Sustainable Vegetable Gardening II II Garden Planning and Basic - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Sustainable Vegetable Gardening II II

Garden Planning and Basic Sustainable Practices

Presented by Jean Meink, Jannell Bryant, Amye Foelsch, Don Peschka, Thomas Bolles

Housekeeping Recap

• Evaluations
• Asking Questions
• Presentations & Handouts
• www.mgpw.org/index.php/gardening-information/sustainable-vegetable-garden-series-

class-notes

• Videos
• www.mgpw.org/index.php/gardening-information/resources
• Double-Digging, Simple Fencing Example for Raised Beds, Turning a Compost Pile
• Compost Publications:
• pubs.ext.vt.edu/HORT/HORT-49/HORT-49-PDF.pdf
• pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-703/426-703_pdf.pdf
• pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-005/442-005_pdf.pdf (Vermiculture)
• Prince William County Compost
• www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/publicworks/trash/Pages/Compost.aspx
• Call 703-335-8181 for pricing
• Companion Planting: Basic Concepts & Resources (ATTRA)
• attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=72

2

Questions fr from SVG1

• We have a lot of crabgrass and weeds, is that a

problem using the clippings in the garden? Possibly

• What’s the best way to get rid of Bermuda grass?

Repeated applications of Glyphosate to start a new bed; hand pull invaders creeping into an established bed

• Can I use vinegar as a spray to stop bugs on my

plants? No – vinegar can harm your plants

• Can I use egg shells to plant starters? No.
• Can you recommend something to buy to test your
• wn soil? Lab tests are much more reliable.

3

Questions fr from SVG1

• When buying seeds are there certain ones better

than others – i.e. organic? Depends on what “better” is.

• How do I keep bunnies out of my plants? Fencing
• Small scale composting tumblers vs. bins – tumblers

are less efficient – worms might be a better option

• Vermiculture – VCE Pub & lots of good books, see Brenda
• How did the chickpeas grow? They did alright– the

squirrels seemed to enjoy them

4

Questions fr from SVG1

• More detail on raised beds and orientation to the sun –
• rient so that you get as much sun for as much of the day as

possible, an E-W orientation is more common than N-S

• Growing Wheat for Bread – Pub 424-024 Bread Wheat in VA
• Starting seeds – more of an advanced topic, see SVG 2

presentation from 2015 on MGPW.org

• More information on smaller suburban gardens – Principles

in this class series apply to all gardens

• More detail on starting in the spring – we get into that today

6

Planning Your Garden – What to Plant and When

• Plant Families and Crop Rotation
• Vegetable Planting Calendar and Succession

Planting

• Garden Journaling

7

8

Vegetable Families

• Legumes *
• beans, peas
• Crucifers *
• broccoli, radish
• Cucurbits *
• cucs, squash
• Solanaceous *
• tomato, pepper
• Umbels
• carrot, parsnip, cilantro,

dill

• Alliums
• onions, garlic, shallot
• Chenopods
• spinach, beet, chard
• Composites *
• lettuce, artichoke,

endive, greens

• Grasses *
• corn, cover crop grains

* Rotate every year, 3-4 year cycle

Legumes

Members

• Peas
• Cowpeas
• Snap beans
• Dry beans
• Soybeans
• Clovers
• Vetches
• Fava beans
• Winter peas
• Alfalfa

Characteristics

• Fixes Nitrogen in Soil
• Stimulates beneficial soil
• rganisms
• Uses Phosphorus and

Manganese

• Follow a “heavy feeder”
• Tomatoes
• Corn

Crucifers/Brassicas

Members

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Collards
• Brussels sprouts
• Kale
• Mustard
• Chinese cabbage
• Radish
• Rutabaga
• Turnips

Characteristics

• Prone to Club Root disease
• Pests: Cabbage Loopers,

Imported Cabbage Worms, Harlequin bugs

• Good Cover Crop for

Nematode control

• Radishes and Mustards are

good early trap crops

• Cool Season

Curcurbits

Members

• Cucumber
• Squash
• Melon
• Gourd
• Pumpkin

Characteristics

• Pests: Squash bugs,

Squash Borers, Cucumber Beetles (spotted and striped)

• Diseases: Bacterial Wilt

(mainly cucs and melons)

• Generally warm season

Solanaceous

Members

• Tomato
• Pepper
• Eggplant
• Potato
• Tomatillo

Characteristics

• Heavy N feeders – follow

legumes?

