[Arid_gardener] RE: caterpillars on basil

[Donald Garnett]

I'd just like to make a small clarification to add to Tyler's advice: Caterpillars come
from eggs laid by a moth or butterfly on your basil plant itself - they almost never
climb onto a plant from the ground. So, if you want to kill the caterpillars, you have
to apply the control directly to the plants. Spreading it around at the base of the 
plant will not work. 
 
    good luck
    Don Garnett
    Tucson> ------------------------------> > Message: 4> Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:26:42 -0700> From: "Tyler Storey" <tyler at tylerstorey.com>> Subject: RE: [Arid_gardener] Basil> To: "'loujo'" <loujo at cox.net>, "'Arid Gardener'" arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu> > Hi Lou,> > Short of searching and picking them off by hand, the best method is to spray> with a substance called Bt, or Bacillus thuringiensis. It comes under a> number of trade names and is available at almost any garden store or> nursery. It's an organic method for controlling caterpillars, and works by> essentially giving them a terminal stomachache. Even though it should be> completely safe, as with any pesticide, organic or not, always read and> follow the label. > > Failing that, you might like to know that caterpillars are what they eat,> and those little green guys eating your basil are pretty much 99 percent> basil themselves, and so unlikely to be much cause for concern if they get> into your food. Not, admittedly, an approach for the faint of heart or weak> of stomach. Probably better to stick with the Bt.> > I hope this helps,> > Tyler> > > > <mailto:tyler at tylerstorey.com> tyler at tylerstorey.com> > <http://tylerstorey.com> http://tylerstorey.com> > 602-738-2978> > _____ > > From: arid_gardener-bounces at CALS.arizona.edu> [mailto:arid_gardener-bounces at CALS.arizona.edu] On Behalf Of loujo> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 5:22 PM> To: Arid Gardener> Subject: [Arid_gardener] Basil> > > We have a wonderful crop of Italian Basil growing in our raised garden.> > About a month or so ago we noticed that the leafs were being eaten, and> since then the damage has become worse.> > Last week my wife discovered a green worm about an inch long on some of the> Basil when she went to wash it off.> > My question what can I use to rid my plants of these worms. I don't want to> spray the plants with anything because we enjoy the Basil in our food so> much.> > Is there something that I can spread around the base of the plants. Or any> other suggestions.> > Please help> > > > LOU 85226
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