| Why am I getting so many aphids on my egg plant? What can I do to stop this infestation? |
| Aphids will be attracted to the new growth on nearly any plant. Once a few find the plant, they can colonize almost overnight. This is because aphids give birth to live young - at an alarming rate. In fact, you could have several generations feeding on a single stem. You can hose the pests off the plant - be thorough because you'll find them on the stems and undersides of the leaves as well as on top. Hose them off 2-3 times a day for several days in a row and you can rid your plants of these pests. Or, you can use insecticidal soap (such as Safer's). You might also try to attract aphids' natural predators, the lady bug and the parisitizing wasp. Attracting these predators is as simple as having lots of different kinds of flowers in your garden all spring and summer long. Best wishes with your garden! |