• Pests
• Tomatoes: Horned Worm?
• Potatoes: Colorado Potato

Beetle

• Tomatillos & Eggplants:

Flea Beetles

• Diseases – Blights, Fusarium

Wilt, Verticillium Wilt, Root Knot Nematodes

13

Grasses

• Corn
• Cover grains
• Wheat
• Barley
• Oats
• Rye

Corn, dent: Bloody Butcher, VA heirloom

Composites

• Lettuce
• Endive
• Jerusalem artichoke
• Sunflower
• Artichoke

15

Chenopods

• Spinach
• Beets
• Chard
• Quinoa
• Lambs Quarters

16

Alliums

• Onions
• Garlic
• Chives
• Shallots
• Leeks

17

Umbels

• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Parsley
• Celery
• Celeriac
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Fennel

Crop Rotation

• One of agriculture’s oldest cultural practices
• Change planting location of vegetables within the

garden each season.

• Benefits:
• Interrupts disease cycles
• Keeps insect numbers low
• Prevents depletion of nutrients, helps manage soil

fertility

• Soil microorganisms benefit the MOST from crop

rotation

Penn State Rotation

Peas Beans Corn Squash Pumpkins Nightshades Tomatoes Peppers Potatoes Greens Cabbage Broccoli Lettuce SWEET POTATOES

Small Scale Garden Options

• Grow one family per year
• Use a Soil Balancing Rotation
• Heavy Feeders – Tomatoes, Corn, Leafy crops
• deplete Nitrogen (N) & Phosphorus (P)
• Root Veggies are light Feeders
• Beans add N but use P
• Use Succession Planting
• Use Cover Crops to deter pests and improve soil

Vegetable Planting Calendar

21

“Days to Maturity” on Seed Labels

• Occasionally this means the average number of days

after germination

• Usually means the average number of days from

planting to the first harvestable veg

• If you plant Cabernet (22d) radishes on 3/1, you can expect

they will be harvestable on 3/23

• If you plant Amy’s Apricot (74d) tomatoes on 3/1, you can

expect your 1st ripe tomatoes on 5/14

• Remember “maturity” is relative in some plants – is a

pepper mature at green, red or purple stage?

22

“Days to Maturity” on Seed Labels

• Can vary from what’s listed on the seed pack due to:
• Transplant shock
• Soil temperature at planting/transplanting
• Air temperature
• Solar exposure
• Rainfall
• Fertility
• For information on how to tell if common veggies are

ready to pick see:

www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/pdf/hgic1262.pdf

23

Planting Calendar (p (partial)

P P = = pla plant in gar arden: see seeds or

• r see

seedlin ings H H = = har harvest * = = start indoors s (Ti (Timing is s on

• n the ba

back pa page of

• f the cale

lendar)

Month

March April May June

Date

1 11 21 31 10 20 30 10 20 30 9 19 29

Crop Turnips P H Potatoes P H Beets P H Cabbage* P H Carrots P H Lettuce, bibb P H Lettuce, leaf P H Broccoli* P H Brussels sprouts* P H Cauliflower* P H Beans, bush P P&H Beans, pole P Corn, sweet P P&H Cucumbers P P&H Eggplant* P 24

Planting Calendar - Brassicas

Month March April May June Date 1 11 21 31 10 20 30 10 20 30 9 19 29

Radish P P&H H Turnips P H Broccoli* P H Cabbage* P H

Source: BonniePlants.com

Radish Plant from 1 March through mid-April Harvest mid-March through early June Turnip Plant in March Harvest from April until early June Cabbage Start seeds 1 February through mid-March Plant seedlings mid-March through the end of April Harvest mid-May through early July Broccoli Start seeds mid-February through mid-March Plant seedlings late March through early May Harvest June through early July Remember  Weather, local micro-climate and variety can all effect these dates

25

Succession Planting - Seasonal

• Getting the most out of each bed
• 4 Beds – By Family

March April May June July August September October November December January February 1 11 21 31 10 20 30 10 20 30 9 19 29 9 19 29 8 18 28 7 17 27 7 17 27 9 19 29 8 18 28 7 17 27 7 17 27 Garden Peas Bush Beans Cover Crops – Rye/Clover Brassicas Cover Crops - Buckwheat Brassicas Rye/Daikon(?) Rye/Clover Sweet Corn Rye/Clover Rye/Clover Tomatoes and Peppers Clover/Diakon/Rye

