Re: Are these mites on my cukes? (photo)

dstack 11/26/2013, 4:50 am

There was one time when mint made a difference. I have some pepper plants in a pot that were infested with tiny mites or aphids under the leaves. But this was while I was so busy with buiding the cinder block bases for the SFG boxes, and I just never got around to spraying those leaves. But I had just happened to move my potted chocolate mint and sweet mint plants next to the pepper. Weeks later after the dust settled, I checked the pepper and those bugs were GONE! I still have a little trouble there with white flies, but not those other bugs. What I don't get is why did it work the peppers and not anything else? It must either be that these mint plants are much more mature and potent, or the bugs that the pepper plant attracted are just less tolerant of mint.

dstack 12/2/2013, 10:05 am

I've pulled up both my cukes and zukes and starting over with new seedlings. It's kind of sad, but I'm curious to see if I have any better success, or will these meet the same fate. I actually harvested some nice zukes before they became infected and halted production.

Pox 12/2/2013, 10:29 am

I've been hitting the cukes with Neem for the last week or so. I'm cautiously optimistic that I'm having a positive effect. Really too soon to tell though. Next few weeks will let me know if I should give up or not. Hoping for the best.

dstack 12/2/2013, 8:32 pm

Pox wrote:I've been hitting the cukes with Neem for the last week or so. I'm cautiously optimistic that I'm having a positive effect. Really too soon to tell though. Next few weeks will let me know if I should give up or not. Hoping for the best.

Do you know the name of the variety that you've planted? I'm glad you responded. I made my update hoping that you'd notice. I made an interesting discovery the other day when I looked at the date that I took this picture below. It was JUNE 17, 2010! I actually harvested a couple of good summer cukes before white flies destroyed the vines. I thought I'd have better luck growing them in the Fall/Winter, but this was a shocker. I'm also interested in experimenting with different varieties.

Are these mites on my cukes? (photo) - Page 2 Cucumb10

Are these mites on my cukes? (photo) - Page 2 Cucumb10

Please keep me updated, and let's figure out how to grow cukes in S. Florida! Are these mites on my cukes? (photo) - Page 2 3170584802

Pox 12/2/2013, 8:38 pm

I planted Straight 8, Dasher, Ashley, and Marketmore. Really don't see much difference in resistance between them.

dstack 12/2/2013, 9:09 pm

There was one other factors in those 2010 cukes. At the time I was living off of A1A in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea where we lived on one of the waterways. I wonder if that sea breeze has any effect on the pests that I've been dealing with. I don't recall dealing with them then other than the white fly.

**sanderson** 12/2/2013, 11:41 pm

So you have white flies. Is anything working to knock them down? I tried Marketmore and Straight 8 and only got one cucumber. I'll try one more time. At least I have already bought an assortment package of hair artist-brushes. I used the largest for the spaghetti squash and what a difference they make. Stupid bees.

dstack 12/3/2013, 5:53 am

I'm always going to have a white fly problem with all of the ficus in our neighbors yard. I control them with my neem oil sprays.

**jimmy cee** 12/3/2013, 8:20 am

camprn wrote:
dstack wrote:
camprn wrote:aphids<~~~click

whiteflies<~~~click

leaf mites
I'm quite familiar with that white fly and what that looks like. We have a huge white fly problem here, and I control them in my garden with a neem oil spray. The aphids I have appeared so quickly! I almost have to inspect the leaves every day.
Posting photos of all the insects mentioned in this thread, as well as informational links, was for the benefit of all the readers of the SFG Forum. I am glad you have identified your current pest. Good luck with getting rid of the infestation.

Is there a sticky with photo's for all bugs that forum users have problems with ?
I'm thinking that would be an excellent aid if not.

dstack 12/3/2013, 8:53 am

I like that idea!

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