Is spring really here? You need to keep a good eye on the weather. Remember last April’s freeze? If you haven’t planted tomatoes and peppers now is the time. Of course you might be planting them for the second or third time!
Of all the things that happen in vegetable gardens none are more frustrating than the sudden appearance of an unwanted bug. It will seem like Scotty beamed them down if you are not regularly scouting your garden. They chew, suck and bore into plants but they also spread disease. One such critter is the cucumber beetle. They come in spots, bands and stripes. They feed on leafs but can also spread some very serious destructive diseases. In most cases, once a plant has be infected it can not be cured.
A good crop rotation plan is the first step in controlling these pests. Scout the garden regularly and act at the first sign of an issue. Weapons to combat cucumber beetles include DE (Diatomaceous earth), pyrethrums, horticultural oils and soaps, hot pepper wax, Malathion and Sevin.
