Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 12, 1993 TAG: 9303120546
SECTION: LAWN & GARDEN PAGE: LG-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH PESTS: PREVENT THEM
Anybody who grows a garden is likely to have trouble with insects or diseases.This is especially true with the vegetable garden where there is much luscious food that all kinds of insects find greatly appetizing.
The Virginia Tech Extension Service has identified some pests that are likely to invade gardens this summer.
Among the more common ones are cutworms, aphids, squash vine borer, cucumber beetle, mites or tomato hornworm.
In addition there are numerous diseases that can affect plants. Early blight, leaf spot, blossom end rot and sunscald are only a few that attack tomatoes alone. Also, beans might be subject to root rot.
But there are many ways to avoid most of these troubles.
The first step is to buy resistant seeds and seedlings. The Virginia Tech Extension Service says that plant breeders have developed many varieties of vegetables and flowers that are almost immune to diseases and unattractive to many insects.
Aside from that, there are cultural practices that can reduce the menace of garden insects and diseases.
One of the best, the Extension Service says, is to keep a clean garden. Don't allow dead or sick plants to remain in the garden.
Pick unhealthy leaves from plants and pull up dead plants and dispose of them by burning or burying as far away from the garden as possible. Or they could be sent out with the other household refuse.
Another preventive measure is to keep the garden well cultivated and well watered. Healthy, strong plants will be less prone to diseases and insect damage than weak ones.
If insects or diseases do take hold in the garden, there are various organic and chemical remedies. However, each affliction requires different treatments.
And because of today's environmental concerns the use of chemical controls is tightly regulated.
John Arbogast, Virginia Tech Extension horticultural agent in Roanoke, said that before any treatment program can be recommended, a full report on the situation is necessary.
Among these details are: figuring out what is troubling the plants, where the affected plants are located, are they edible, what is growing near them, and are there pets and children on the premises?
Arbogast said this information is needed to make sure a chemical is not applied that might be harmful to surrounding plants or to children who might visit the garden.
Arbogast said all pest and disease control programs are formulated at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and local extension agents are supplied with a book outlining approved remedies.
The book covers every aspect of horticulture and agriculture, he said, from home gardening and landscape, to commercial growing, forestry and farming.
The book is issued in three sections - home gardening, commercial/forestry and field crops. The book also covers organic control methods. Each section costs $12 and all Extension Service offices have order blanks.