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Garden Gate:  Leaf Hoppers!!! HELP!!!  |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 13 2012 : 3:21:07 PM
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Hi girls -
I went out to the garden this morning to treat my bean plants, thinking they were suffering from some form of blight. However, as I plucked away the diseased leaves, I disturbed a whole bunch of little tiny flying/hopping green bugs under the leaves. They were hopping and flying all over the place - in the dirt, in the plants... ICK! I even found them in my peas! I did a little research and have identified them as leaf hoppers, and found that they actually may be the cause of the bean issue - the little stinkers!!! I plan to call the local extension to find out what I need to do, but am hoping all of you might have some wisdom and advice to share as how to best combat them (Farmgirls know best!). From what I read, these things can kill just about anything - they need to GO!!!!
Thanks in advance for any help you are able to provide! I really, really, REALLY appreciate it!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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sjmjgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
566 Posts
Stephanie
Mt. Vernon
Iowa
USA
566 Posts |
Posted - Jun 13 2012 : 5:45:29 PM
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Well, I dont have any experience with those things, but I do know that if there's a solution, the county extension office has it. Yours happens to be online at extension.psu.edu. From what I can see, they have quite a bit of info on the leaf hopper there. Good luck!
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama
April is Autism Awareness month. Autism affects 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys, including my son). Go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/ to learn more and help Light It Up Blue on April 2nd!
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 08:00:20 AM
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Thank you, Stephanie! :) I love our county extension!
Okay... For those of you who may run into this problem in the future, here's what the Master Gardener said: First check online to see if the pictures match what I'm seeing, because they do sound like potato leaf hoppers. He asked if I live in the country, because they love alfalfa, and usually when local farmers cut down alfalfa, that's when they move into smaller gardens. I actually live in the city, but we're not too far from a BIG local farm owned by my girlfriend's family. I don't believe they "do" alfalfa, though. He said that they don't show any organic solutions for the leaf hopper, but he recommended I visit Agway and pick up some pyrethrum product or Seven. He said to use spray because if you apply powder who knows where it ends up, plus you really don't want to be breathing it in. So I mentioned that I had used Seven a couple of years ago for a different problem, and it worked, BUT my garden is organic and when I did use it, I noticed it really "hardened" or changed the plants (i.e., lettuce was no longer tender and flavorful, it became rather rigid/hard and tasteless). He asked if I had done research online, which I had (and, like Suzanne said in her post about the problem with her grape vines, I found that there is really nothing definitive). I asked him about using Neem oil. He said that he knows that it is approved for organic gardening, and that it might work. We could try that first and then if it doesn't work, move onto the Seven spray. He said that I can get neem at Agway or even probably find it at the "big box" stores... SO, I'm going to head out today, buy some Neem oil spray and give it a try. I know there is some sort of Bio-Neem product out there online (more safe? more organic, perhaps?), but I really don't want to wait on and order due to processing and shipping time, you know? I'll post what happens just so you all will have this info at your fingertips for later. Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2886 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2886 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 08:05:30 AM
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Nini
I would also check out "Gardens Alive" They have wonderful all organic products for pest control |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 08:10:54 AM
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That's where I found the Bio-neem stuff, Lisa! I just love their site! Thank you! I just feel that the problem calls for immediate attention - I don't want to wait one more day!!! But thank you - you're absolutely right - they have some wonderful stuff!!!! :) You're the best! - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 08:12:26 AM
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Actually, I am considering buying some lady bugs from them... I just don't want a "lady bug problem." A friend bought some a few years ago and had a real infestation in her home come fall. She vacuumed them up and boy, did it smell bad. It took forever to get rid of them.... Have any of you ever used them for pest control, or had a problem like that??? Thanks! - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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Garden Gate: Leaf Hoppers!!! HELP!!! |
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Leaf Hoppers!!! HELP!!!
