I received the following email from Doug Brooks, which gardens in Claremont.
“For years, I have used a certain type of annual insect control product to help protect my fruit trees. In recent years, I have used the product control product, citrus and plant insects. I recently discovered that California had now banned many of these products. What should I use as a replacement? I traveled internet in vain.
I recommend that you try the molded verse parts, an understatement for verse excrement, to avoid insect predations on your plants. There are a large number of evidence that, correctly applied in dry or liquid form, verses of verses dissuade not only pest insects, but also pathogenic fungi and nematodes. Note: Nematodes are thread -shaped microscopic organisms, some species of which create roles that prevent water absorption and cause a wilting of plant crops such as tomatoes, potato, cucumber, carrot, onion and many others. There are also beneficial nematodes, however, that the prey of insect insect larvae.
Green molds owe their ability to control antiparasitic to chitinase, an enzyme that breaks down the chitin, an integral constituent of insect exoskeletons, mushroom cell walls and egg shells in nematode. Chitin is a fibrous material which is the second most abundant polymer – after cellulose – on earth. Like cellulose, it is not easily degraded and decomposes slowly.
As a worm digests its food, 48 different bacteria help in the process and they remain in the cracked pieces. Many of these bacteria produce chitinase which enters the plants when molded parts are applied to the soil or sprayed in liquid form on the plant itself. Although plants contain chitinase for defense against pest insects and pathogenic fungi – whose survival depends on chitin in their exoskeletons or cellular walls – the level of chitinase in plants is generally insufficient to repel the pests they attract. However, when bacteria producing chitinase enter their systems, plant chitinase is supplemented and becomes more aggressive to repel the intruders of pests.
One of the most popular biological control organizations is BT, an abbreviation for a bacteria known as the Bacillus thuringiensis, which is in more than 130 antiparasitic wrestling products. Bt, depending on the tension, can attack the larval stage of the beetles, flies, butterflies and night butterflies or mosquitoes. Bt produces a toxin which enters the intestine of the larvae that consume it. The way toxin wins the entry is activation of the BT chitinase which degrades the chitin which dubbed the digestive tract of a larva. BT must be applied no less than once a week to be effective because it breaks down in the sun. Timing is also important because the application should occur after eggs have hatched, but before the larvae are large enough to develop. It is not a contact insecticide but must be sprayed on the surfaces of the plants where the larvae are active.
It seems that most, if not all, plants and animals contain chitinase, even if it is in a sleeping state. Our own chitinase seems to be activated when we inhale mites or mold spores, for example. We even think that there is a link between an asthma attack – which can be caused by certain bacteria or viruses covered with chitine – and the activation of human chitinase.
The aversion of insects for the molded parts of the green is demonstrated when they are distributed on ants of ants, which means that ants withdraw from the nests. If you have a problem with climbing ants in the trunks of your fruit trees, for example, you may want to spread molded parts under the trees to keep ants away.
Mushrooms can also be attenuated with chitinase. In a study, chitinase extracted from yam was sprayed on mildew powderous which had infected the foliage and the fruits of the strawberry. The mildew disappeared for two weeks, indicating that the concoction of chitinase worked and that it had quickly biodegraded, opening the possibility of its use instead of synthetic fungicides.
It should be noted that the key to efficiency with organic pesticides is repeated application. In the case of molded parts, if you choose to use a liquid product, spray it on the foliage twice a month during the growth season and once a month in winter. Interestingly, by browsing the labels of a number of liquid worm flow products, I have not seen any indication that its advantages include the deterrence of harmful insects or mushrooms. It seems to be a well -maintained secret for the moment.
Gardeners and farmers have traditionally used molded parts for fertilization alone, although I would not be surprised if these fertilized plants are less likely to be infested with pest insects or infected with fungi diseases. In APricot Lane Farms de Moorpark, a 40 -foot long (vermi = WORM) is used to provide mineral nutrition to more than 200 varieties of fruits and vegetables grown on site. The composting tray contains some 250,000 red wiggler worms that feast on the manure of animals and poultry that live on the farm, and also decompose the planting of plants, coffee grounds and table remains. The compost is stirred in a tea for an application to plants. The verses of worms build long -term soil fertility due to the immense variety of bacteria and mushrooms found in molded rooms. This biodiversity means that the many different minerals and nutrients that the plants need will be made available by the decomposition attributes of a variety of these microorganisms or another.
“The biggest farmhouse”, a award -winning film on genesis and the progress of Farms apricots is widely available for online visualization. You can take steps to go around the farm at APricotlanefarms.com.
Chitosan, derived from chitin found in lobsters, crabs and other marine crustaceans, also has a number of horticultural applications. It is used to prevent bacterial, fungal and viral infections and to reduce the infestation of nematodes. It is also used as a carrier for slow liberation fertilizers and as a soil conditioner. Finally, it was found to mitigate the stress of drought and promote growth. These beneficial effects occur after a treatment of seeds or soil with chitosan or by spraying chitosan on the plants themselves.
Has anyone have a story of vermicomposting to tell? If yes, please send it to joshua@perfectplants.com. Your questions and comments, as well as gardening challenges and success are always welcome.
From California of the week: Island Morning Glory (Calystegia macrosgia) is a fascinating and lush vineyard, reaching up to 25 feet high, but generally shorter than that where the subspecies or varieties worthy of the garden are concerned. The flowers are pale pink and reach two inches in diameter. Rare for a native, its flowers are exposed over a long period, from February to July. Some advise planting next to a shrub because it tends to be without leaves at its base and its teas will find their way through the foliage of the shrub, with its flowers that cross. However, you can plant it successfully in a container if you just see it spread and drag in opposition to climb vertically. It can push in any floor and has been used to cover the fences or cover the ground. It can manage the full sun on the coast, but will need a certain sun protection inside the land. It grows quickly and can adapt to any type of soil. Give him a good occasional soaking in warm weather and toast him in winter for the best performance when spring arrives. The bees are attracted to its flowers. It is also known as Anacapa Pink due to its origin from Anacapa Island.
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