Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Summer follow up, closing down for 2010

Ok well I think this blog has run it's end for now- the balcony did not not recover this past season from the infestation of spider mites, and untill then nothing will survive, except the few measely peppers and cherry tomatoes you see here...

Earlier in the spring I called in to ask Mark Cullen on CFRB's (now Newstalk 1010-hav no idea if they are keeping the show with the new formatting..) the Garden show and he advised to use Doctor Doom- aka PESTICIDES- as the one and only solution. I decided to try what my grandma suggested and throw everything out and start over. so I did- but I kept one or two really nice pots that I adored.

So maybe that's where they stayed, hiding. However Mr. Cullen did say to wash down the whole balcony, as they lie dormant anywhere and everywhere. And then there where the plants I had overwintered in the house. I admit I did see some strands, but I was hoping that was from some nive indoor spiders keeping my house free of bugs...guess not.

Now I have the infestation in the house, too, I'm sure. I have kept many of these plants for many years, and it will break my heart to throw them out, so I may be buying some Doom soon... (I guess I have to contact the Lord of the Underworld for that, heh)

So I will close this for now, but I will update on how I finally get rid of the little buggers..

2 comments:

Artist/Painter said...

Yep, I got them too last year, really bad. I decided just to chuck a lot and also I kept spraying with the insecticidal soap just to keep some of the florals around that I could. Some of the plants were resilient though and weren't brought down (such as the peonies, lilac bushes and such) but the lettuce, peas, and the rest of the produce, basically, game over. I won't use insecticide no matter HOW tempting it may be.

So far, this year, (June 8, 2011) not an aphid in site but we'll see. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Toronto Balcony Farmer said...

hey do you mean aphids or spider mites? The aphids I can deal with- daily spraying of soap and water to strangle them works like a charm- spidermites, however, very, very evil. Still trying to get my balcony in order. Nice blog by the way! Glad to see you planting veggies, especially lettuce!!