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2016 ORGANIC PEST CONTROL part 3 Posted on 5 Apr 06:04 , 1 comment




Mary's Heirloom Seeds

Do you have pesky bugs in the garden that eat your veggies and plants before you get to enjoy them? 
How about bugs in the house? 
We have SEVERAL Safe and Non-Toxic Solutions!

Part 1 we talked about Companion Planting

Part 2 we shared DIY recipes and Organic NEEM Oil


As with any form of organic growing, not every method works for everyone.  THIS is why we offer a multi-part series for organic pest control.
Today we're talking about Diatomaceous Earth 

Using Diatomaceous Earth for Non-Toxic, Natural Pest Control


When we had a booth at the local farmer's market, I offered a workshop for 10 Ways to Avoid Chemicals in Your Garden.  One option for non-toxic pest control is  Diatomaceous Earth (DE)


*VERY IMPORTANT*  We ONLY recommend using *FOOD GRADE DE* 
There is a huge difference between food grade DE and the stuff used for pools.  Any form of DE that list "other" as an ingredient is suspect. 
Diatomaceous Earth is a natural, organic garden pest control and household insect killer. Diatomaceous Earth kills by physical action, not chemical. If used properly, It is safe for pets and people. The tiny diatoms scratch off the insect's waxy coating, and dehydrate it. DE kills spiders, roaches, silverfish, ants, fire ants, carpenter ants, bedbugs, lice, mites, earwigs, flies, fleas, box elder bugs, pubic and hair lice, scorpions, crickets and harmful insects. Diatomaceous Earth is used in the home, yard, animal housing, etc. Sprinkle a 2 inch wide border around the foundation of your house to stop insects from entering. 
Diatomaceous Earth
kills aphids, white flies, beetles, loopers, mites, snails, slugs, leaf hoppers, and harmful pests. Use Diatomaceous Earth inside your home, greenhouse or outdoors on fruits, vegetables, flowers, grains and grass. Apply Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth up to and including day of harvest.

BEFORE you decide to use ANY form of pest control, it is important to read all of the information provided.  We went one step further and created a video

 

Tell those garden pests to EAT DIRT!
What is Diatomaceous Earth (DE)?  Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. 

How to Apply Diatomaceous Earth to your Veggie Garden:

-Fill a container (or applicator bottle) with diatomaceous earth. Avoid creating dust by using a spoon to transfer the powder to the container. Although diatomaceous earth is non-toxic, you should not breathe the fine dust. Consider wearing a disposable face mask if you will be working with large quantities of the powder or if you have respiratory issues.

-Sprinkle the powder onto the vegetable plants using a spoon OR use an applicator bottle to reduce dust. The best time to do this is in early morning or late evening, when the plants are wet with dew. The moisture helps the dust to adhere to the plant. Diatomaceous earth won't harm insects when it is wet, but it will be effective once it dries. Shake the powder on the vegetables as well as the leaves; the powder can be easily washed off the vegetables prior to consumption. 

-Apply the powder to the garden bed and to the area surrounding the garden. This will keep many crawling insects from even reaching the vegetable plants.

-Pour a thick ring of diatomaceous earth around the base of plants to deter snails, slugs and squash bugs.

**It is not recommended to use on flowers or flowering plants.  Example, Once your tomato plants begin to flower, use only on the stem and soil surrounding the plant. Never use DE on Milkweed or flower gardens. 


And there you have it! Non-Toxic and Natural Pest Control with  
Diatomaceous Earth from   Mary's Heirloom Seeds 
***Now Available with Applicator Bottle***

"The single greatest lesson the garden teaches is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum, and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we can, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world. "
Mary's Heirloom Seeds

Helpful Links:
Using Organic Neem Oil in the Garden

Region-Specific, Month-to-Month Planting Guide

Identify Common Garden Pests

Using Azomite for Healthy Plants


NEW SEEDS! 
Christmas Lima Bean

This heirloom lima bean was first cultivated in the United States around the year 1840 and is also known as "Large Speckled Calico" lima.
  
