I want to encourage fruit to grow on my beautiful winter squash so I bought blossom set spray but it doesn’t say on the label if it’s safe for bees. It has numerous warnings for if it gets on your skin and eyes so it sounds dangerous! I do t want to do more harm than good
Because of the nature of cytokinins (it causes rapid cell division) it is listed as quite toxic to mammals. It is notorious for causing various cancers in humans if not used properly.
Usually, it is marketed for tomatoes, since bees do not pay much mind to them. They are wind pollinated, or self pollinated, typically.
It is supposed to be safe for insects, but it isn't clear if this is due to lack of study, or actually being non-toxic to them. Some insecticides contain a small amount of the substance.
With all of that being said... It is very water soluble, and washes off quite easily. It will be taken up by the plant very quickly, and whatever does not will get washed off by the next water or rain.
This substance is, currently, the best thing to use when pollination cannot, or should not occur. (Think seedless grapes).
I have discovered a toad in my poly tunnel. Should I remove it or is it ok for it to stay?
This little guy will be very beneficial to your garden. Build him a little dwelling and he will continue to eat the insects that want to eat your plants!
Here is an article that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/children/garden-toad-house.htm
That’s brill! So I’ve a already built my toad house :]
Oct 9, 2020, found a praying mantis sack in my planter. Can I put the sack in a jar until March and then put it back outside to hatch.?
You can leave the casing where it is. The eggs will survive winter inside the sac. If you are bringing your planter inside you can break off the stem it is on and place it in a protected area outside.
If you bring it inside the warmth will cause them to hatch too early.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/praying-mantis-egg-sac-info.htm
I am writing this to please urge you to correct your article on praying mantis While praying mantis may eat bad insects, they are not discriminate in what they eat and they will eat everything. The native praying mantis is fine but the invasive praying mantis such as the Chinese praying mantis and the Carolina praying mantis have ferocious appetite and have actually done a lot of ecological harm to our gardens. The Chinese praying mantis have been known to take out large butterflies and hummingbirds. I would urge you to teach people the difference between the three species and encourage people to eliminate the egg sacs of the non-native species. It would truly benefit our gardens and allow all of the insects including the beneficial ones to flourish. Thank You
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. We'll forward the info to our editors right away and will make the appropriate revisions.
The picture this identifier printed said this plant attracted spiders. But, I cannot find any other source that supports that information.
Spiders are attracted to plants that attract their meal tickets. For example, nectar and pollen producing plants will bring all sorts of insects to them, and spiders will follow. I always plants lots of annual and perennial nectar plants for pollinators, and spiders are always along for the ride. They also like shrubs where they can easily construct their webs. Or several plants or shrubs together that make ideal webbing structures. I see little webs and their mummies in my viburnum shrub, burning bush, and an orb weaver constructed a web from my deck planter to my backyard door this past summer. I had to avoid hitting it when I came out the door. My deck planter was filled with nectar plants, i.e., periwinkle, pentas, salvia, and million bells. Leaving outside lights on at night will attract insects and therefore spiders.
They also like moisture, mulch, hay, rock piles, and any debris pile that will serve as an overwintering site. I can attest to the mulch because whenever I am planting something in a garden filled with mulch, I see spiders scurry out of my way.
This article's topic is eliminating spiders, but it also indicates where they like to congregate.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/spider-garden-pests.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/creating-bug-gardens.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/groundcover-for-beneficial-insects.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-is-nectar.htm
Every year I have loads of toads in my garden in early Spring, but then at this time of year(Fall), they are non-existent. I would really like to have them so that they keep critters from eating my Fall vegetables. Any suggestions?
They will not be as plentiful as the weather gets cool. They can not regulate their temperatures, internally, as we can!
If you can manage to heat the pond, or the surrounding area enough, you may extend the season. It is not likely that they will stay around the whole year, though.
Here are some articles that you will find useful, here:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/amphibian-friendly-habitats.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/children/garden-toad-house.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/how-to-attract-toads.htm
Disinfectant in the form of hydrogen peroxide with the addition of silver is being used in agriculture for its ability to destroy fungi and mites. This has proven to be a positive; but I wish to understand the downside potential for a garden, in respect of good fungi and positive creatures.
3 percent peroxide won't harm fungi (Though it can take a toll on the bad ones) as much as it will bacteria. As someone who works closely with soil microbes (and microbes in general) I can tell you that peroxide is very limited on what it can kill off. What it DOES do is kill spores. It will inactivate the means by which bad microbes can reproduce.
Using peroxide sparingly every few weeks or so will not do any harm to the beneficial insects or microbes present in the soil.
Acceptable ranges of use can be anywhere from 1 part peroxide to 10 parts water, and can be as concentrated as 1 part peroxide to 3 parts water without any damage.
Here is an article that will help: