Organic way to prevent corn ear worms.

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
MaryinLa Marshfield, MO(Zone 6a) Apr 27, 2007

I am trying to stay all organic, but I had lots of worms in my corn ears last year, anybody know any organic methods to prevent these buggers?

Post #3436581
Quote
Indy Alexandria, IN(Zone 6a) Apr 27, 2007

I have not tried this on ears of corn, but it likely would work well. Nylon disposable footies [about 4 cents apiece and reusable] could be slipped over the ears right after pollination [when the silks start to turn brown].
Footies are those tiny stretchable things in your shoe department. I bought 150 from Meijers department store... or you can possibly get them from the link below. I find that here in Indiana that the ear worms hardly ever bother the early and mid-season plantings, but are horrible on late plantings.

http://www.storesupply.com/eCatalog/2007/s00001.htm

This message was edited Apr 28, 2007 7:26 PM

Post #3438026
Quote
garden_mermaid San Francisco Bay Ar, CA(Zone 9b) Apr 28, 2007

There is a discussion about using oil on the silks to prevent them at the end of this thread:

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/708604/

Post #3439453
Quote
Zeppy Shenandoah Valley, VA(Zone 6b) Apr 28, 2007

I have not used any of these because I don't grow corn, but this is what I've found:

Pyganic is OMRI-certified. Yes, it will also kill beneficials, so apply carefully.

There is also Entrust 80, a dry form of spinosad, and an alternative to Bt for many pests including the corn earworms. Also OMRI-friendly.

Not sure how Diatect works: that's pyrethrin and D.E. That would need to be applied carefully too. Don't think it's OMRI certified but I'm not sure why.

www.groworganic.com has these, but so do other places.

Post #3440129
Quote
garden_mermaid San Francisco Bay Ar, CA(Zone 9b) Apr 28, 2007

What about plain oils, without the pyrethrins? Is there something about the physical qualities of an oil that would make it a deterrent (eg, too sticky)?

Post #3441069
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Vegetable Gardening Threads

Go to all Vegetable Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP