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2004 : 7:24:14 PM
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Hey Dave & Cecelia,
Thanks! Dave, although I didn't see the yellow cards you mentioned, I just ordered the catalog for Jung's - what a great site! I will keep looking for the cards though. There are a number of supply stores around town I can check with too. Currently I am just trying to trap them with honey or tablespoons of wine... obviously not very successful. They are just getting bigger.
That's funny,Cecelia... I do wash my fruits and vegetables before I eat them, but it never occurred to me to wash them right off the bat! Duh. It makes sense since the larvae are likely found on the peel or outer edges of a fruit or vegetable. Will do.
Have a great night!
Thanks again, Denise
quote:
Originally posted by chickendave
"fruit flies" are also known as "fungus gnats" The two best methods (both harmless) are using yellow sticky cards, found in most gardening catalogs, Jung's and Gardening Supply come to mind. They usually arrive when you bring bananas home, or after bringing potted plants inside this time of year. There is a brown liquid that you can add to your plant water and water with that will control the larval cycle in your pots called Gnatrol. It is harmless to humans, but I am not sure where I bought it, sorry. Hope this helps....Dave
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Edited by - Denise on Oct 18 2004 7:28:41 PM |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2004 : 9:52:57 PM
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I have never had a problem with fruit flies at all before this year either and I have been really fighting them the past few weeks. Grrr! I will be glad when I get them gone too.
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2004 : 11:46:15 AM
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Here in Quilcene they are making the news they are so bad.I think it is some sort of extreem year for them. My friend with the organic produce business is over-run and even though I wash everything I still have tons of them, Probably because I dod not have an outdoor place to wash the produce. I will have to check out the site as well. Thanks Dave.
Eileen
songbird |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2004 : 08:47:33 AM
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Here's a ditty from today's garden section, that is related to this topic... sounds like an easy solution to me!
By CISCOE MORRIS
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Outwit fungus gnats.
If you have refrigerated all of your fruit and still find yourself being embarrassed by annoying little critters that resemble fruit flies, you've got an infestation of fungus gnats. These are little flies that lay their eggs in houseplant soil. The maggots hatch out and feed on compost, as well as plant roots, before emerging as adults that lay more eggs to start new generations. It's easy to outwit this annoying pest. Go to your local garden store and purchase a few small bags of sand. Use it to cover the soil 1/4-inch deep in every houseplant container in your home. This trick fools the female fly into thinking the compost-rich houseplant soil is a sandy beach, an inappropriate place to lay her eggs and raise a family. The flies flitter about for a few days, become exhausted and never lay their eggs. Make sure you apply sand to every container. Within a week or two, you'll be rid of these embarrassing little gnats for good. That is, until you bring home another infested houseplant.
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Farm Kitchen: Fruit Flies |
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Fruit Flies
