Mexican bean beetles look very similar to ladybugs. They have a tan back with black dots, and the younger ones do not have any spots. If left unchecked, they can destroy foliage and pods. Treatment Options: Hand-picking and placing the beetle in a soapy water bucket is a great way to get rid of them. Companion planting potatoes can help prevent Mexican bean beetles. Placing insect netting (floating row covers) over your […]
These mites are extremely small relatives of spiders. They are typically found on the undersides of leaves. An easy way to check for them is to place a sheet of white paper underneath the leaves and gently tap. If you see moving specks on the paper then you have a problem. Treatment Options: Putting your beneficial insects to work is one of the best ways to help with spider mites! Releasing or attracting green […]
Thrips are tiny straw-colored insects with two pairs of wings. They can damage plants by sucking out their juices causing discoloration and even death! Treatment Options: As with most pests, the best solution is prevention. Placing a floating row cover with insect netting will help to prevent these critters from eating your plants. Another good prevention is to remove excess weeds and grass around the garden areas as this can help to attract them. […]
Squash vine borers are the larvae of a bright orange wasp-like moth that has 2 black and 2 transparent wings. It lays the eggs that are born into larvae inside the stem of the plant. The larvae feed inside the stem near the base of the plant and can kill a plant in a matter of days. Treatment Options: As with most pests, the best solution is prevention. The moth will rarely travel much […]
Aphids are tiny insects that can usually be found in groups on the undersides of leaves and stems. A few aphids can’t do much, but they reproduce quickly, are born pregnant, and can take over a plant in no time at all! Treatment Options: Spray aphids off leaves with a blast of water from the sprayer and repeat as necessary for a few days Ladybugs are valuable ally and can be purchased to help with […]
Cucumber beetles look similar to ladybugs. They can either be spotted or striped with yellow and black coloring. The adults feed on stems, foliage, and flowers. The larvae weaken the plant by feeding on the roots. They also spread bacterial wilt and squash mosaic virus. Treatment Options: Cucumber beetles can be extremely difficult to control. You can buy commercial cucumber beetle traps or build them yourself. We build DIY cucumber beetle traps using yellow cups, […]
Squash bugs are one of our biggests pests in the summer. A minor infestation can get out of hand in a hurry if you don’t stay on top of it. The adults are a dark, triangular insect with a flat back. You can find their tiny copper-colored eggs in clusters on the undersides of leaves. You want to make sure to get them under control as soon as you spot them, or else they can […]
This is an update and tour of our zone 7 Oklahoma urban backyard organic food farm! I show what we’re currently growing, talk about what we are planting right now, and share some tips and lessons I’ve learned from the summer!
This is a quick update and tour of our zone 7 urban Oklahoma backyard farm where we’re attempting to grow most of the vegetables for our family of 6!
The Native Americans planted corn, beans, and squash together as the “Three Sisters”. The corn grew tall and provided support for the beans. The beans grew up the corn, provided support, and fed the soil nitrogen. And lastly, the squash vines throughout the area, shaded the soil and prevented weeds from growing. We planted corn a few weeks ago and now it’s time to start the beans. Previous video about this: