I'm new to vegetable gardening and I've just started noticing some pests like larvae attacking my plants. What's the best way to keep them away and protect my crops from being ruined? I'm open to any tips or strategies! So far, I've been manually removing larvae and trying out Captain Jack's spray. What do you all recommend?
2 Answers
When I had green caterpillars munching on my kale, I found that using Monterey B.T. really helped. It's been effective for me! Just be cautious as I think it is a type of pesticide. You might want to research it first if you're concerned about using chemicals.
The best method really varies depending on the type of pest. For instance, I plant cabbage and similar veggies under row covers to keep cabbage whites from laying eggs. Squash borers can be tougher; I usually cover young plants and for mature ones, I wrap the stems with vet wrap and do a little 'surgery' to remove any grubs I find. Plus, I handpick tomato worms and feed them to my gecko! Creating a bird and butterfly garden next to my veggies has also brought in helpful predators that keep pests in check.