worms question

[Gail Stapleton]

Hi all!  Did anyone reply to Linda about her worms question?  I’m having a similar problem – only my problem is with butternut squash as well as tomatoes.  These may not be exactly the same “worm”.  I’m wondering if mine is a pickleworm just because of the time of year and the fact that it excretes this disgusting looking stuff that gets all over the fruit!  My main question is how to control them in advance, since once the damage is done it’s done.  I have been keeping a closer eye on my brussel sprouts and have seen a few worms that I have just picked off.  But with the squash and tomatoes I don’t see the worm until it has already dug into the fruit. 

 

Also, I have a question about asparagus.  This is the second year mine is in the ground, and it is not doing as well this year as last.  It’s already starting to yellow and die back; much earlier than last year.  I’ve been keeping it watered and fed it a couple of times this summer with fish emulsion.  I don’t see any major insects on it – but it just looks pitiful.  Any ideas?

 

Please reply to the group – I enjoy reading the questions but also the answers!

 

Thanks,

 

Gail

 

[Ann Ward]

Gail,

 

I'm not very good at answering questions but it does sound as if you have an infestation of pickleworm. Unfortunately, I've not been able to find any organic solution to the pest after they have gotten inside the fruit. I would think that spraying with Bt  earlier might prevent some of the damage. You should be able to see the larva at the base of the flower. This would require being very vigilant. Planting your crops as early as possible helps, also, since the earlier crops don't seem to have the problem.

 

As for the asparagus, I can only guess. My asparagus looks great still. I think it's too early for it to be going "dormant". That usually doesn't happen until we get into the cooler months. My guess would be that you might have overwatered and have some root rot. That will cause the fronds to yellow and die back. Maybe someone else with more experience can be more helpful.

 

I'm really glad to see this group being more active.

Ann

 

 

[Susan Sebotnick]

Oh no...  Do pickleworms affect brussel sprouts?  We just planted some...  

Thanks!
S.

[Gail Stapleton]

I don’t think it’s the same worm in my brussel sprouts – that one is probably a cabbage worm.   Be sure to check your brussel sprouts on a regular basis and look underneath the leaves and inside the growing tip – that’s where I found them!  Luckily the damage isn’t too bad and I’ve just been picking them off.  I’ve also had aphids on my brussel sprouts and broccoli this year that I have just sprayed off.  I’ll be interested to hear how your brussel sprouts do.  I tried them last year for the first time and had no success at all.  This year they look much better, so I am keeping my fingers crossed!

 

One other question….  (I’m full of them)….  I am volunteering with an organic teaching garden for elementary school aged kids.  We will be planting our crops soon (I think we have some spinach, lettuce, carrot seeds, and herbs) and we need to do something with our soil.  With no soil test and no compost bin, what would you guys put on the soil before we plant?  I was thinking about buying a pelletized all-purpose organize fertilizer at Lowes or something, but was just curious if any of you had other thoughts.

 

Thanks!

 

Gail

[Eliza Holcombe]

The worms on brussels sprouts would be cabbage looper moths or cabbage
white butterflies. Those 2 attack cole crops like cabbage, brussels
sprouts, and broccoli.

On cucumbers it is either pickleworm or melonworm, which are very
closely related moth species that look almost the same.

For all of those the best organic control is prevention. For cole crops
you can use a lightweight floating row cover like this:

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/floating-row-cover.html

That doesn't work as well for crops that need to be pollinated, because
the row covers keep out pest insects AND beneficial pollinators. If you
have a small amount of cucumbers and don't mind pollinating by hand
(paint the flowers with a small paintbrush) you can use a row cover.
Otherwise, try a Bt formulation for caterpillars and pick off cucumbers
as soon as you see holes appear. Make sure NOT to compost the wormy
pieces unless you have killed the caterpillars.

Another thing that can help is planting flowers that attract wasps near
these crops. Wasps and yellow jackets eat a lot of caterpillars and then
they go back to the nest to tell their siblings where they found the
caterpillars. When you see wasps and yellow jackets hovering over your
crops they are usually hunting caterpillars. Fennel blooms are the best
wasp attractant I know of, but other flowers in the same family such as
dill and parsley also do a good job. Make sure to cut the blooms when
they start to turn into seeds, wasps are only attracted to the nectar in
fresh flowers. Fresh fennel flowers look shiny/sticky and have tiny
yellow petals.

Eliza

Gail Stapleton wrote:
>
> I don’t think it’s the same worm in my brussel sprouts – that one is
> probably a cabbage worm. Be sure to check your brussel sprouts on a
> regular basis and look underneath the leaves and inside the growing
> tip – that’s where I found them! Luckily the damage isn’t too bad and
> I’ve just been picking them off. I’ve also had aphids on my brussel
> sprouts and broccoli this year that I have just sprayed off. I’ll be
> interested to hear how your brussel sprouts do. I tried them last year
> for the first time and had no success at all. This year they look much
> better, so I am keeping my fingers crossed!
>
> One other question…. (I’m full of them)…. I am volunteering with an
> organic teaching garden for elementary school aged kids. We will be
> planting our crops soon (I think we have some spinach, lettuce, carrot
> seeds, and herbs) and we need to do something with our soil. With no
> soil test and no compost bin, what would you guys put on the soil
> before we plant? I was thinking about buying a pelletized all-purpose
> organize fertilizer at Lowes or something, but was just curious if any
> of you had other thoughts.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Gail
>

