ARGH - aphids already?!

kimberlee 5/16/2012, 5:57 pm

On my TOMATO SEEDLINGS that I planned on planting in my new tomato raised bed tomorrow. Really?! Mother nature is cruel. Sad

I say aphids - I think that's what they are. They look just like aphids, but they're red. In past experience, my aphids weren't red, they were light tan. Maybe spider mites, although they're a little bigger.

I planned to plant today, but it was too hot and humid (for me) in MD today - tomorrow is supposed to be mid-70's and low humidity. Should I spray them and hold off planting for a few days? They've been hardening off for 9 days now.

GOSH this makes me mad.

happycamper 5/16/2012, 6:25 pm

To make you feel better I have tons of aphids on my overwintered Kale that is going to seed. I just looked at them and found 3 lady bugs and a small bird snacking on them (the aphids that is). It appears that they are only on the Kale at this time and it will be pulled as soon as the seed is ready. I don't have any suggestions since I don't spray anything on my tomato plants. Some people have used Neem oil or BT for pests on the forum, maybe someone else will have some suggestions for you with what you can do for those poor tomatoes. Best of luck.

**rowena___.** 5/16/2012, 6:31 pm

i make a "tea" of crushed garlic in water, let it steep overnight, then strain into a spray bottle. dilute this a bit if it seems really strong, add ONE drop of plain liquid soap, and spray any affected plants, top and bottom of leaves. try not to spray the flowers, and try not to spray any beneficial insects or spiders.

**camprn** 5/16/2012, 7:14 pm

rowena___. wrote:i make a "tea" of crushed garlic in water, let it steep overnight, then strain into a spray bottle. dilute this a bit if it seems really strong, add ONE drop of plain liquid soap, and spray any affected plants, top and bottom of leaves. try not to spray the flowers, and try not to spray any beneficial insects or spiders.

I prefer to spray things in the garden in the evening to avoid injuring any of the beneficial insects or critters, particularly the bees. Very Happy

moswell 5/16/2012, 7:39 pm

I feel your pain, I noticed them this morning as well. I saw them on my very happily growing snap peas and on my tomato seedlings. This afternoon I placed an order online for some ladybugs. No more experimenting with homemade concoctions for me after last year's disastrous spraying. Very Happy

BetsyC 5/16/2012, 8:26 pm

That's a MEAN trick, isn't it, to have aphids already? I do, too. I've got my 'sta home lady beetles' coming next week, and I hope they help!

kimberlee 5/17/2012, 9:04 am

moswell wrote:I feel your pain, I noticed them this morning as well. I saw them on my very happily growing snap peas and on my tomato seedlings. This afternoon I placed an order online for some ladybugs. No more experimenting with homemade concoctions for me after last year's disastrous spraying.

I'm afraid to ask what your disaster was last year. I found a recipe to make a spray with 1T pure soap to 1Q water. And you can add a little light cooking oil to help it stick longer, and garlic or pepper to repel the chewers.

moswell 5/17/2012, 9:12 am

kimberlee wrote:
moswell wrote:I feel your pain, I noticed them this morning as well. I saw them on my very happily growing snap peas and on my tomato seedlings. This afternoon I placed an order online for some ladybugs. No more experimenting with homemade concoctions for me after last year's disastrous spraying.

I'm afraid to ask what your disaster was last year. I found a recipe to make a spray with 1T pure soap to 1Q water. And you can add a little light cooking oil to help it stick longer, and garlic or pepper to repel the chewers.

See this thread. Very Happy

In the end, I think the recipe I got involved way too much oil, and not the right kind of soap. But I don't want to take a chance. My plants aren't showing too much damage from aphids just yet (fingers crossed), so I'm going to wait for the ladybugs to arrive.

**RoOsTeR** 5/17/2012, 9:53 am

kimberlee wrote:
moswell wrote:I feel your pain, I noticed them this morning as well. I saw them on my very happily growing snap peas and on my tomato seedlings. This afternoon I placed an order online for some ladybugs. No more experimenting with homemade concoctions for me after last year's disastrous spraying.

I'm afraid to ask what your disaster was last year. I found a recipe to make a spray with 1T pure soap to 1Q water. And you can add a little light cooking oil to help it stick longer, and garlic or pepper to repel the chewers.

Is that 1 tablespoon? That sounds a bit excessive for a quart of water. I would think no more than a drop or maybe two for a qrt.

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