• 1 Bed mixed families:

March April May June July August September October November December January February 1 11 21 31 10 20 30 10 20 30 9 19 29 9 19 29 8 18 28 7 17 27 7 17 27 9 19 29 8 18 28 7 17 27 7 17 27 Brassicas and Lettuce Tomatoes, Peppers, Beans Spinach/Turnips Turnips/Rye

26

Succession Planting – Relaying I

• Plant a row of a single cultivar each week March-April to

harvest radishes weekly from mid-March to early June

• Plant Cherry Belle every week from early March to mid-April

Month

March April May June

Date

1 11 21 31 10 20 30 10 20 30 9 19 29

Crop Radish P P&H H 27

Week 1

28

Mulch or Cover Crop

Week 2

29

Mulch or Cover Crop

Week 3

30

Mulch or Cover Crop

Week 4

31

Week 5

32

Week 6

33

Week 7

34

Mulch/Cover Crop/Next Crop

Week 8

35

Mulch/Cover Crop/Next Crop

Week 9

36

Mulch/Cover Crop/Next Crop Mulch/Cover Crop/Next Crop

Succession Planting – Relaying II II

• Plant several varieties with different maturity dates

at the same time

1. Cabernet 22d 2. Cherry Belle 20-30d 3. Mino Early 40d 4. Minowase 45d 5. Watermelon 50-60d 6. Okhura 65-70d 7. Giant White 70d

Month

March April May June

Date

1 11 21 31 10 20 30 10 20 30 9 19 29

Crop Radish P 1,2 2 3,4 5 5 6 6,7 37

Week 1

38

Week 2

39

Week 3

40

Week 4

41

Week 5

42

Mulch/Cover Crop/Next Crop

Week 6

43

Mulch/Cover Crop/Next Crop

Week 7

44

Mulch/Cover Crop/Next Crop

Succession Plus Crop Rotation

45

For a larger garden that can rotate families through multiple beds For a smaller garden that has to mix families in a single bed

Garden Jo Journals

46

IP IPM: In Integrated Pest Management

• Ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term

prevention of pests or their damage and minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and non-target

• rganisms and the environment.
• Use Cultural Practices that Encourage Healthy Plants
• Monitor for Problems
• ID Pest/Cause
• Determine if Treatment is Really Needed
• Select Control Strategy Starting

with Controls that Minimize Health and Environmental Risks

48

Managing In Insects

Goal: encourage the good bugs, control the bad ones without the use of harmful insecticides

• Before planting, gain an understanding of the pest (bad

bug), and the beneficial organism (good bug) associated with crop

• Correctly identify adult pests and beneficial insects
• Correctly identify immature life stages such as eggs,

nymphs & larvae

• Learn and look for the signs and symptoms

Pests are more effectively controlled when their numbers are low.

Recognizing Insect Damage

Plants are damaged by insect’s mouth parts:

• Chewing mouth part
• Sucking mouth part (beak)

Which leave behind signs & symptoms:

• Chewed leaves
• Discoloration
• Distortion
• Dieback
• Insect products

Questions To Ask:

• What insect pests can I expect, based on what crops

I’m planting?

• What do the offensive bugs look like?
• Mature insects?
• Nymph stage, Larvae?
• Eggs?
• What does the damage to your plants

look like?

• What is the least toxic method to deal with the

situation?

Unwelcome Garden Guests

Japanese Beetle

Damage Adult Grubs

Bad Bug Swimming Pool

• Collect plastic jars
• Add water and a bit of dish soap
• Place them conveniently
• Drop in – bugs, eggs, larvae

Once you find a bad bug what do you do with it? Create a bad bug swimming pool

Asparagus Beetle

Damage Eggs Larvae

Spotted A.B. Common A.B.

Squash Bug

Eggs Damage

Nymphs

Harlequin Bug

Eggs Damage Nymphs

Adult

59

Row cover Trap Crop

Imported Cabbage Worm

Sign

Colorado Potato Beetle

Eggs Larvae Damage Adult

Cucumber Beetle

Damage

Good Bugs Can Help

It’s just as important to know what to leave alone in your vegetable garden

Encourage beneficial predators who hunt, attack & kill the bad bugs.

This means less bad bugs for you to deal with!

