06-23-2008, 08:09 AM
Carrie-depending on how "organic" you want to go, there are insecticidal soaps that are sold commercially. They are considered organic and can be used up until the day of harvest. Also if your area isn't too large, you can get insect netting and surround the plants. This works best if the pots are on concrete or at least something that the bugs aren't able to hide or crawl through. Some of the pyrethrin sprays are also considered organic and non-toxic to humans. Pyrethrin would be the active ingredient in the spray.
Larry-the pyrethrin sprays will help to control leaf miners. The mechanical way of controlling them is to follow the "trail" that the larvae creates as it eats it's way out of the leaf. The egg is normally laid somewhere in the middle of the leaf and they eat their way often times to the edge where they emerge and fly away. If you can catch them before they reach the edge and just pinch the leaf you can smash the larvae. Unless the problem is bad, it normally won't cause that much harm to the plant and your production should be fine. The insect netting I mentioned above will also help.
Hope that this helps a little.
dean
Larry-the pyrethrin sprays will help to control leaf miners. The mechanical way of controlling them is to follow the "trail" that the larvae creates as it eats it's way out of the leaf. The egg is normally laid somewhere in the middle of the leaf and they eat their way often times to the edge where they emerge and fly away. If you can catch them before they reach the edge and just pinch the leaf you can smash the larvae. Unless the problem is bad, it normally won't cause that much harm to the plant and your production should be fine. The insect netting I mentioned above will also help.
Hope that this helps a little.
dean