Mexican Bean Beetle: Chewing insect,
adult 1/2-inch long, worm 1/3-inch long. Orange beetle with black spots on back. Fuzzy or
spiny, yellow worms. Dust or spray underside of leaves when insects are seen. Use Carbaryl
(Sevin), Diazinon, or Methoxychlor. Repeat application as needed. Anthracnose (disease): Brown sunken or
craterlike spots on bean pods. Rotate crops. Plow down old bean tops as soon as harvested.
Buy western grown, certified seed. Do not harvest when plants are wet. Spray or dust on
upper and lower leaf surfaces. Use Daconil 2787. Root Rot (disease): Stunted, yellow plants. Wilting. Decayed or
rotted root system. Rotate crops. Delay planting until soil has warmed up. Plant shallow
(1/2 to 1 inch). Treat seed with Captan. Hill beans to stimulate root growth. Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower Cabbage worm: Chewing insect 1-1/4 to 1-1/2
inch long. Green worms. Holes in leaves. Dark brown pellets or droppings. Apply Bacillus
thurunguensis (Dipel, Thuricide, Bactur, SOK-Bt Biotrol) to underside of leaves as soon as
plants begin to grow. Follow directions. Cabbage Maggot: Chewing insect 1/4- to
1/3-inch long. Yellowing, stunted plants. Roots with holes or tunnels, causing rot. Apply
Diazinon 25% EC at 4.5 ounces in sufficient water to achieve thorough coverage. Apply to
soil and incorporate immediately priot to seeding or transplanting. Corn Earworm: Chewing insect 1-3/4 inch
long. Green, brown or pink worm with light strips along sides and on back. Dust or spray
Carbaryl (Sevin) when 10% of ears show silk. Apply into ear zone. Repeat in three days. Japanese Beetle: Chewing insect 1/4-inch
long. Shiny, metallic-green beetle. Dust or spray silks when necessary with Sevin. Potato Flea Beetle: Chewing insect
1/16-inch long. Tiny black or brown, jumping beetle. Numerous tiny holes in leaves. Leaves
turn brown. Spray or dust when plants are 3-4 inches tall. Repeat weekly. Use Sevin. Colorado Potato Beetle: Beetle
3/8-inch long; worm up to 3/5-inch long. Adult, yellow with black stripes. Worms,
brick-red, humped back. Hand-pick beetles and crush egg masses. Bacillus thurunguensis
(Bt), M-One strain, Carbaryl (Sevin), Diazinon, or Methoxychlor. Consider Rotenone for
hard to kill (resistant) beetles. Alternate chemical pesticides to avoid resistance. M-One
controls early larval stages, NOT the adult. Treat when insect or damage appears. Leaf Hopper: Sucking insect, up to 1/8-inch
long. Green, wedge-shaped. Fly quickly when disturbed. Cause marginal browning, rolling
leaves. Noticable in July, during hot, dry weather. Use Methoxychlor or Diazinon. Repeat
weekly or as needed. Aphids: Sucking insect 1/6-inch long. Tiny green,
powdery blue, black, or rose-colored, soft-bodied insects. Found in numbers on underside
of leaves, causing curling, distortion, and stunting. Spray or dust as soon as plants are
set out. Use Malathion or Diazinon. Early Blight (disease): Small black or dark
brown spots on lower leaves. Spots enlarge, leaves turn yellow. Excessive leaf drop. Plant
clean tubers. Rake and burn plant debris. Use Copper fungicide, Mancozeb, or Daconil 2787.
Late Blight (disease): Water-soaked areas on
leaves turn brown. Eventually, entire leaf blighted. Tubers discolored inside. Plant
disease-free tubers. Do not dig tubers from diseased plants until tops are dead. Use
resistant varieties. Scab (disease): Raised scabby areas on tubers.
Plant scab-free tubers in scab-free soil. Maintain soil pH at 5.2 or slightly below. Use
resistant varities. Plow down green cover crop. Flea Beetle: Chewing insect 1/16-inch long.
Tiny, black or brown jumping beetle. Numerous tiny holes in leaves. Leaves turn brown.
Spray or dust with Sevin when plants are 3-4 inches tall. Repeat weekly. Aphids: Sucking insect 1/6-inch long. Tiny,
green, powdery blue, black, or rose-colored, soft-bodied insects. Found in numbers on
underside of leaves, causing curling, distortion and stunting. Spray or dust as soon as
plants are set out. Use Malathion or Diazinon. Blossom-end Rot (disease): Blackened
area on blossom-end of fruit. Plant in well-drained soil, high in organic matter. Avoid
excessive nitrogen. Maintain uniform soil moisture. Mulch plants. Do not cultivate deeply.
Early Blight (disease): Small black or dark
brown spots on lower leaves. Spots enlarge, leaves turn yellow. Excessive leaf drop.
Disease moves up the plant. Rotate crops. Spray as soon as plants are set out. Use Copper
fungicide, Mancozeb or Daconil 2787. Late Blight (disease): Water-soaked areas on
leaves turn brown. Eventually, entire leaf is blighted. Rot on fruit. Spray Mancozeb or
Daconil 2787. Complete coverage is necessary. Fusarium Wilt (disease): Wilting or
drooping of plant. Use VFN-resistant varieties. Cucumbers, Squash, Melons, Pumpkins Striped Cucmber Beetle, Spotted Cucumber Beetle: Chewing
insect 1/5-inch long. Yellow beetle with black spots or stripes on back. Treat when
seedlings emerge. Treat entire planting at five-day intervals, as needed. Use Rotenone or
Sevin. Spray or dust toward evening when bees are not pollinating. Sevin may kill bees
when applied between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. To avoid injury to tender foliage, do not apply
when rain or humidity is expected during the next two days. Squash Vine Borer: Chewing, white
worm, 1 inch long. Find point of injury. Split stem along side and puncture worm. Mound
moist soil around cut to induce root growth above cut. Spray or dust with Methoxychlor
when runners develop. Repeat weekly. Bacterial Wilt (disease): May show
wilting on outer ends of vines or entire vine. Bacteria carried by cucumber beetles. Use
insecticide (see above) to control beetles. Begin spraying as soon as plants emerge, or
when soil cracks. Rhubarb Curcullio: Chewing insect 1/2
to 3/4 inch long. Yellow dusted, snout beetle. Adult beetles bore into stalks, crowns, and
roots. Attacks wild dock (coarse weed). Burn all infested plants. Destroy wild dock in
July, after beetles lay their eggs. Foot Rot or Crown
Rot (disease): Brown sunken spots on base of leaf stalks, decayed stalks,
wilted leaves. Disease spreads rapidly in row. Dig out and burn diseased plants. Do not
scatter infested soil. Neck Rot (disease): Soft rotting of onion neck.
Becomes watery and foul-smelling. Yellow and red types rot less than white onions. When
harvesting, cut tops close and dry stubs before storing. If possible, dry for two to three
days with heat at 90O to 120O F. Discard thick necks and scallions.
Store in slatted crates in a dry, well-ventillated area at 32O F. |