Red-Stipped Greasy Pole Bean


Appalachian heirloom. Also known as Striped Greasy Cut Short, although the seed is not squared off like a true cut short bean 
   
Dakota Black Popcorn
  

Beautiful 4½ in. ears, great flavor. 15 rows per ear. 6 ft. stalks, 1 ear per stalk, above-average pest resistance.


White Soul Wild Strawberry
If you want a vigorous perennial ground cover plant, grow Strawberry seeds!
These hardy perennials provide fresh strawberries in small spaces.
Mary's Heirloom Seeds, P. O. Box 3763, Ramona, CA 92065
We hope you have enjoyed yet another informative growing article here at Mary's Heirloom Seeds.  If you have additional questions please ask!

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Organic Pest Control Part 4 - Final Posted on 20 Jun 07:23 , 0 comments

Welcome to the final installment of our Organic Pest Control series at Mary's Heirloom Seeds.  We hope you have picked up a few new tips and tricks for your organic garden.  If you have additional questions, please ask.  Email us at mary@marysheirloomseeds.com

Mary's Heirloom Seeds
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June 19, 2015

As we said in Part 3,  "As with any form of organic growing, not every method works for everyone.  THIS is why we offer a multi-part series for organic pest control."

Here's a link to Our Videos for more info. 
If you have additional questions, please feel free to ask.
Organic Pest Control
Part 4   

In Part 1, we share about using Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth in the Garden.  We've used DE for years with success.


In Part 2, we shared detailed info about Companion Planting to reduce harmful pests in the garden and help boost crop yields with interplanting. We love Companion Planting!


Part 3 included Organic Pest Control Recipes that you can make yourself.  We also announce a product, Organic Neem Oil.  We also use Organic Neem Oil in our own garden.
About Neem Oil
The oil has a half life of three to 22 days in soil but only 45 minutes to four days in water. It is nearly non-toxic to birds, fish, bees and wildlife, and studies have shown no cancer or other disease causing results from its use. This makes neem oil very safe to use if applied properly.
Neem oil fungicide is useful against fungi, mildews and rusts when applied in a 1 percent solution.
Apply neem oil only in indirect light or in the evening to avoid the product burning foliage and allow the preparation to seep into the plant. Also, do not use neem oil in extreme temperatures, either too hot or too cold. Avoid application to plants that are stressed due to drought or over watering.


We have a few more tips for  
Organic Pest Control!
Floating Row Covers 
This translucent, white, porous polyester fabric acts as an insect barrier, while letting in up to 80 percent of the available light.You could keep the crop covered for its entire life span, although this isn't a good option for crops that require insect pollination.
Insecticidal soap contains unsaturated long-chain fatty acids (derived from animal fats) that dissolve the cuticle (skin) of insects. Insecticidal soaps are easy to make at home and can be made from completely organic ingredients.
To be effective, the insecticidal soap must come in contact with the insects while it's still liquid-it has no effect after it dries on the plants. Spray only on pests and try to avoid hitting beneficial insects with the spray.   
From Mother Earth News,
Slugs took top honors as the most bothersome pest in home gardens, with 55 percent of respondents saying the slimy critters give them trouble year after year. Handpicking was highly rated as a control measure (87 percent success rate), followed by iron phosphate baits (86 percent) and diatomaceous earth (84 percent). Opinion was divided on eggshell barriers (crushed eggshells sprinkled around plants), with a 33 percent failure rate among gardeners who had tried that slug control method. An easy home remedy that received widespread support was beer traps (80 percent success rate).
Squash bugs had sabotaged summer and winter squash for 51 percent of respondents, and even ducks couldn't solve a serious squash bug problem. Most gardeners reported using handpicking as their primary defense, along with cleaning up infested plants at season's end to interrupt the squash bug life cycle. The value of companion planting for squash bug management was a point of disagreement for respondents, with 21 percent saying it's the best control method and 34 percent saying it doesn't help. Of the gardeners who had tried it, 79 percent said spraying neem on egg clusters and juvenile squash bugs is helpful. About 74 percent of row cover users found them useful in managing squash bugs.
Gardeners named zinnias and borage as good companion plants for reducing hornworm problems.
Prevention in Key 
The easiest way to prevent insect damage in your garden is to discourage them from coming in the first place.  
A healthy garden is the best defense.
Pull out any weak plants. They may already be infected. If not, they will attract predators. Pull the plant and dispose of it away from the garden area.
Build healthy, organic soil. Natural composting methods, mulching and top-dressing your soil with compost or organic fertilizer is the best way to develop strong, vigorous plants.
Interplant and rotate crops. Insect pests are often plant specific. When plantings are mixed, pests are less likely to spread throughout a crop. Rotating crops each year is a common method to avoid re-infestation of pests which have over-wintered in the bed.