Welcome Garden Guests

Green Lacewing

Praying Mantid

Egg Case

A Reason to Welcome Both the Bad and the Good

Braconid Wasp vs. Hornworm

Practice Beneficial In Insect Gardening

Interplant flowers among your vegetable garden Without flowers to attract pollinators there would be no vegetables like cucumbers, melons, and squash.

Resources That Can Help

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/FAQ/natural- enemies-poster.pdf http://offices.ext.vt.edu/rockingham/programs /anr/Horticulture/Links/ipminsectguide.pdf

An observant gardener is the best deterrent

• Walk the garden everyday
• Take a close look for damaged leaves, egg masses,

frass and bugs

• Research a bug’s life cycle
• Remember pesticides do not discriminate and will kill

the good bugs too

• Understand that no matter what there will be

some damage…and that is okay!

Key Takeaways

Scenario 3 – ladybug life cycle The Importance of Learning a Bug’s Life Cycle

Break

78

Birds in the Garden

• All birds are insectivorous at some point in their

lives

• Many songbirds are at least seasonally

insectivorous

• Attracting birds to your garden can help reduce

insect pressure

79

Attract Birds by Addressing Their Needs

• Food
• Water
• Nesting sites
• Shelter
• DON’T use pesticides on your plants

80

Attracting Birds

• Station several shallow bird baths around your

landscape for drinking and bathing.

• Clean regularly
• Refill regularly in hot weather
• Bird baths on a pedestal give birds a clear view of any

predators approaching

• Heating your birdbath in winter is a very good option.
• Sheltering trees and dense shrubs nearby allow

birds to hide from predators, relief from high heat and protection from high winds and heavy storm events

81

Wrens

• Can be important in the garden
• Eat seeds and insects

 including Japanese beetles!

• Will nest just about anywhere
• Can be a problem when they choose dryer

vents, the shelf on a BBQ, etc.

• Will readily build a nest in a nest box if

available

• Larger birds can evict wrens if openings are

too large

• Should have an opening 1 1/4 inch diameter

and no perch

• Mount box 6-10’ above ground on an outer tree

branch

• Face opening eastward to catch early morning

sun rays

82

Drawbacks to Songbirds in the Garden

• They can attract
• predator birds
• small mammals
• Some bird species can damage crops just before

harvest

• Fruits are a favorite of many birds

83

Mammalian Pests

• Rabbits
• Deer
• Ground Hogs
• Squirrels

Know thy Enemy

Dealing with Wildlife

• Identify species before you choose a control,

look for signs

• Don’t treat wild animals as pets or family

entertainment

• Keep wild animals wild, don’t feed them

around your home

• Wildlife needs food, water, space and shelter.

Remove any one of these and the animals will go somewhere else.

Nuisance Wildlife

• Under state law, nuisance species can be killed at

anytime and in any manner that is legal under state and local laws

• It is NOT legal to trap live wildlife and move it to

another location.

• Permit or hunting license is required to use lethal

methods on other wildlife that becomes a nuisance.

Control with Habitat Modification

• Learn the habits, preferences and

requirements of the offending animal(s) and remove or modify the habitat to make your yard unattractive to wildlife pests.

• Mow tall grass
• Remove piles

Control with Removal & Repellents

Removal

• Treats the symptom, not the problem
• Moving wildlife without permit is illegal

Repellents

• Combination provides most effective solution
• Most are sprayed on plants. Some are not labeled for

use on edible crops or vegetable gardens. Read and follow all label restrictions

Control through Exclusion

• Fencing
• Stake or secure the fence firmly to the

ground

• Curve outward 12”-18”at ground level to

deter diggers

• Hardware cloth, chicken wire, or mesh
• Groundhogs can chew through chicken

wire

• Netting

Groundhogs

• Brown in color with

brownish-black tail

• Length: 26 inches

and 6 inch tail

• Weight: 14 lbs.
• Excel at climbing,

digging and chewing

• Nuisance species…

Groundhogs

Habits

• Mating occurs in spring; gestation period is 31 days
• 4-5 young in a single liter
• Does hibernate
• Ground-dwelling
• Great ability to dig and burrow

Food

• Vegetarians
• Love, love, love green crops
• Green beans, peas, melon shoots, sweet potatoes

Groundhogs

The damage they do

• Dig many, many holes
• Damage gardens, lawns, and hay lots
• Insatiable appetite

How to prevent them from being pests?

• Fencing 3 feet high with 10-12 inches buried in dirt
• Bend top edge outward to a 45 degree angle or floppy
• Human activity is a deterrent

Groundhog Hotel

See MGPW video link for more info on this design

Deer Fence Kit

• Virginia Wildlife information

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/

• Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators—Virginia

www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/nuisance/trappers

• Wildlife Rehabilitators (injured)

www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/injured/rehabilitators

• State Endangered Species issues

www.dgif.state.va.us.wildlife

Additional Resources

• Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Online

handbook details ID, control and management of over 90 species of wildlife http://www.icwdm.org/handbook/index.asp

• Virginia Tech Center for Human-Wildlife Conflict

Resolution www.humanwildlife.org

• Federal Endangered Species issues

www.fws.gov/endangered

• Animal tracks and profiles www.enature.com

Controlling Weeds Through Cultural Practices

• 1. Use cover crops to suppress weeds
• 2. Use mulch to suppress weeds
• 3. Hand pull

105

Controlling Diseases Through Cultural Practices

• Crop Rotation
• Sanitation
• Using Resistant Varieties
• Controlling Insect Vectors
• Light and Spacing
• Watering
• Appropriate Nutrition

106

107

Generic Disease Cycle of a Pathogenic Fungi

(This is similar with other pathogens)

108 Fungi Spread to Host via air, water, insects and/or humans Signals from host and the environment trigger spore germination. Fungus enters through natural openings or by penetrating the host plant. Fungal spores help pathogen survive unfavorable environmental conditions . Fungi must contact susceptible cells for infection to occur. Symptoms may occur immediately or may delay. Infection spreads from cell to cell. Some pathogens are localized, some are systemic. Fungi reproduces by creating spores. Spores allow the fungus to spread to other hosts. Chart based on diagrams created by

Cultural Controls Help Break The Cycle in Multiple Ways

10 9 Fungi Spread to Host via air, water, insects and/or humans Signals from host and the environment trigger spore germination. Fungus enters through natural openings or by penetrating the host plant. Fungal spores help pathogen survive unfavorable environmental conditions . Fungi must contact susceptible cells for infection to occur. Symptoms may occur immediately or may delay. Infection spreads from cell to cell. Some pathogens are localized, some are systemic. Fungi reproduces by creating spores. Spores allow the fungus to spread to other hosts.

Rotation Can Reduce the Amount that Survive Dormancy Removing Infected Plant Debris Can Reduce the Amount of Spores in the Garden to Overwinter Removing Infected Plant Parts before the Disease gets Out of Hand and Sterilizing Cutting Tools Can Reduce the Spread of Disease During the Growing Season Healthy Plants with Appropriate Nutrients, Water, Light and Space are More Resistant to Disease Attracting Predatory Insects Can Reduce Insect Vector

Crop Rotation

• Many diseases are species or family specific
• Without a susceptible host, disease organism

populations decline

• Excluding a host for several years can keep many

disease problems to a minimum

110

Sanitation

• Clean tools between

working on different plants

• Your hands/gloves can

also spread disease from plant to plant

• Remove and destroy

infected plant material

• Live plants
• Debris from infected

plants

Tomato still producing after parts affected with blight pruned off 

111

Selecting Resistant Varieties

• Select healthy, disease free seeds and plants
• Select varieties with proven disease resistance
• Cornell’s Vegetable MD website:

vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/Tables/TableList.htm

• Hybrids tend to perform better than heirloom

varieties

112

Common Tomato Disease Resistance Codes

Disease Code Verticilium Wilt V Fusarium Wilt F Nematodes N Tobacco Mosaic Virus T Alternaria Leaf Spot A Gray Leaf Spot St

Resistance does NOT equal Immunity

113

114

Controlling In Insect Vectors

• Many insect pests also can spread 1 or more

diseases

• Cucumber beetles spread bacterial wilt in cucurbits
• Squash bugs spread yellow vine disease in cucurbits
• Aphids can spread over 150 diseases including tomato

mosaic virus

• Over 200 species of insects can spread fire blight to

plants in the Rose family

• Use common sense when weighing pest control
• ptions vs. disease potential

115

Watering

• Plants under drought stress are less able to resist

disease

• Foliage that remains wet and plants in saturated

soils provide environments conducive to many diseases

• Water deeply and infrequently
• 1 inch of water once a week
• Young plants and plants in containers/raised beds may

need more frequent watering

• During periods of extreme heat, more water may be

needed

116

Adequate Space and Light

• Plants that are crowded:
• Have to compete more for nutrients
• Retain moisture within their canopy longer creating warm,

humid environments

• Have less space to spread their canopy
• Less air flow through the canopy
• Can provide shelter for vector pests
• Plants in the wrong light conditions

have slower growth, less vigor and are more susceptible to problems

11 7 This tomato grew under shade but was much slower to develop and didn’t start to produce fruit until long after plants of the same variety planted in full sun

