Something ate my basil........???

Submitted by Tatyana on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 11:01
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To set a scene, I started a few herbs in small yogurt cups indoors under lights a month ago. And they were grwoign fairly well, ecpecially basil...and boy, it smelled so good! Yesterday, after being away for a few days, I went to look at my plants, and 75% of my basil leaves were gone! CHEWED up! Alsmost like when catapillars attack, but they were indoors and I used store bought soil and manure...

I did see one earwig though in that container, and another one in a tomato cup...could that be earwigs? And where did they come from? Manure may be? I threw out that basil container, just because I got too eary :) about it.

I still have another basil container, and some tomato plants....it's too cold to put them outside, but what kind of bug heaven am I going to have? Any suggestions on bug sprays, something either homemade or organic?

Thank you, I'd appreciate all info. Tatyana

Tatyana

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Thank you both!

Submitted by Tatyana on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 13:53.

I'll have to check on that BT stuff, I saw one of your earlier posts and was wondering about it, I'm glad you explained it here. I'll check some stores in the next 2 days...

And the garden's alive coupon is great too, I just got one of their catalogs, that's why I was asking about their products, I will be using it now :) Tatyana

Tatyana

skbeal's picture

You might want to look at

Submitted by skbeal on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 13:08.
You might want to look at Bacillis Thuriengis! It is also sold under the name "Dipel Dust." It's 100% organic and can be used right up to the time of harvest...so it's great to use on things that are edible....Ear whigs will do a number on stuff......Too bad you don't have some companion plants that would repel them or draw beneficial insects that would eat the ear whigs. You can find BT or Dipel Dust (you want to be sure that BT is the active ingredient,) at Lowes, HD or most hardware stores. I swear by it -- especially for tomatoes!

Susan, the Texas Yankee, the Texas Rangerette and the Assistant Administrator

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Susan,The Assistant Administrator, the Texas Yankee and the Texas Rangerette.

Companion planting to control earwigs?

Submitted by Tatyana on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 14:03.

I checked a few sites for companion planting for pest control/earwigs, and so far no luck. They actually say earwigs could be beneficial, but not in my situation.

If you know of the companion planting to control earwigs, please let me know, I may already have that plant growing. Thanks, Tatyana

Tatyana

Pyola

Submitted by Tatyana on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 12:18.

I was just looking through Garden's Alive catalog last night and read about Pyola, earwigs are one of the insects it targets too (unless I was half asleep and got it all mixed up).

Sharry-lynn, how long does the smallest bottle of Pyola usually last? It sounds like you would recommend it...highly? Would you say it's the best suggestion?

Tatyana

Tatyana

sharry_lynn's picture

I bought the smaller bottle

Submitted by sharry_lynn on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 13:05.
I bought the smaller bottle sometime late last summer or early fall.  I still have about 1/4 left.  Granted, I don't spray as regularly as I should.  Usually I wait till I see the bugs, then think "Oh, I need to spray!"  lol  It was great at controlling aphids & whiteflies for me.  That's mixed at the lower concentration (I use a 2 gallon sprayer, so it's 8 tsp to 2 gallons water).  I think for beetles and larger bugs you need to mix it at double strength.  (I don't know where earwigs fall, but they should tell you what strength to mix for them on the instructions.)  If you're going to be using it on your outdoor plants, I suggest you buy some of their Spreader Sticker too. (I think that's what it's called.)  It'll make the spray a little more sticky so it lasts longer on your plants.  I also bought some of their Soap Shield to help control fungus and rust (I had a HUGE problem with rust on my daylilies last summer!), so hopefully if I remember to spray regularly it'll help.  I really don't like to use strong chemicals in my garden.

Also, if you don't already have a $25 off coupon for them, do a Google search for Gardens Alive coupons.  You can almost always find a link for one somewhere. 
--Sharry
flwrs's picture

Tatyana Sounds like the

Submitted by flwrs on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 11:41.

Tatyana

Sounds like the ear wigs, they will sneak in the house thru cracks and crevices, and even hitch hike on your shoes...Ill ask hubby when he gets in for any suggestions...and I hope someone else will post too

 

 

"Compost, because a rind is a terrible thing to waste !"

sharry_lynn's picture

Yes, earwigs will definately

Submitted by sharry_lynn on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 12:12.
Yes, earwigs will definately chew your plants up.  I'm not sure exactly what kind of spray will get rid of them.  You may want to try a home-made hot-pepper spray.  That seems to work well for various buggies.  I know there was a recipie somewhere on the old site, but I'm sure you can find one if you Google it.  I use Pyola on all my plants, indoors and out.  I get it from Gardens Alive, and it's all natural.  I think it's canola-oil based.  I know it does a good job of getting rid of most pests, but I'm not sure if it's formulated for earwigs.
--Sharry