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Post by madonplants on May 30, 2008 13:00:36 GMT 1
Thinking of Mrs B's dandelion thread, thought I would ask the question. Don't think this has been asked before. If it has, I'm sorry! I try my hardest to be organic, haven't even used the new slug pellets, but I will go the weedkiller option, when things are 'really bad', a bit like Alan Titchmarsh once said. Take for instance when we lived in Skelmersdale, we had a bad case of horsetail coming up everywhere at the bottom of the garden. It was there when we moved in. Donning the marigolds, I used glyphosate rubbed into each spike I found. It did work after about 2/3 applications and I never saw it again! We were there another 4 years, before anyone says anything!  I have tried again to try and find that site that says that Glyphosate is organic abroad, but not in this country. I found it by accident, looking for something else. When I say 100% organic, I mean 100% organic, not just on weeds and pests, but fertiliser too, even in those bags of compost you buy. You can't be totally organic if you feed and weed your lawn, for instance. TBH, I don't feed my lawn! What's the point with two boys and a dog!! I get really upset, especially on the Beeb boards, when as soon as someone mentions vine weevil or other similar pests, quite a few say, reach for the provado, without a second thought. It's like provado this provado that!! Hope I haven't upset anyone there! I have used nematodes and been very successful. Note, I didn't use a capital p for provado! Do you know, on one thread about Monty's replacement, someone even said, they wanted less environment/wildlife more on plants. Maybe this thread should have been in the environment section! So how do you garden? |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 30, 2008 16:18:16 GMT 1
I voted don't know just to vote....you can't really be a bit organic...it's either/or IMO...I had never used chemicals in my life until I weakened last winter and sprayed my rancid nettles with Glysophate and I bitterly regret it! It didn't make the slightest difference to the nettles and now I can no longer call myself an organic gardener....  If you care about the environment you can't pick and choose - you either don't use chemicals at all or decide that it's OK. I don't mean to be critical of anyone - it's entirely up to the individual.. |
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Post by debbiem on May 30, 2008 16:23:05 GMT 1
Apart from Growmore, MiracleGro and Baby Bio and Tomato feed completely organic but I suppose that downgrades me to a mostly organic? And I'm not as consciencious about compost either as I should be but I will do better!  I throw the snails to the chickens, I suppose that's organic? But no chemicals of any kind whatsoever. I did put weedkiller on a load of nettles where we used to live, we were inundated with them. It killed them off but back they came, as fast and furious as ever! If I had the chance of a lovely big garden again I wouldn't use any chemical on anything. |
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Post by debidoos on May 30, 2008 18:39:03 GMT 1
I put bit of both
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 30, 2008 21:47:27 GMT 1
Bit of both me...I refrain from using chemicals until I see a dratted vine weevil...then I'm running for the provado like a madwoman. ;D
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Post by floweringcherry on May 30, 2008 22:48:13 GMT 1
I've registered a bit of both (I think) never done a poll before.
I like to think I garden with wildlife and the environment in mind. I will always go the organic route, but put my hands up to using Provado in my (very many pots) having had a serious problem some years ago.
I grow veg and would not use any pesticides on those, I regularly go out after dark, looking for slugs, vine weevils etc with my torch. I do add slow release fertiliser to my tubs and baskets, usually use pelleted chicken manure, or horse manure (well rotted). I have compost bins that give good quality compost, so as I say a bit of both.
A good thread!
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Post by madonplants on May 31, 2008 20:43:04 GMT 1
Bit of both for me too. I'll spray my roses against black and green fly and black spot but thats all I'll ever do. OH uses weed and feed on the lawn though. I have never, ever used slug pellets and stopped using sticky fly papers in my little greenhouses after seeing beneficial insects stuck to them along with white fly - used marigolds from then on to keep white fly at bay. So you now go around squidging flies, while wearing rubber gloves, do you! |
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Post by mickthecactus on Jun 2, 2008 15:47:44 GMT 1
Both.
Provado has been such a boon in the greenhouse.
I try not to use slug pellets but sometimes the frogs need a hand....
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Post by canarycreeper on Jun 17, 2008 13:59:04 GMT 1
I voted 'mainly organic' - although I've never used weedkiller or any other kind of killers (S&S get saucers of beer, I tried the nametodes but they did squat), I do use Phostrogen, particularly on pots (generally use seaweed fertiliser and horse poo, when I can get it, in the borders). The nice thing about not using weedkillers etc. is that you can pick a head of lettuce and just wipe any soild off the leaves, knowing there is nothing truly disgusting ;D ;D ... cheers ...
