Crawlies Infesting My Vegetable Garden

Question

Since the last few weeks a few crawlies that look like a centipede are infesting my home vegetable garden patch and are multiplying in large numbers. We have tried using organic solutions like Neem Oil and Onion Water but they just don’t seem to go away. They’re not eating out plants yet but infesting nearby plants at an alarming rate. Since this is a vegetable garden we do not want to use any harmful chemicals. Can you please give suggestions as to what to do to get rid of them ?

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Answer 1

I see that your soil is very compact clay. They probably made their way in while being dug up. Generally, clay soil is not recommended because it is too compact and will not drain properly in container. Potting soil is necessary in this case, and clay soil will cause damage, where the centipedes will not. Centipedes prey on insects that DO harm you plants, though. If there are quite a few of them, then I'd look at there being actual pests in the soil.

I think that the fix here would be to change the clay soil to potting soil. This will rid the centipedes. After this you can treat the underlying cause.

I do see signs of spider mite damage. This would explain the heavy centipede population. Treating for that is usually neem oil, though.

In my opinion, potting soil should be seeding with the centipedes, and the extract of neem oil, azadirachtin should be used every few days, or weekly, to control the mites.

Introducing predatory mites can help, too.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soil-for-vegetables-in-containers.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/spider-mite-control.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/predatory-mite-pest-contro.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/azadirachtin-vs-neem-oil.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/centipedes-and-millipedes.htm