Flea Beetles on my Eggplants

ander217 5/3/2010, 7:26 pm

I just checked my garden and noticed that my three eggplants are covered in flea beetles. I usually had a few when I planted row-style, and the beetles seem to have had no trouble in making the conversion to SFG, too.

My plants have usually recovered in the past, but there seems to be an unusually heavy crop of them this year.

I found all sorts of suggestions online - spray with garlic spray, sprinkle coffee grounds around plants, spread chopped mint, tomato, elderberry, bergamot, chopped clover or catnip leaves around plants, put toads around the plants... has anyone tried any of these with success?

Thanks for any help.
LeAnn

**camprn** 5/3/2010, 10:23 pm

I have not had experience with this pest so I've no practical advice, however there is this. I like the idea of trap plants. Good luck, keep us posted.

ander217 5/4/2010, 7:02 am

I also read some recommendations for trap plants, which included radishes and mustard. The trouble is, I have both of those growing in my row-garden right next to the box where I planted my eggplant, and the beasties don't seem interested at all in them. I may have one of the beetle types that are plant-specific. I did find one article which said that daikon and snow belle radishes are the preferred trap crops and I'm growing cherry belle and German Giant parat radishes, so maybe that makes the difference.

Strangely enough, the beetles are really going after the large Black Beauty eggplant that I bought at Wal-Mart, while the Ping Tung Long and Rosa eggplants that I grew from seed have fewer insects on them in spite of the fact that they are much smaller plants, and it's usually the smaller ones that sustain the most damage.

I noticed a few were hopping over to my nearby pepper plants, too.

HawaiiAl 5/7/2010, 2:10 am

get yourself some neem oil and Ivory dish soap. Mix 1 teaspoon soap to 7 1/2 mil of neem oil to a quart of water, mix real good spray your plants for three days in a row, then once a week. should take care of your problems.

ander217 5/7/2010, 9:22 am

Thanks. I'm unfamiliar with neem oil. What is it, and does it go by a commercial name? I need to find some pronto.

When I checked my Black Beauty yesterday its name should have been changed to "Black with Beetles".

ander217 5/7/2010, 9:24 am

Oh, I also meant to ask you, why Ivory? Is there a reason to use that particular brand of dish soap?

nancy 5/7/2010, 9:36 am

I've also seen Ivory suggested - I believe it's because it's so gentle. And it's actually soap, rather than detergent.

HawaiiAl 5/7/2010, 1:12 pm

yes on the gentle ivory willl not hurt your plants. neem oil is sold as neem oil one name brand is Dyna-Gro. most garden supply carry it, works very well for a natural bug killer.

nancy 5/7/2010, 1:53 pm

It is supposed to storm later tonite, so I assume I should not apply the neem oil potion today. Would it be a wasted effort? I'm also secretly hoping it takes care of my ant problem, too! Thanks so much for the recipe! Oh, I'm going to spray my roses, too. Those aphids days are numbered! Woo hoo! Flea Beetles on my Eggplants Icon_biggrin

ander217 5/8/2010, 7:53 am

Thanks a bunch, HawaiiAl. You've taught this old dog a new trick today.

Megan 6/19/2010, 7:23 am

Would castille soap (Dr. Bronners) work instead of Ivory?

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