Calgary Gardener Jack Wootliff asked me earlier this summer how to get rid of his red aphids. I suggested he just spray them with water. He did that and he also sprayed them with soap and water. Well something was paying attention and this week he sent me this updated photo. He still has aphids, but he has added to his diner
It has never been important to me to measure my success in the garden. I’m not a farmer so I don’t make money based on pounds of peas grown. If I run out of something I can always buy it at the Farmer’s market or local store. But new gardeners want to know specifics. They want to know how much they can grow in a pot on their patio or in a straw-bale garden on their boulevard.
Thanks to some sage advice and the willingness to try again, my worm population has again become the thriving environment it once was. I still add coffee grounds to the mix, but as just a small part of the overall blend, making sure, just like humans, they eat a well rounded diet full of fruits, vegetables, and the occasional coffee to boost their early morning productivity!
“We can’t identify [the pest], but applied [a] soapy solution to it an hour ago.
Please identify it for us, and a possible treatment – even if it is to garbage this plant.” Jack
Aphids generally lay live young all summer. They do this without wings or mates. This is why aphid affected plants go from a single aphid to hundreds in a week. But in the fall they get wings and take flight. Their eyesight is poor so they are not too discerning. Whether it is a failing plant with pale pathetic yellow leaves or my husband’s orange sweater, aphids lured in and won’t take no for an answer.
I hate the thought of cooling nights and fall rains. I want summer to stay on a tiny bit longer. But the truth is it was almost too hot this summer to grow great greens. They perished in dry soil, intense heat and sloppy management (I always seemed to be away when they needed attention.)
