Pest Management: Tips For Fall Garden Preparation

From my years of experience, pests are unavoidable, the best we can do is know what we are looking at and consider options for management. As you can imagine, this is a never-ending topic and I could probably write a whole book about it!

Since this is just a newsletter, I tried to consider what information I can give you that would be the most helpful, so I’m only going to cover a few pieces of advice here. I’m sure you may have problems with things I won’t cover, but you'll find solutions for those too if you just stick with me this season. 😊

🌿 Understanding and Managing Garden Pests

For years I’ve instructed on using Integrated pest management (IPM). What do the problems look like and what could be causing them?

Instructing IPM during a field day workshop at UF IFAS NFREC-SV

🔍 Start by Scouting Your Plants

First, you should scout your plants on a weekly basis. You need to look for something that looks different. Leaves curling, misshaped, yellowing (chlorotic), etc. If you see insects, what are they? Determine if they are good (beneficials) or bad (pests)?

I recently went to one of our major stores with a garden shop and I was looking at some peppers. I saw a tray that looked good, but in the trays next to the good one were plants that looked stunted and some had misshaped leaves, especially in the new growth.

⚠️ Recognizing Virus-Vector Issues

Healthy looking plants next to what appears to be viral- stricken plants

For a moment I considered one of the good-looking plants, but my experience told me that if these plants are grown in the same location as the ones that don’t look so good, chances are the good-looking plants will have this same problem, but it hasn’t developed enough to show yet.

These signs indicate a possible virus. Viruses are vectored (transmitted) by insects. We can treat the plant for pests, but if your pests are carrying a virus and transmit it to the plant, it is too late. You can’t remove the virus from the plant. If I see something like this, I remove the plant to help stop transmission to other plants, if possible.

Chlorotic tomato leaves with a virus vectored by whitefly

🦋 Learning to Identify Beneficial Insects

Next, look for pests and beneficials.

When looking at pests and they look like mites or aphids, they will be moving slowly. If I see something tiny, like a mite, fly or wasp and they are moving fast, there is a good chance you are looking at a beneficial insect.

The holes in the mummies of aphids are made by the parasitic wasp Aphidius colemani when they hatch.

Another sign is what appears to be a hole in the pest, in this case aphids and whiteflies. This means the pest insect has been parasitized by a beneficial wasp of some sort. They lay eggs inside the pest, which develop within it, and hatch by eating a hole in the mummy of the pest to hatch. If you see these holes, you have beneficials.

A similar thing happens to whitefly.

The Encarcia Formosa and other wasps in this family are beneficial using whitefly to reproduce

🐞 Recognizing the Lady Beetle’s Life Stages

A familiar beneficial is the Lady Beetle also known as a Ladybug. Most people are familiar with the adult stage, but there are other stages in their life cycle.

Adult stage

When I had an herb nursery, I noticed that there were tiny eggs on a mint branch. I was concerned that they were from a pest and did not want them hatching, so I removed them.

Lady Beetle eggs

Shortly after, I found out what they were (Lady Beetle eggs) and wished I hadn’t been so hasty. Needless to say, I now know what I’m looking at and no longer remove them!

The larval stage is mistaken for a pest, but they are actually a wonderfully aggressive beneficial; they quickly take out pests.

Lady Beetle larvae

🌐 Use the Internet and University Resources

Luckily with internet browsers, you can search for resource information to help you identify what is going on (I do realize that is not always easy). I suggest putting in the word “university” when entering a description of what you’re looking at, (worm, beetle, etc.) the color and the plant they are on. Then pull up images and see if you find something that looks like your problem.

Insects in the same family can look different, different colors, etc. I know that universities involve research when writing reports, which is why I like searching university databases. If you still can’t find what you’re looking for and I can’t help, go to your local extension and take a sample of the insect or plant to them.

🍂 Fall Gardening Reminders

Change of subject! ✍️

It is fall and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention NOW is the time to plan winter crops or prepare for spring!

In zone 8 there are many herbs and vegetables that can be grown in the winter season. I also now know that there are many that can be grown in zone 7, as well, where it gets cold, but has little snow (except in the mountains).

🌱 Plan, Test, and Prepare Your Soil

I will be getting out last year’s seeds and test them for germination (check out my past Herb Talks on my website for more information about this).

Once I get back to Florida, I will get my seed catalogs out (or go online). Sometimes the seed packets have more seeds than can be used in a season. Planning with friends to order things you would like and splitting the seeds and cost is a smart thing to consider.

Now is also the time to prepare the soil to be planted!

For me this means I will test my soil and add amendments that are needed to my planting areas so they will be ready for planting. When I’m in Florida I’m in zone 8, so I will be aiming for October or November to start sowing seeds. For those planting in the spring, preparing now is still a good idea.

✉️ Reach Out for Help on Pest Management

This is a very broad subject and there is no way I can give you all the guidance and tips for all the issues in this short blogpost. If you do have questions, please feel free to email me. I might not be able to help you long distance, but I might be able to direct you to a resource of some kind.

Also, if you go to my website and go under "Herb Talks," you will find a wealth of information about planting in the Fall.

Check it out and if you have any questions, reach out! Wishing you pest-free gardens!