Hey fellow gardeners! I'm relatively new to gardening (this is my first year) and I'm dealing with some pest issues. I planted my garden in Zone 5a on April 26th, and while I had some great initial yields of spinach, snow peas, and radishes, I'm now facing spider mites and squash bugs, especially on my green beans and zucchini. I really want to protect my pollinators and avoid using any harmful pesticides. Since it's August 17th now, I'm wondering when I should consider putting my garden to bed for the season after these infestations. Some folks have told me to just keep it going until there's nothing left, but I'm curious about others' experiences. Have any of you dealt with severe infestations, and how do you know when it's time to call it quits for the season?
3 Answers
I had a similar experience with my daikon radishes this year. They were great in the spring but bolted as soon as it got hot. I usually switch to summer crops when things heat up. It might help to plant some fall crops like more radishes or lettuces once the heat calms down a bit. Also, neem oil and copper sprays worked well for me this summer with all the humidity and pests, so that could be an option while keeping the pollinators in mind!
I totally get the struggle with pests. In my experience, weak or unhealthy plants are the first to go down. It might be worth considering a reset: cull the weaker plants and focus on what's thriving. Keep notes for next year! I've found that larger beds tend to do better than smaller ones. You want to create an environment that supports healthy growth. You can always try planting more resilient crops later in the season, just be mindful of your local climate and pest pressures!
I suggest you keep your spinach going as long as you can. It thrives in cooler weather, so you might still get some decent harvests. I grew radishes too, but once it got hot, they just bolted. If you’re dealing with pests like radishes focusing on leaves, it can sometimes keep them away from the other plants. If you have healthy plants, they'll likely be more resilient against the pests, but I understand if you feel it's time to move on after a bad infestation. Just remember, if you keep them healthy, they might surprise you!
Oh, and don't forget that radish pods are edible! If you let them flower, they’ll look beautiful too!