Garden List Ping for discussion of the use of Malathion in the garden.
When *I* was a kid, we’d eat Malathion slathered on asbestos shingles we tore off the roof!
*SMIRK*
People are such a bunch of wimps these days! ;)
I, myself, wouldn’t use Malathion. I’ve always gardened organically, but I admit that I use Round-up for weeds around The Manse - but not around our food.
You all would also be surprised to read the LENGTHY list of ‘organic’ chemicals that the USDA allows farmers to use to produce ‘organic’ foods:
https://www.agdaily.com/technology/the-list-of-pesticides-approved-for-organic-production/
My experience, having gardened since Christ left Chicago, is this:
Grow plants that are suited for your USDA Growing Zone and keep them HEALTHY! Healthy plants have little problems fending off the Bad Bugs. BUT Bad Bugs can ‘smell’ your struggling plants from miles away - and they WILL come to destroy them the rest of the way for you! ;) As with most things in life, Defense is the best Offense!
Plant a pot or a row of flowers and herbs that attract The Good Bugs to your garden! You want REAL Lady Bugs, Lacewings, Dragonflies, Honey Bees, Parasitic Wasps, Spiders, etc. to hang around and do the dirty work for you!
https://bugs.uconn.edu/beneficial-insects/#
Plant some of this stuff to attract beneficial insects:
https://www.permaculturenews.org/2014/10/04/plants-attract-beneficial-insects/
But - if you see Tomato Horn Worms, just kill then. They. Are. Evil. No redeeming value, whatsoever. ;)
If you MUST use a chemical means for a major infestation, usually soapy water in a spray bottle will help - especially for aphids, but if you work on attracting Lady Bugs and Lacewings, they LOVE to eat aphids.
I would also recommend products in the ‘Safer’ line of organic products. Gentle on you and the earth. I used to sell the brand at my store and it was quite popular and I never had a customer come back to say it didn’t work to rid them of whatever bug was bothering their plants.
good post. I appreciate organic. However, in my profession as landscaper, when I approach a big problem area, especially with Kudzu or poison ivy, I pull out my Glyphosate. I dont have time to waste. I spray it myself, with approval of the client. Vinegar/organic just doesn’t work. It goes without saying that anyone applying it has anxiety. But if it were that dangerous, it’d be taken off the market. I’m careful, or try to be, don’t breathe it or stand underneath the spray when I’m spraying poison ivy and kudzu. There is great apprehension. In 10 years, we will see how my health fairs.
Saving all your links.
We are pathetic gardeners with soil that is 30% rocks and the rest mineral without any organic matter, in a fir forest with 100-150 ft trees all over the place. But we manage to grow a bit. All your info is helpful.
At least this year we lived off of cucumbers, romanescu zukes (the only kind worth eating), green beans and kale. And tomatoes, billions of them.
BTW a long time ago a neighbor (when we lived in a neighborhood with very small lots) sprayed his entire yard with diazanon, using 5X legal concentration. At night. Then he went and stayed in a motel for several days. The stink was so bad I called 911 and so did neighbors, thinking there was some chemical truck leak/crash nearby. My windows were all open as it was hot, was sleeping in living room due to heat. I was 3 months pregnant, DH was thankfully sleeping in the bedroom.
I got a heavy dose, in a week had the horriblest miscarriage ever, and within 1 to 1 1/2 years developed several auto-immune conditions including severe MCS. It changed my life totally.
I really, really do not like pesticides.
AND A DASH OF DDT FOR 'SPICE'!.............
I would add: Shop around for plants that do well in your area, and with your gardening style.
There is an incredible amount of variety within every species. Unless you’re trying to grow seaweed in the desert or tropical plants on the tundra, there’s probably something suited to your needs.
Got squash bugs? Look for varieties with solid stems.
Can’t irrigate? Look for varieties developed in dry climates.
I’m happy to brainstorm varieties if anyone needs help finding the right ones. But chances are, somewhere out there is the exact variety for you.
My first experience in a ‘gravity chair’ on a hot afternoon. I’m being invaded by lady bugs… although I think they’re the asian variety. Could use a little DDT to calm things down.
Diane I planted beautiful hydrangeas last year there were bugs destroying the beautiful leave on them, I was devastated this some wasps were building a beautiful hive in the eaves of my house I would sit out there and watch them work on that hive for hours!! This year my hydrangeas were GORGEOUS beautiful leaves no problems with bugs, I had no idea it was the wasps I was just so enthralled with how hard those wasps were working on that nest there was NO WAY I was going to destroy it!! You have given me information from your post that I never knew!!
I used Malathion on ornamentals with very limited success. I would never think to use it on food crops.
Really the only issue I have is a white moth who ravages broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage. I found a white spun poly-type fabric I use as tents rather effectively. It lets light and moisture thru. Reusable too.
Diatomaceous earth works well to get rid of bugs.
I found that leeks, when they blossomed, were both pretty and beneficial. All sorts of bees came to them, and the bees kept the Japanese beetles away.
Thank you. You are a one woman plant & every thing related encyclopedia. All of your tips in this thread,this is a keeper!
Real farmers use Paraquat!
LOL!
My memory is of flinging them into a fire where they would explode very satisfactorially.