Pest Control – Wagon Hill Farm Community Garden

Colorado Potato Beetles-Not just for potatoes!

Colorado Potato Beetles are back in the garden. Here they are in all their stages. The best way to manage these is to put on a pair of gloves, pick them off your plants and squish them. Sorry, but these guys are resistant to just about every other method, including natural predators. They over winterContinue reading “Colorado Potato Beetles-Not just for potatoes!”

Tomato News

Well here I am again with more challenging news about the gardens. Tomato season is almost upon us. Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in our garden and very much anticipated. That’s why it’s disappointing to see some tomato problems starting. Just this week, my tomatoes began to exhibit Tomato Leaf Septoria. This diseaseContinue reading “Tomato News”

Salsa? Yes! Mexican Bean Beetles ? No!

I’m a fan of multiculturalism, diversity, ethnic cuisine, but my enthusiasm pales when it comes to Mexican Bean Beetles. This morning I was reveling in picking my first crop of green beans when I came face to face with a Mexican Bean Beetle. Darn! Here is a great picture of their life cycle and, yes,asContinue reading “Salsa? Yes! Mexican Bean Beetles ? No!”

Organic Pest Spray

This recipe for an organic pest spray comes from Strawbery Banke. We are suggesting it for use in the Community Garden and will welcome feedback on it’s effectiveness. Note that this spray will only work if it is applied frequently and reapplied after rain or heavy morning dew. Cornell Mix This is the organic pesticideContinue reading “Organic Pest Spray”

Pest ID. and Elimination

Dear Gardeners, Our gardens are all looking beautiful and are about to burst with fresh food. Just when we are starting to count our squash, tomatoes, beans etc. insect pests also arrive to enjoy the bounty. Here are several that I have seen in the garden. Squash Beetles: There are several varieties of squash beetle.Continue reading “Pest ID. and Elimination”

Notes From Ellen: Pest Control

Out at the garden today, I saw lots of cucumber beetles and my first squash beetle! UgH! I used a Tomato Vegetable Spray that has pyrethrum, an organic pesticide. It seemed to knock the beetles down. I sprayed and weeded and came back,–no beetles. However, I will have to keep spraying. If you do notContinue reading “Notes From Ellen: Pest Control”

Cucumber Beetles

Thanks to those of you who came out to help on Saturday’s work day. The gardens look beautiful and food is really starting to grow now that is finally warm. Unfortunately that also means that pests are beginning to find us too. The cucumber beetle has appeared in abundance. Here is some information about theseContinue reading “Cucumber Beetles”

Growing Sweetpotatoes in N.H.

Written by UNH Extension Specialist Becky Sideman (becky.sideman@unh.edu, 603-862-3203). Updated June 2013. Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) is a member of the morning glory (Convolvulaceae) family. The sweetpotato is not related to the Irish potato, which belongs to the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. Unlike potatoes, which are tubers, sweetpotatoes are roots. Growth Requirements To produce a crop, theContinue reading “Growing Sweetpotatoes in N.H.”

The Pests Have Arrived!

How do those bugs and blights find my garden so quickly? I am always amazed! As I learned this week at Dr. Cheryl Smith’s excellent presentation, they over winter in and around the gardens. The know a good thing and stick around. Right now we are already seeing evidence of the potato beetle. A matureContinue reading “The Pests Have Arrived!”