Disinfect.  If you've been working with infested plants, clean your tools before moving on to other garden areas. This will reduce the speed of invading insects.

Recent Articles:

Using Organic Neem Oil in the Garden

JUNE Seed Planting Guide for the US by Region


Mung Bean Sprout Tutorial

Benefits of Cayenne with Tincture Recipe
If you have additional questions please feel free to ask. 
Happy Planting,




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Using Diatomaceous Earth for Organic Pest Control Posted on 15 Jun 08:06 , 0 comments

Last year I offered a workshop for 10 Ways to Avoid Chemicals in Your Garden.   
One of my absolute favorite options for non-toxic pest control 
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE).  It is so safe you can eat it.  Seriously!

Diatomaceous Earth is a natural, organic garden pest control and household insect killer. Diatomaceous Earth kills by physical action, not chemical. It is safe for pets and people. The tiny diatoms scratch off the insect's waxy coating, and dehydrate it. DE kills spiders, roaches, silverfish, ants, fire ants, carpenter ants, bedbugs, lice, mites, earwigs, flies, fleas, ticks, box elder bugs, crabs(std), pubic and hair lice, scorpions, crickets and harmful insects. Diatomaceous Earth is used in the home, yard, animal housing, etc. Sprinkle a 2 inch wide border around the foundation of your house to stop insects from entering. 

Diatomaceous Earth kills aphids, white flies, beetles, loopers, mites, snails, slugs, leaf hoppers, and harmful pests. Use Diatomaceous Earth inside your home, greenhouse or outdoors on fruits, vegetables, grains and grass. Apply Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth up to and including day of harvest.

Click Here to see Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth in our Store

Are you ready for another amazing revelation?
Bugs can not become immune because they are killed by physical action, not chemical.  

Tell those garden pests to EAT DIRT!
 
What is Diatomaceous Earth (DE)?  Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. 
How to Apply Diatomaceous Earth to your Veggie Garden:
-Fill a shaker container with diatomaceous earth. Avoid creating dust by using a spoon to transfer the powder to the container. Although diatomaceous earth is non-toxic, you should not breathe the fine dust. Consider wearing a disposable face mask if you will be working with large quantities of the powder or if you have respiratory issues.
-Shake the powder onto the vegetable plants. The best time to do this is in early morning or late evening, when the plants are wet with dew. The moisture helps the dust to adhere to the plant. Diatomaceous earth won’t harm insects when it is wet, but it will be effective once it dries. Shake the powder on the vegetables as well as the leaves; the powder can be easily washed off the vegetables prior to consumption. 
-Apply the powder to the garden bed and to the area surrounding the garden. This will keep many crawling insects from even reaching the vegetable plants.
-Pour a thick ring of diatomaceous earth around the base of plants to deter snails, slugs and squash bugs.

**ONLY use FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth**
Avoid brands that list "Other" ingredients.  The stuff for pools is TOXIC!
DO NOT USE ON FLOWERS.  Do not use on flowering plants

 And there you have it! Non-Toxic and Natural Pest Control with Diatomaceous Earth from Mary's Heirloom Seeds.


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