> *From:* upstatesc...@googlegroups.com
> [mailto:upstatesc...@googlegroups.com] *On Behalf Of *Susan
> Sebotnick
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 10, 2009 12:32 AM
> *To:* gra...@charter.net; upstateSC...@googlegroups.com
> *Subject:* UpstateSC_Gardeners Re: worms question

>
> Oh no... Do pickleworms affect brussel sprouts? We just planted some...
>
> Thanks!
> S.
>
>
> On 9/10/09 12:21 AM, "Ann Ward" <gra...@charter.net> wrote:
>
> Gail,
>
> I'm not very good at answering questions but it does sound as if you
> have an infestation of pickleworm. Unfortunately, I've not been able
> to find any organic solution to the pest after they have gotten inside
> the fruit. I would think that spraying with Bt earlier might prevent
> some of the damage. You should be able to see the larva at the base of
> the flower. This would require being very vigilant. Planting your
> crops as early as possible helps, also, since the earlier crops don't
> seem to have the problem.
>
> As for the asparagus, I can only guess. My asparagus looks great
> still. I think it's too early for it to be going "dormant". That
> usually doesn't happen until we get into the cooler months. My guess
> would be that you might have overwatered and have some root rot. That
> will cause the fronds to yellow and die back. Maybe someone else with
> more experience can be more helpful.
>
> I'm really glad to see this group being more active.
> Ann
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>

> *From:* Gail Stapleton <mailto:ga...@ggc.org>
>
> *To:* upstatesc...@googlegroups.com
>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 09, 2009 4:22 PM
>
> *Subject:* UpstateSC_Gardeners worms question

[Eliza Holcombe]

I agree with everything Ann said about Bt and early cucurbit crops
(cucumber, squash, etc.) If planted early, the pests & diseases for
these crops do seem to show up after the plants have had a chance to
give a good harvest.

I'm not sure about the asparagus, but Ann's guess seems good. You might
take a clipping to the Clemson Extension office to see if they can tell
you more.

Eliza

Ann Ward wrote:
> Gail,
>
> I'm not very good at answering questions but it does sound as if you
> have an infestation of pickleworm. Unfortunately, I've not been able
> to find any organic solution to the pest after they have gotten inside
> the fruit. I would think that spraying with Bt earlier might prevent
> some of the damage. You should be able to see the larva at the base of
> the flower. This would require being very vigilant. Planting your
> crops as early as possible helps, also, since the earlier crops don't
> seem to have the problem.
>
> As for the asparagus, I can only guess. My asparagus looks great
> still. I think it's too early for it to be going "dormant". That
> usually doesn't happen until we get into the cooler months. My guess
> would be that you might have overwatered and have some root rot. That
> will cause the fronds to yellow and die back. Maybe someone else with
> more experience can be more helpful.
>
> I'm really glad to see this group being more active.
> Ann
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----

> *From:* Gail Stapleton <mailto:ga...@ggc.org>
> *To:* upstatesc...@googlegroups.com

> <mailto:upstatesc...@googlegroups.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 09, 2009 4:22 PM
> *Subject:* UpstateSC_Gardeners worms question

[Linda]

So that's why I have a yellow jacket nest near my garden! I would have
never have guessed that the worms in my garden was a food source for them.

Thanks!

Linda

-----Original Message-----
From: upstatesc...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:upstatesc...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Eliza Holcombe
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:28 AM
To: upstatesc...@googlegroups.com
Subject: UpstateSC_Gardeners Re: worms question

> I don't think it's the same worm in my brussel sprouts - that one is

> probably a cabbage worm. Be sure to check your brussel sprouts on a
> regular basis and look underneath the leaves and inside the growing

> tip - that's where I found them! Luckily the damage isn't too bad and

> I've just been picking them off. I've also had aphids on my brussel
> sprouts and broccoli this year that I have just sprayed off. I'll be
> interested to hear how your brussel sprouts do. I tried them last year
> for the first time and had no success at all. This year they look much
> better, so I am keeping my fingers crossed!
>

> One other question.. (I'm full of them).. I am volunteering with an

> her worms question? I'm having a similar problem - only my problem is

> with butternut squash as well as tomatoes. These may not be exactly
> the same "worm". I'm wondering if mine is a pickleworm just because of
> the time of year and the fact that it excretes this disgusting looking
> stuff that gets all over the fruit! My main question is how to control
> them in advance, since once the damage is done it's done. I have been
> keeping a closer eye on my brussel sprouts and have seen a few worms
> that I have just picked off. But with the squash and tomatoes I don't
> see the worm until it has already dug into the fruit.
>
>
>
> Also, I have a question about asparagus. This is the second year mine
> is in the ground, and it is not doing as well this year as last. It's
> already starting to yellow and die back; much earlier than last year.
> I've been keeping it watered and fed it a couple of times this summer

> with fish emulsion. I don't see any major insects on it - but it just
> looks pitiful. Any ideas?
>
>
>
> Please reply to the group - I enjoy reading the questions but also the
> answers!
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Gail
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >

[Bill Cox]

Hi All,

Wow!  I'm not much of a veggie gardener but I sure did learn alot from ya'll--thanks so much for the info!  I like to read the answers too!  This is a fun spot! Thanks, Liz--Mauldin 

----- Original Message -----

From: Gail Stapleton