Peter asks: I am having difficulty with something eating or cutting off my new seedlings shortly after they emerge. I see a small beetle-like bug and some roly-poly critters in the soil. Are these causing the problem? If so, how do I get rid of them? If not, what’s causing the damage?
Once I get some seedlings going, what kind of fertility do you recommend beyond the soil from my compost pile?
Tropical Gardener answer: (with help from Kona Master Gardeners) Several possible explanations exist for your seedling loss. If the roly-poly critters you see are reddish in color and long enough to roll into a spiral, they are millipedes. Millipedes can cause damage to seedlings. If they are kind of grey and can only roll into a small ball, they are more likely pill bugs or roly poly bugs. Both are in the phylum Arthropoda but the pill bug is not reported to cause damage to seedlings. Check the internet to see photos of each for positive identification. The beetle like bug may be a Chinese rose beetle. They can cause plant damage but they usually wait until true leaves appear and then start chewing shot-holes in the leaves.
Another possibility is the cutworm. These critters are actually caterpillars, the larvae of a moth and they feed at night and hide in the soil during the day. They also curl up into a partial spiral when disturbed. Again, best way to get positive identification is by going online and looking at pictures. Young seedlings are the cutworm’s favorite food.
One way to prevent your seedlings from being eaten is to protect them from predators. Master Gardener, Kathy Suter advised this technique. You can make cardboard, metal or plastic collars by recycling tubing from paper products, metal cans with both ends cut out or plastic cups with the bottoms cut off. Encircling each seedling with a collar that is buried about an inch in the soil may seem tedious if you have a lot of them, but it will work.
If you positively identify the predator as a caterpillar, an organically approved product called Bt (Bacillus thuringensis) will kill them. It will not work on the arthropods, however. This will kill any and all caterpillars, so if you like butterflies, don’t use it.
Several other home remedies have been found to work. Nighttime collection works well. Go out and catch the munchers in the act. Put them in a jar of soapy water and they will die. Persist until you don’t find anymore. Also diatomaceous earth and cornmeal can work against cut worms. Check out the website: http://www.wikihow.com/Control-Cutworms for drawings and an explanation of these suggestions and more.
It’s a good idea to plant in some of your compost. Kathy suggested soil testing which is also a good idea. Your compost is full of microbes but may be deficient in some important nutrients. Go to UH CTAHR free publications for directions and call the Master Gardeners if you have questions and want to know when to bring in your samples to the office.
Kathy’s suggestion of neem fertilizer is also a good one. It has a fairly balanced NPK content with additional micronutrients. It also releases into the soil slowly. It does have an odor that seems to discourage a lot of pests. The best way to add nutrition to your soil responsibly is to find out what it lacks and add it, however.
Hope your next round of seedlings survive and you get a good garden going.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living on an organic farm in Captain Cook. Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by Certified Master Gardeners. Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.
Gardening Events
Wednesday: “CBB 101 Workshop” from 10 a.m. to noon at the UH CTAHR Extension Service
79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway in Kainaliu. Basics of coffee berry borer biology and ecology and current Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. RSVP online at http://hawaiicoffee.weebly.com/2017-cbb-workshops.html or by contacting Gina at 808-322-4892 at least two days before the workshop.
Thursday: “Aloha ‘Aina” from 6 to 11 p.m. at Edible World Institute across from the Club in Kailua-Kona, below Kopiko plaza. An event celebrating the love of food, music and community. Seed, plant and produce exchange planned with locally sourced dinners available. Musicians include Buckman Coe, Jus Wright, Caleb Hart and others. Door $10. Come enjoy local food and community. All ages admitted. For more information email info@edibleworldinstitute.org.
CBB Update Workshop from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the UH CTAHR Extension Service,
79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway in Kainaliu. Those who have attended a basic CBB class can learn about research updates and recent changes to 2016 IPM document. RSVP online at http://hawaiicoffee.weebly.com/2017-cbb-workshops.html or by contacting Gina at 808-322-4892 at least two days before the workshop.
Saturday: “Little Fire Ant Awareness Meeting” from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Kailua Kona Public Library 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona. Presented by the Community Seed Library and sponsored by Friends of the Libraries, Kona (F.O.L.K.) Hawaii Ant Lab will discuss methods for control. Free to all. Questions welcome. For more information go to www.littlefireants.com or contact Heather Forester at 315-5656.
Next Sunday: “Kona Coffee Farmers Association Annual Membership Meeting” starts at noon at the Kahaluu Beach Pavilion. A potluck luncheon followed by the annual KCFA member’s business meeting. Go to http://www.konacoffeefarmers.org/events/event/kcfa-annual-general-meeting-january-29-2017/ for more information and to RSVP
Farmer Direct Markets
Wednesday: “Sunset Farmers Market” 2 p.m. to sunset at the north makai corner of the Kmart parking lot.
Wednesday & Friday: “Ho’oulu Farmers Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay
Friday: “Pure Kona Market” 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” from 7 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables
Sunday: “Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
Tuesday–Saturday: “U-Pick greens and produce” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tropical Edibles Nursery, Captain Cook.
Plant Advice Lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu — 322-4892
Mon., Tues. & Fri: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu