Mon Jun 7, 2021, 11:40 AM

Vinca (48,234 posts)

Does anyone have a recipe for nontoxic garden dust for plants?

I hate to resort to something like Sevin and the organic spray stuff isn't doing the trick for my kale plants. I'm not even sure what's eating the leaves, but I suspect it's the early stages of cabbage worm. For some reason I've always had better luck with dust rather than spray on kale. I was thinking of something maybe flour based or cornstarch based. Any ideas?

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6 replies	Author	Time	Post
Does anyone have a recipe for nontoxic garden dust for plants? (Original post)	Vinca	Jun 2021	OP
This article seems to have some good organic ideas including diatomaceous earth and netting.	Arkansas Granny	Jun 2021	#1
I don't know about home made but have you tried diatomaceous earth?	happybird	Jun 2021	#2
I had an issue with some unknown critters eating the leaves of all my plants...	MoonchildCA	Jun 2021	#3
That's interesting. I do see earwigs around from time to time, but I've never noticed them	Vinca	Jun 2021	#4
Bt for any kind of caterpillar	Kali	Jun 2021	#5
and on a schedule	onethatcares	Jun 2021	#6

Response to Vinca (Original post)

Mon Jun 7, 2021, 12:01 PM

Arkansas Granny (30,486 posts)

1. This article seems to have some good organic ideas including diatomaceous earth and netting.

https://www.epicgardening.com/cabbage-worms-pieris/

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Response to Vinca (Original post)

Mon Jun 7, 2021, 12:01 PM

happybird (3,257 posts)

2. I don't know about home made but have you tried diatomaceous earth?

It works well.

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Response to Vinca (Original post)

Mon Jun 7, 2021, 12:19 PM

MoonchildCA (1,264 posts)

3. I had an issue with some unknown critters eating the leaves of all my plants...

...from kale and entire basil plants, to zucchini and cucumber leaves. I finally figured out it was earwigs. They eat the plants at night so it's hard to find them in the act. I researched and found a product that is approved for organic gardening called Monterey Ant Control. It's pellets that you can sprinkle around your garden area. Very easy to use, and worked like a charm.

Before I knew what was eating them, I had the entire base of the plant and surrounding areas cover in diatomaceous earth and it didn't seem to stop them.

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Response to MoonchildCA (Reply #3)

Mon Jun 7, 2021, 12:31 PM

Vinca (48,234 posts)

4. That's interesting. I do see earwigs around from time to time, but I've never noticed them

near the kale. I've been thinking something directly on the leaves was what I should do, but maybe I should give something like this a try.

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Response to Vinca (Original post)

Mon Jun 7, 2021, 01:03 PM

Kali (53,119 posts)

5. Bt for any kind of caterpillar

DE for the rest, both have to be reapplied after rain.

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Response to Kali (Reply #5)

Sat Jun 12, 2021, 12:55 PM

onethatcares (14,746 posts)

6. and on a schedule

every 7 days for BT,(Tuesday for me), every 7 days for DE(Thursday for me) Sundays are my fertilizing days. Once the calander is set it's very easy to stay with.

The after rain application for both. Just pick up where you leave off .

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