I have a vegetable garden and I keep finding yellowish green caterpillars in my parsley. Are these gypsy moths?
Also, I have many ladybugs hanging out on my cucumbers and lettuce - will they harm them? Or do they just eat aphids?
I looked at a few pesticides at the store, but I am not sure about putting them on my vegetation - any ideas?
2006-06-19 13:53:32 · 10 answers · asked by ks1029 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
The ladybugs are good .. keep them. I am actually going to buy some to put in my garden to help with my aphid problem. Unfortunately with parsley that's what you are going to get. It's recommended that you grow parsley indoors or undercover because it's a favorite place for butterflies to lay their eggs.
Good Luck
2006-06-19 13:59:03 · answer #1 · answered by Courtney 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If your garden is balanced like it is in nature then you shouldn't get overrun with pests, for example birds, wasps, spiders and ladybirds will eat pesky insects. If you have aphids you can wash them off your plant with a blast from your hose or use soapy water, that way you won't kill the good insects which prey on them. I think you need to work out which insects are good and which are not, earthworms are not pests, they are very good for the soil. Maybe you can find an organic garden forum, one that is in your area would be best, so they know what sort of bugs you are talking about.
2016-05-20 03:31:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do make pesticides that have very short periods during which they are potent. If you want to use a pesticide you need to read the label before buying it to see what the waiting period is for your particular vegetable from application to harvest.
Some garden pesticides, like Sevin, are very mild and can be applied up to the day of harvest on some plants.
However, they may also work on good insects, like ladybugs...
2006-06-19 18:30:16 · answer #3 · answered by Don K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ladybugs are always good! They love the aphids.
Seven dust is a good all purpose insect killer that does not harm people (as long as you follow the instructions). It is inexpensive and works great for all garden woes, especially those horrid tomato worms. I am not sure whether or not Seven will hurt ladybugs, though. You want to save them if you can, but not at the expense of your garden.
2006-06-19 14:00:50 · answer #4 · answered by Rainbow 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
don't kill the lady bugs!!!! believe it or not they are most likely eating those little green caterpillars you mentioned.
First take a look and see if the caterpillars are actually eating your parsley. If not they might be the larvae of the lady bug.
I would give anything to have a large amount of lady bugs in my garden, they eat all the harmful bugs.
People around here go to the nurseries and buy lady bugs to put in their gardens because they are so beneficial.
2006-06-25 11:26:35 · answer #5 · answered by Laurie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
use an organic spray or find a repellent that is approved for plant and won't harm them. also, Ladybugs won't hurt your garden. I don't know about the moths, but there is probably something for them too. If you ever have problems with squirrels, use fertilizers.
2006-06-19 14:00:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure what to do about the caterpillars, but the ladybugs are harmless. Keep the ladybugs there, they're helping your garden!
2006-06-19 13:57:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cedar Wood is A natural repellent to many insects that invade gardens. You could also plant citronella as this is a natural insecticide.
2006-06-19 13:59:48 · answer #8 · answered by tattoo_rocker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plant Marigold flowers. They are a natural insect repellent.
(they may also make your vegetable garden look pretty)
2006-06-19 14:01:19 · answer #9 · answered by me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hand pick all the insects and get rid of them...a friend did that all last summer and had a beautiful garden.a good organic garden without all that pesticides.
2006-06-19 14:00:33 · answer #10 · answered by hector 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