General information and discussion about cultivating eggplants/aubergines.
|
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Upstate SC, Zone 7
Posts: 543
|
![]()
I wanted to ask if mulching eggplants helps to prevent flea beetle problems? The reason I ask is I think that is what I'm seeing. Every year it's a battle to keep the flea beetles from eating little "buckshot" holes in plants, but I've been lazy about mulching ... until this year.
This year I had my act together and mulched everything really well with newspaper and straw over that. And voila, no "buckshot" holes this year. My plants look ... pristine. I'm thinking it's got to be the mulch. Anyone else had any comparable experiences?
__________________
Holly |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Z8b, Texas
Posts: 657
|
![]()
Flea beetle
Adults are attracted to your plants. Feed on the foliage then lay eggs in the soil. Their eggs hatch in the soil, feed on the roots of plants. When they're adults, they eat the foliage, lay eggs in the soil. The Life cycle is then continually repeated. So protecting your soil from invasion by mulching is doing an additional job. ~* Robin
__________________
It's not how many seeds you sow. Nor how many plants you transplant. It's about how many of them can survive your treatment of them ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Allen, TX
Posts: 398
|
![]()
I have not found it helpful, as far as my tomatoes were concerned. I fight them every year as well.
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,542
|
![]()
On a tour of organic veg gardens last year, I noticed eggplants in a large container without flea-beetle holes and asked how she did it. The gardener said she *catches* the flea beetles! After a year or two of that, she said, no more flea beetles in her garden! I was astounded.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Upstate SC, Zone 7
Posts: 543
|
![]() Quote:
Now, the flea beetles don't mess with my tomatoes all that much, but they love Eggplants. Are you sure it's flea beetles going after your tomatoes? I know there are number of differnt types of flea beetles too. Maybe some like tomatoes. The ones I have just seem to like Eggplants, (and tomatillos), but they never bother my tomatoes. Either the mulch has helped or something else has. The eggplants are still untouched. I'm amazed! Not complaining though. What Polar-Lace said makes a lot of sense to me. I think you're onto something there.
__________________
Holly |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Allen, TX
Posts: 398
|
![]()
Oh, yea, cause I've caught and squished a few and watched 'em jump. They also have gone after my eggplant. But the maters I've got in pots or different beds don't have them. I'm thinking maybe beneficial nematodes might be in order?
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Kansas CIty
Posts: 560
|
![]()
I used some Pyola the last two years and it works very well.
I just keep a squirt bottle of it diluted with water and use it on my tomatoes to stop the few aphids I have anymore (thanks to silver reflective mulch!), and the asparagus and flea beetles.
__________________
Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Pa. USA
Posts: 9
|
![]()
I had a flea beetle problem untill i started feeding the birds.The birds do a good job keeping bugs out of my garden.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Upstate SC, Zone 7
Posts: 543
|
![]()
I'm starting to see some flea beetle damage, but still very minor compared to what I usually see. I do think the mulch is helping.
__________________
Holly |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mid-Ohio
Posts: 847
|
![]()
Last year the flea beetles did not hit until I mulched with grass clippings. The tomatoes had been sitting in the yard for weeks, and then planted for a week before I mulched.
This year I am planting radishes around all of my tomatoes and peppers as a trap crop. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 67
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Upstate SC, Zone 7
Posts: 543
|
![]()
Still no major flea beetle problems, but something else is eating the heck out of my eggplants now. I think it's japanese beetles since I've found a few on the plants. The damage is bigger and more severe than what you generally see with flea beetles. Guess I won't complain so much about the flea beetles anymore!
__________________
Holly |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Tomatoville® Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7
Posts: 10,385
|
![]()
I find mulching doesn't help all that much. Eggplant are the only thing in my yard that gets sprayed - I use a dilute solution of Sevin just a few times early on and it does the trick.
__________________
Craig |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Upstate SC, Zone 7
Posts: 543
|
![]()
Yeah, I do likewise, a little Seven until the plants get large enough to not be bothered by the flea beetles. This year, the Japanese beetles are tearing them up something fierce though! With it raining every day, it's tough to keep anything on them.
__________________
Holly |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: West Virginia - Zone 6
Posts: 594
|
![]()
I mulch and have flea beetle issues so I don't think it helps all that much if at all. In my garden flea beetles are most attracted to eggplants. Then in order of preference next potatoes, then tomatoes, peppers, and anything else. Some years are worse than others (weather? population cycle?). This is a pretty bad year for flea beetles.
Randy |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|