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Adventures in gardening
By Ann | June 17, 2009
A few weeks ago, I blogged about my thriving window box garden, a post I can only describe now as very, very foolish. Or, perhaps, cursed. You see, ever since then, my plants have been struggling. First, there was the root rot that plagued my geraniums, caused by too much rain and over-zealous watering (The grumpy woman at the Garden Center gave me some advice: “Only water them once a week,” she scolded me. “Geraniums like to suffer.”) Then my rosemary starting turning yellow (again, over-watering). And now, there are the aphids.
They are devouring my mint plant, and I can’t get rid of them! The damage started out as small, mysterious holes, dotted here and there. It’s moved on to black smudges, devoured leaves, and a horrid stickiness that clings to every surface. Between the aphids and (unintentional) over-watering, my mint plant is dying. It’s mint-icide!
Over a week ago, I doused the plant with a vegetable-oil-and-water spray, which hasn’t had much (any) effect. But my low point came this morning when I spotted a ladybug on one of my lavender plants. You know, a ladybug, as in the mortal enemy of aphids. I plucked her off the lavender stem and carried the poor creature to my mint plant, placing her gently on a leaf. Bon appétit, I thought. Of course, when I looked at the plant six hours later, she was gone and the mint seems as droopy as ever.
Tomorrow I plan to begin another course of spray treatment: water, mixed with drops of dish soap, crushed garlic and chili flakes. Granted, I have now spent more on spray bottles than I did on the original plant (2.50€). Never mind. I have declared a fatwa on aphids. I will keep you posted.
Topics: Jardinage |
4 Responses to “Adventures in gardening”
Comments
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June 18th, 2009 at 2:07 am
A ladybug on boulevard Raspail — here’s hoping she brings good luck to the whole arrondissement! She certainly brought good luck to Parisian diners: I saw in Le Monde that parliament approved a reduction in TVA at restaurants to 5.5 percent, effective July 1.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:31 am
Update: I now have reason to believe that the pest is actually whitefly, which is attracted to mint — so much so that mint is actually used as a “trap crop.” Arrgh! I’m going to try washing my plant this evening. Anyone else have any suggestions?
June 18th, 2009 at 9:36 am
whitefly! yikes! did you know that the whitely destroyed most of the ficus bushes in miami-dade county last year? i’m talking tall (10 ft) think, lush hedges reduced to sticks. those whiteflies are serious.
i also find herb gardening harder than it seems at first. i have rosemary, mint, and basil, and it is always struggling to some degree. not to mention that seemingly each herb has is own special requirements for sun/shade/water.
June 18th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I have found diatomaceous earth to be extremely helpful in dealing with garden pests that like to munch on my plants. It is made of diatomes, microscopically small seashells, that cut the exoskeleton and cause the pest to dehydrate. It’s good for your soil, and not harmful to pets or people, unless you inhale a bunch.