A good portion of the information presented below has been taken from two publications created in Massachusetts for IPM production and modified for conditions in Maine and to meet the guidelines for organic productions. The two publications are the UMass. Veg. IPM Newsletter (Ruth Hazzard) and the Massachusetts Small Fruit IPM Message (Sonia Schloemann). For information on how to get these original publications contact me.

Rain blanketed the region this week and appears to have brought anywhere from one-half inch to over 3 inches of much-needed water. Crops (and weeds) should get a big boost. Farm ponds depleted by pumping for frost protection and irrigation can have a rest.

Early crucifers, peppers, eggplant and tomatoes have been going out under cover. Early corn is up. It is time to plant beans, squash, pumpkins, etc., and almost time to set out the melons and cucumbers. Early potatoes are emerging. Garlic, onions, peas and all the greens are looking good now that we have received the rain.

PESTS AND DISEASES SEEN AND/OR LIKELY TO BE SEEN SOON:

There have been many reports of asparagus beetles this week. Beware because not only can this beetle ruin the spears but if in large numbers it will weaken plants and reduce next year’s yields. The beetle is voracious and make their first appearance as soon as the shoots push above the soil in the spring. They gnaw out the tips causing them to turn brown. Once the leaves come out the beetles and their grubs feed away leaving bare stems.

The beetles winter in sheltered places near the gardens. Egg laying begins soon after they appear. The eggs are black and are laid all in a row on the spear or stem, each standing on its end. The eggs hatch within a week and the gray grubs migrate to the tips of the spears or the leaves where they feed. After feeding for about two weeks the grubs pupate and a new generation of adults appear. There are two to three generations a year. Asparagus can tolerate some beetle pressure but if the pressure gets great it will defoliate the crop. New plantings are very susceptible. Control: small numbers of beetles can be hand picked. For larger plantings I recommend a concentrated pyrethrum spray such as Pyrenone. Five percent rotenone should also work.

There are natural predators (lady beetles, lacewings and a chalcid wasp), so if your population of asparagus beetles is small it is probably because the natural predators are doing a good enough job. Do not kill them with the pyrethrum or rotenone spray...leave well enough alone.

Wireworms are the larvae of the click beetle. They are a third of an inch to an inch and a half long, orange to dark brown. They chew on underground parts of plants and dig tiny holes into thick plant parts such as carrots or potatoes. Sod can support tremendous populations of wireworms with no sign of damage, but when you turn the ground into a garden the story is different. Wireworms take years to develop and new gardens out of sod usually show great loss because there is much less plant material for the previous large population to feed on. Once a fields is out of sod for a few years the populations of wireworms goes way down, unless you let the field go to weeds. Fall cleanup is important if you have wireworm problems. After you remove the crop debris cultivate two time about a week or two apart before you plant your fall cover crop. Clover cover crops are said to repel wireworms.

Not only new gardens but crops grown near the edges of gardens are at risk. Susceptible crops such as carrots, potatoes, onions, etc. should not be grown in a new garden and not near the edges of gardens or fields. Wireworms can be trapped in pieces of potato and removed from the field. Cut potatoes into pieces and bury the pieces about 2-4 inches deep 3 to 10 feet apart. Mark where you put the pieces and pull them up after a week or so and destroy them.

I have received many reports of seedlings that have grown no more than an inch since germination. All of the reports I received came from growers using the same product produced right here in Maine. If you had severe problems with your seedlings it may not be your fault...it may be the result of the very low nutrient level in this mix.

(About the author: Eric is MOFGA’s "extension agent" and can be reached at the MOFGA office to answer your questions about farming and gardening. Link to MOFGA Contact Page, or email Eric directly.)