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Connecticut Garden Journal
Connecticut Garden Journal is a weekly program hosted by horticulturalist Charlie Nardozzi. Each week, Charlie focuses on a topic relevant to both new and experienced gardeners, including pruning lilac bushes, growing blight-free tomatoes, groundcovers, sunflowers, bulbs, pests, and more.

Connecticut Garden Journal: Garden Beetles

Brad Smith
/
Creative Commons
Potato Beetle

Remember to use sprays as a last resort.

While I loved the Beatles growing up, I don't like this Fab Four in my veggie garden. 

Asparagus, potato, bean, and cucumber beetles are out. Here are some organic controls.

For all beetles, handpicking adults in the morning while they’re sluggish reduces the population.

If you can’t do it, pay the neighborhood kids. It’s a great summer job!

Larval forms of beetles are easier to control. The spotted, red asparagus beetle larva is a fat, gray worm that munches on asparagus ferns. They can quickly defoliate your plant and reduce production.

Knock the larvae off the ferns by shaking them periodically. They won't climb back up. Also, spray spinosad in the evening when bees are less active.

Crush the clusters of orange, potato beetle eggs on the underside of leaves and spray Bt San Diego on the red, soft-bodied larvae. Don’t worry about killing them all. Potatoes can lose up to a third of their leaves and still produce.

In the same away, crush yellow clusters of Mexican bean beetle eggs on the underside of bean leaves.

Don't confuse the adult bean beetle with a ladybug. Check online for photos of each.

Cover the beans with a floating row cover to prevent the adult from laying eggs.

Credit Stephen Ausmus / U.S. Department of Agriculture
/
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Mexican bean beetle.

Cucumber beetles are tough to control. Not only do they feed on the leaves and flowers, they spread bacterial wilt disease.

Hang yellow sticky traps above young plants to catch the adults. They’re attracted to the color. Spray kaolin clay or diatomaceous earth to kill the adults.

Remember to use sprays always as a last resort, and clean up plants and weeds in fall to reduce the pest numbers.

Next week on the Connecticut Garden Journal, I'll be talking about echinacea. Until then, I'll be seeing you in the garden.

Charlie Nardozzi is a regional Emmy® Award winning garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert information to home gardeners.

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