From fullcircle@jps.net Sat Jan 22 12:39:29 2000 Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 08:52:33 -0800 From: Marcie Rosenzweig To: CSA-L@prairienet.org Subject: Re: Planting for pests-the question for anyone to answer Liz, The technique you describe is called trap cropping. It can be a very effective tool for control of certain insect pests. The "missing ingredient," if you will, is killing the pests and the trap crop - that way you don't have overwintering of the pests. It might work like this. You direct seed mustard at the edge of your broccoli plot. Let it grow for three weeks or so, then transplant your broccoli. At 5 weeks, the mustard is 4 inches high and covered with flea beetles. Now you need to kill the flea beetles and the mustard before the flea beetles can reproduce. Here are some options: Spray the mustard with a natural pyrethrin. (check with your certifying agency to see which name brands are approved) Pyrethrins have good "knock-down" characteristics with insects. Immediately till in the mustard, or immediately flame the mustard and the flea beetles. You could also cover the row/bed with a clear plastic and weigh it down completely on all edges and let everything under it solarize. Succession planting of trap crops is a good idea. You could actually time this if you can find out the hatching period of flea beetles. I suspect they work on a "degree-day" cycle. We planted an accidental "trap crop" of Mei Qing pac choi on year. A neighbor mowed a field in spring and all the lygus bugs migrated to the pac choi. Oh well, the left the other crucifers alone. Hope this helps, Marcie Marcie A. Rosenzweig Full Circle Organic Farm Auburn, CA