Organics...What Are They And How Can They Help You In The Garden?
| Organics...What Are They And How Can They Help You In The Garden? |
. | . | . | . | . |
Not everything that is marked "organic" on the garden center shelves is "safe," "non-toxic," or without environmental consequences, and some seemingly "natural" products are, in fact, laboratory-manufactured versions of another product that is organic. |
For those of you who grew up in the "DDT Age," reaching for a can of insecticide may feel like treachery if you’re an organic gardener. Luckily there are many options to the more toxic sprays and powders on the market, but before using any of these, be aware that a good pest control regime begins with good cultural methods. These include using cultivars well-adapted to our climate, keeping the garden clean, and conducting regular inspections of plant material to check for insect and disease activity. For many organic gardeners, physical barriers, such as "floating row covers" that shield plants from egg-laying adult insects, prevent some of the worst infestations from occurring. Hand-picking of insects or spraying with a jet of water from the hose is also effective. Biological controls are another means of keeping the insects at bay. These include the release of beneficial insects, such as lady bugs and praying mantis, or spraying a microbial insecticide such as BT (Bacillus thuringiensis), a bacteria that paralyzes the digestive tract of leaf-devouring caterpillars. Not everything that is marked "organic" on the garden center shelves is "safe," "non-toxic," or without environmental consequences, and some seemingly "natural" products are, in fact, laboratory-manufactured versions of another product that is organic. Pyrethrin, a natural insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum family, has a number of synthetically manufactured "cousins" such as resmethrins and permethrins. Thus, there are true "organics" and then there are products that are, for lack of a better term, "earth friendly." New products to look out for include those that use hot pepper wax, or—get ready—castor oil, to act as a taste deterrent for insect and "furry" pests such as rabbits and moles. BT, which has been on the market longer, is also among the "safest" products because it is highly specific to the target insect (those lovely green worms on your broccoli, for example) and may be sprayed up to the day of harvest. Pyrethrins, as mentioned above, are organically derived, and work by attacking the central nervous system of any insect who has the bad fortune to come into contact with it. Insecticidal soap is another broad spectrum contact insecticide, and, increasingly, pyrethrins and insecticidal soap appear together in the same spray or concentrate. Both are safe to use up until the day of harvest. Neem oil, from the neem tree of India, is another true "organic" which has both the properties of an insecticide and a fungicide, thus it is great to use on disease-prone roses and on other ornamentals. Finally, for those of you plagued by slugs, nothing could be more "natural" than diatomaceous earth, made of fossilized algae shells. Many of these products come in a variety of forms—stop in for advice ! |
 |
    |