Asparagus beetles out of control

Larraine Winkler 7/28/2015, 11:09 am

After my main crop of asparagus this spring, I noticed the beetles, started squishing by hand. That seemed to control them for a while, but then I had to leave town for a while and when I came back they were everywhere. Hand picking is out of the question -- too many and too hard to get. The ferns are quite high now and so thick that I can't easily get to either the ground (I've read about the soapy water dish method) or the middle of the patch. I fear I need to go the pesticide route, but wanted to find out: (1) will our severe Minneapolis winter kill them so I can be more vigilant next season; (2) if they won't die in the winter, what is my best chemical alternative; (3) should I cut down the ferns now or wait until spring as I did last year? I need advice from those who have experienced this problem and overcome it.

Marc Iverson 7/28/2015, 6:52 pm

Just a note: besides chemicals as a way to deal with them, there are also traps of various kinds.

**camprn** 7/28/2015, 11:24 pm

An organic insecticide, Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew(spinosad) is OMRI listed and a small amount is very effective.

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Asparagus beetles out of control

Asparagus beetles out of control

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Re: Asparagus beetles out of control


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