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Post by Sweetleaf on Jun 17, 2008 15:36:03 GMT 1
Up till this year totally organic, but I did use slug pellets around my cabbages, on the lottie, they couldnt stop them getting club root though, and then bolting.  |
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Post by madonplants on Jun 17, 2008 15:44:14 GMT 1
Up till this year totally organic, but I did use slug pellets around my cabbages, on the lottie, they couldnt stop them getting club root though, and then bolting. Doesn't adding lime help that? |
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Post by Sleepy on Jun 17, 2008 15:45:54 GMT 1
Up till this year totally organic, but I did use slug pellets around my cabbages, on the lottie, they couldnt stop them getting club root though, and then bolting. Doesn't adding lime help that? I've mentioned this before - one sure fire way to avoid clubroot. Put a 1" piece of rhubarb in the hole as you plant your brassicas. Never fails. |
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Post by Sweetleaf on Jun 17, 2008 15:49:23 GMT 1
Doesn't adding lime help that? I've mentioned this before - one sure fire way to avoid clubroot. Put a 1" piece of rhubarb in the hole as you plant your brassicas. Never fails. And I did that, and used lime in advance, no joy. Im not doing Brassicas next year.  |
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Post by madonplants on Jun 17, 2008 15:51:57 GMT 1
Doesn't adding lime help that? I've mentioned this before - one sure fire way to avoid clubroot. Put a 1" piece of rhubarb in the hole as you plant your brassicas. Never fails. Really, they never mentioned that on that Big Dig, or whatever that allotment programme was called? |
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Post by Sleepy on Jun 17, 2008 15:52:59 GMT 1
I've mentioned this before - one sure fire way to avoid clubroot. Put a 1" piece of rhubarb in the hole as you plant your brassicas. Never fails. And I did that, and used lime in advance, no joy. Im not doing Brassicas next year. You must have missed the hole with the rhubarb. Try standing closer when you throw it in next time - it MUST go in the hole. |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 3, 2008 21:46:43 GMT 1
This year I've used no chemicals apart from one dose of provado earlier in the season on my ornamental plants in pots. However...we've had beetroot leaf miner, carrot root fly (despite clean compost and low netting), red spider mite in the GH ( it's well ventilated and clean) , flea beetle (ruined the mooli), the usual suspects of greenfly, blackfly, ants and snails.... and the apple tree isn't looking too brilliant....we've lost all the pak choi, half the carrots and kohl rabi and beetroot...and we may lose all the apples.... I water thoroughly, dead head and take out dead or damaged growth, keep the weeds down and feed regularly. I encourage birds and other predators into the garden, and I know that they're taking a lot of the aphids and snails.....But just sometimes I get a bit fed up. but I haven't crumbled yet..... |
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 3, 2008 22:10:29 GMT 1
Red spider mite in the greenhouse is areal problem for me. I need to check and I will spray.
What happened to the beetroot?
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Post by roan on Aug 3, 2008 22:16:14 GMT 1
We don't use any chemicals in our garden.
Thrushes are plentiful and keep the snail population at bay, whilst Praying Mantises deal to the aphids and other mites.
Our philosophy is that the plants must make it on their own. If they cannot, then they have no place in our garden.
We only use natural fertiliser such as sheep dags and blood and bone and they seem to work very well.
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 3, 2008 22:20:24 GMT 1
I'm afraid that I have to use chemicals in the greenhouse but only when I have to.
I don't use them as a preventative. Next to red spider mite mealy bugs are the biggest problem.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 4, 2008 17:35:42 GMT 1
I found a bl**dy great snail on my tomatoes today. I'm afraid I didn't chuck it...I squished it...
The beetroot was chucked Mick..largely because I haven't got room in my small garden for anything that looks as awful as the beetroot leaves did....the fruits were small and squashy...yuk.
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Post by madonplants on Aug 5, 2008 0:02:32 GMT 1
I found a bl**dy great snail on my tomatoes today. I'm afraid I didn't chuck it...I squished it... The beetroot was chucked Mick..largely because I haven't got room in my small garden for anything that looks as awful as the beetroot leaves did....the fruits were small and squashy...yuk. We hardly had any snails in our Oakham garden, but then we did have song thrushes there in abundance, sadly never seen one here,....................... YET! If Jennifer finds a snail, she throws it to me to squish. If she can throw it to me, why can't 'she' just tread on it?  Cheery it might take 3 years to get the balance right and even then, you will still have problems, though never as bad. I know it's hard, I'm going through it again now, two years into this garden. We have aphids, though numbers are falling, which maybe down to the wasps we have, nesting behind the little roof above our front door, they are great insect eaters and this time, not too near the kids. By biggest problem so far is, as everyone know, ants!! Hundreds of them, in fact!  |
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Post by Sleepy on Aug 5, 2008 9:08:08 GMT 1
This year I've used no chemicals apart from one dose of provado earlier in the season on my ornamental plants in pots. However...we've had beetroot leaf miner, carrot root fly (despite clean compost and low netting), red spider mite in the GH ( it's well ventilated and clean) , flea beetle (ruined the mooli), the usual suspects of greenfly, blackfly, ants and snails.... and the apple tree isn't looking too brilliant....we've lost all the pak choi, half the carrots and kohl rabi and beetroot...and we may lose all the apples.... I water thoroughly, dead head and take out dead or damaged growth, keep the weeds down and feed regularly. I encourage birds and other predators into the garden, and I know that they're taking a lot of the aphids and snails.....But just sometimes I get a bit fed up. but I haven't crumbled yet..... Cheery have you tried growing onions next to carrots - as onions keep the carrot fly away and vice versa. Be careful when thinning out carrots too, dispose of the thinnings quickly as the carrot fly can smell them a mile off! BTW bran is brilliant at killing slugs and snails - but you must keep it dry. Carrot flies keep onions away? I've never heard that before!!! Still, you live and learn - thanks The witch... I think ;D |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 5, 2008 20:08:23 GMT 1
I've got chives and leeks next to the carrots....  I've got some onion seedlings for next season...and obviously IF we have a nice, hard winter that will help kill off all the bugs..... |
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Post by madonplants on Aug 5, 2008 22:21:15 GMT 1
I've got chives and leeks next to the carrots.... I've got some onion seedlings for next season...and obviously IF we have a nice, hard winter that will help kill off all the bugs..... I'm convinced that is why we are seeing so many insect pests in the last few years, even my ants. Maybe this winter it will happen. Thing is, I've been saying that for the last few winters!!  |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 6, 2008 21:05:46 GMT 1
Gave in and sprayed the apple tree last night. It looks better already.
I am a very bad girl.
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If you care about the environment you can't pick and choose - you either don't use chemicals at all or decide that it's OK. I don't mean to be critical of anyone - it's entirely up to the individual..
