| Among the worst vegetable garden pests are aphids. | | | | produce eggs that will lie dormant for the winter, |
| Aphids are small green bugs, about 1 mm long, and | | | | thereby creating a whole new batch of aphids for |
| they will kill your plants. They like nice young plants. | | | | next year. |
| They like soft green plants. They like plants that have | | | | So if you can't wash them off and they fly away |
| grown quickly and have lots of new, tender leaves. | | | | when you attack them, how do you fight off these |
| Everywhere they bite your plant they leave behind | | | | nasty little bugs? |
| poison that doesn't just kill the plants where they bite. It | | | | Well, one natural enemy of aphids is the ladybug. If you |
| kills future growth as well. They are hardy little water | | | | have a healthy population of ladybugs or lacewings, |
| suckers, and they need lots of water from your plants | | | | they will certainly help to keep the aphid population |
| to survive. | | | | down. The other side of the coin is to be less negative |
| Aphids especially like tomatoes and squash, particularly | | | | and find a positive way to encourage the aphids to |
| juicy varieties. Some of them also have wings so that | | | | stay away from your vegetables. |
| when they are attacked, that is when you try to wash | | | | Aphids love nasturtiums. Nasturtiums have bright |
| them away, they can fly away to another plant. They | | | | orange flowers and look lovely planted around and |
| secrete a chemical when threatened that causes the | | | | among your vegetables. The nasturtium plant has lots |
| next generation of aphids to create a larger population | | | | of leaves, and the aphids will flock to the nasturtiums |
| with wings. When more of them have wings they can | | | | restaurant rather than hang out at the fast food |
| spread all around your garden more easily and are | | | | tomato joint. Seriously, just a couple of nasturtiums |
| quite happy to attack your neighbor's plants, as well. | | | | planted a in the middle of your garden will go a long |
| Aphids reproduce quickly and can cover your plants in | | | | way toward keeping the aphids off of your |
| just a couple of days. Every adult aphid is capable of | | | | vegetables, not to mention creating a beautiful, colorful |
| reproducing at a rate of 10 or more live baby aphids | | | | centerpiece for your garden. And one last plus from |
| every day. You may find it interesting to know that | | | | nasturtiums: they're edible for humans. Try some in |
| aphids don't need males for reproduction. The females | | | | your salad. Just be sure to leave plenty for those |
| only use the male aphids when they're ready to | | | | aggravating vegetable garden pests - aphids. |