Adequate Space and Light

Cucumbers planted too close together. Without enough light and space disease was a serious issue Cucumbers planted with better spacing allowed for better airflow and more light penetration

118

Nutrition

• Nutrient availability is limited if the plant is grown

in the wrong pH

• Target 6.5 for most garden crops
• Nutrients sources include:
• Cover crops
• Soil via Microbes
• Fertilizers

119

Nutrition

• Nitrogen fertilizers promote tender green growth

and plants with excessive tender growth are more susceptible to disease

• Organic and slow-release synthetic fertilizers are better

choices than quick release synthetics

• Feeding the micro herd in the

soil to encourage soil organisms to cycle nutrients naturally is ideal

This giant pumpkin was grown without adding

• fertilizer. Microbes made

enough nutrients available from the soil to produce several pumpkins of this size.

120

Farmscaping

• Devoting 5% of total

garden area to non-crop plants to bring in and support beneficial insects

• Increases the number

and diversity of pollinators and predators

121

Farmscaping

• Stagger flowering times

to support pollinators throughout as much of the year as possible

• Mix annuals and

perennials

• Mix short and long

season flowers

• Too much flowering at
• nce can be a

distraction for pollinators

122

Source: VA Tech Publication ENTO 52 - Farmscaping

123

Companion Planting

• Ecologically-based approach used to achieve a cultural

benefit

• Mimics nature and can provide:
• Biological pest control (carrots and onions, cukes in corn, etc.)
• Trap crops (okra, sunflower, etc.)
• Nurse crops (for shade, weed suppression, etc.)
• Nitrogen (legumes)
• Increased soil organism diversity
• Brings in beneficial insects (borage, umbels, etc.)
• Possibly repels grazers (very fragrant plants)

Nurse crops (for shade, weed suppression, etc.) insects (borage, umbels, etc.)

NOTE: The insect repellent properties of marigolds are maximized when they are planted as a cover crop and then tilled into the soil for the benefit of the next crop.

12 4

Sudan Grass Sudan Grass

125

Wampanoag (VA) Hidatsa (ND) Zuni (SW US)

B=Beans C=Corn SF=Sunflower SQ=Squash

No One Right Way: 3 (4) Sisters

126

Companion Planting

• Not all plants grow well together
• Sometimes it’s species specific (tomatoes will grow away

from fennel)

• Sometimes it’s a problem with many species (Walnuts

and hickories)

• Sometimes it’s an advantage (cereal rye residues inhibit

several broadleaf weeds)

127

Trap Crops

• Relies on pest feeding preferences for certain plant

species, cultivars or a certain stage of crop development

• Simplifies pest control

Leaf- Footed Bug

128

Trap Crops

• Primary techniques :

1. Plant a species or cultivar the pest likes better at the same time as the main crop

• Cucumber beetles prefer bitter gourds over cucumbers
• Cucumber beetles prefer Sundance yellow squash over Sunbar

2. Stagger planting of the same species or cultivar so the trap crop reaches the most preferred stage of development before the main crop

• Start some sweet corn indoors and plant early, then plant most of the

sweet corn normally so earworms concentrate on the early crop where they can more easily controlled

3. Delay planting

• Start plants later than normal so when pests emerge they have no host
• Avoid early cucurbits and only plant summer and fall squashes to

starve out the 1st generation of cucumber beetles

129

Trap Crops

• Using multiple species and planting dates for trap

crops keeps undesired bugs busy throughout the growing season

• Won’t work on all pests
• Not a silver bullet with the pests they do affect

Leaf-Footed Bugs on Sunflower – Research is showing sunflower can be trap for Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs as well Mustard plants on either side of cole crops to trap Harlequin Bugs.

130

Please remember to turn in your class evaluation form and any questions on index cards

Virginia Cooperative Extension

3308 Ashton Avenue, Suite 105 Manassas, VA 20109

Extension Horticulture Help Desk

703-792-7747 Master_Gardener@pwcgov.org