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Old May 5, 2008   #3
Suze
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
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Mike, I sometimes use Ortho bug-b-gone (aka bifenthrin). Just be careful what you pick up when purchasing, as Ortho has at least a couple "bug-b-gone" products and they are not all the same, nor are they all approved for use on edibles. Read the label and make sure you get the bifenthrin liquid. Also, do not spray it when temps exceed 82 or 83 per instructions. This means this time of yr, you will likely either need to use it in the morning or late in the day.

It will knock 'em dead (both mature bugs and nymphs). Does an excellent job. I tend to use it a few times earlier in the season every couple or three weeks or so, so that the population can't get a foothold and multiply in the first place. I've sprayed once a couple of weeks ago, may do so again next week. Last year, I had maybe 2-3 fruits that showed any visible signs of damage (minor), that that was in a cool/productive long season yr with over 160 tomato plants. It sure does help.

Surround (finely milled clay, which is mixed with water, then sprayed to form a repellent coating on the plants) will also do a good job at keeping them at bay, if something organic is your preference. However, if you grow more than say, 20-30 plants, Surround may be impractical. I do use it occasionally on peppers and cucurbits, though. It does a great job of keeping the aphids away from the peppers, and the stem borers and cuke beetles away from the cucurbits. Surround also makes hardening off of tomato and other seedlings faster and easier.
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