Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Organic Garden?

I am noticing bite marks out of my green beans, yellow neck squash and cucumber plants. I don't notice any bugs other than ants. What kind of non-chemical pesticide/bug deterrent can I use?

3 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Depends on what is biting your plants... i had leaf hoppers putting small holes in my green beans as well...nothing you can do really with those...now if you have bean beatles, sorry to say that your in trouble...only non pesticide way of removing those is physically removing them by hand....

  • 1 decade ago

    For the average homeowner, organic gardener, or farmer Beneficial Nematodes offer the greatest value when it comes to biological control due to the wide variety of pests they control and how easy it is to get great results. Root weevil, European crane fly, grubs, ants, fleas, cut worm, over 250 soil dwelling pests that are so difficult to control using other methods are just a tasty mid afternoon snack for Beneficial Nematodes. Any pest that spends any part of it's life cycle in the soil falls prey, most before they enter their adult stage.

    Beneficial Nematodes are microscopic and live below the soil surface and like a moist environment. Looking like short non-segmented worms these voracious predators make their way through your lawn and garden looking for food. Nematodes do not harm worms, birds, plants or the environment, in fact they are part of the environment and are found the world over.

    When the nematode comes incontact with a pest the attack by entering through body openings or simply by boring through the body wall, once inside the Nematode will release a bacteria that kills it's host within 48 hours. They will feed and reproduce before exiting in search of fresh prey.

    Beneficial Nematodes are sold live on sponges that can be stored under refrigeration for a week or two before use. A few gallons of water is used as a carrying agent. This concentrate can be applied through a hose end sprayer, pump sprayer or with the use of a watering can. Container growers can mix a bucket full and dunk indivuial pots. Can be used inside on potted plants that have fungus gnat infestation. 1 million covers 3000 square feet, 6 million covers 1/4 acre, and 24 million covers 1 acre.

  • 1 decade ago

    Diatomaceous earth, Neem chips, tobacco, or cyan pepper.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.