Bugs and bacteria update

Bugs

I discovered lots of june beetle husks by the big mulberry, and I pretty much find them all over the yard, but mainly near the big tree. Randomly I’ll find a husk on a plant in the garden, but they don’t seem to be coming out in as much force as they do near trees.

There seem to be two solutions, both of which are compatible with each other:

  1. Distribute nematodes which are small creatures that will burrow and kill off June beetle larva
  2. Attract beetle-killing wasps with the right kind of plants

I am reading up on wasps and so far the tulip poplar seems to be a good idea, as it attracts parasitic wasps. My perspective on wasps has changed completely now that I understand more about their role in the environment.

I am not sure to what extents the June bugs are harming local vegetation. They’re going somewhere to eat, that’s for sure. On the plus side, beetles aerate the soil when they burrow out.

Japanese beetles: No more sightings since I planted marigolds.

Bacteria

Some of the kale stems have started to rot. I was doing some reading and it may be due to a bacteria. I think the high temperatures and high moisture both contributed to excellent bacterial conditions. I hope that next year when the soil is more robust with higher concentrations of nutrients, fungus, etc, that the vegetables will be stronger.

Also next year I will be seeding directly into the soil. I am not going to use transplants as I have heard that transplants lose their “taproot” and although they can tolerate being transplanted, they are less robust against disease.

Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.