NCDA Hosts Pesticide Pickup, Nov 27

Do you have old pesticides that you don't use?  You can dispose of them safely on Tuesday, November 27.  The NCDA will be hosting a pesticide pickup day at the Extension Office located at 4024 Richlands Highway.  The pickup will be from 10 am until 2 pm.  Bring pesticides (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides) in labelled containers and they will be safely disposed of for free.  Call 910.455.5873 for additional information.

Imported Cabbageworm

It's been cool and rainy lately but the gardens still need attention as evidenced by the damage on this broccoli plant. 

Cabbage, broccoli and collards can still be attacked by the larva of imported cabbageworm. Small larva will eat tissue from the underside of the leaves, while larger larva chew ragged holes through the leaves.  When you see holes, look on the underside of the leaves or along the leaf vein for the culprit.

 

Here's the culprit - a fairly mature imported cabbageworm larve lays still trying to blend in with the vein of the broccoli leaf.

 

 

 

Caterpillars can be controlled by handpicking in small plantings. In larger plantings, products containing Bt, spinosad or carbaryl as the active will provide control. When using any pesticide, always read and follow label directions. 

Plant Bulbs and Winter Vegetables

November is a great time to plant bulbs for spring flowers.  It is also a good time to divide established bulb plantings if they need it.  Bulbs that will perform year after year in Onslow County include: daffodils, star flower (Ipheion uniflorum), blue bottles (Muscari neglectum), Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica), summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) and lilies (both Asiatic and Oriental).

You can harvest something out of your vegetable garden all winter long.  Onion seeds or sets and garlic bulbs can be planted for harvest next spring.  Remember that chard (especially varieties such as ‘Bright Lights’ with its red, orange and yellow stems), kale, lettuces and cabbage can straddle the line between vegetable garden and ornamental plantings.  Plant them in the vegetable bed, along the edge of the flower border or tuck into a container for seasonal interest.

Chard "Bright Lights"