Garden/Grub advice

self | June 6, 2011 | knarf

[Kirkwood]

I’ve considered it. They are nice and fat.

[CynicalBear]

Diatomaceous earth. Use it liberally on the ground around your plants.

[knarf]

UPDATE:

I don't know if it was 'liberal' enough, but I have a Mantis-type mini-tiller that I used after casting the stuff all around, unfortunately, that afternoon it rained pretty heavily for about a half hour.What do you mean by 'liberal'?

Is the Mantis thing a good idea or was it the rain that made the D-earth ineffective?

[knarf]

see my #23

[CynicalBear]

>>Is the Mantis thing a good idea or was it the rain that made the D-earth ineffective?<<

By Liberal I mean a pretty good dusting. Actually I think the mantis thing was a good idea to get it incorporated into the soil where the worms are. I buy the stuff by the 50# bag because we use it in the chicken house and yard also. After that much rain I think I’d re-apply and just rake it in. I don’t think the rain made it ineffective but may have driven it down below where they are so thus the extra dusting. The way the stuff works is that it has microscopic sharp edges and it tears up their insides. Keep in mind that it will also kill the earth worms in that area but I think it’s worth it to get rid of the bad worms.

[knarf]

Yeah, I know ... and too bad also .. I have a GREAT worm colony this year.

Thanx for the advice, I'll do it now ... the report looks relatively dry for the bext 4 days or so

[Alas Babylon!]

What you're describing here is a cutworm.

There are many ways to foil them.

Putting up a small barricade made of cardboard around each plant is a relatively easy way to protect your plants. This, again, is a slow process, but it can be quite effective. The barrier has to extend below the ground an inch or two and out of the ground about the same. This stops the cutworms from reaching the plant.

I use empty cardboard toilet paper rolls. Easy for corn. Carefully place over the plant and push into the soil.

[knarf]

It’s only the corn, so I think it’s the corn seed worm (according to Penn State Ag)

[Alas Babylon!]

I don’t know about that, Knarf. Corn seed worms are really tiny and can live in a corn seed. Cut worms are like big smooth skinned caterpilers that always curl up and play dead when disturbed. I’ve never heard of corn seed worms cutting down a plant and leaving it dead; without eating it—or getting inside it. I’ve never heard of corn seed worms doing this to 6 inch plants.

Cut worms do cut down plants; when they’re still young and tender. By the time your corn is another week old or so, it should be strong enough at the stem to not be so succulent to the cut worms!

[knarf]

OK ... that makes sense ... thanx