Typically, there isn’t a lot of pest pressure in the early part of the spring, but this time of the season has his own set of challenges. Create a spring garden watch list to create a good start for your plants and be proactive against pests.

Start at ground level

If you didn’t add amendments to the soil last fall, it is not too late. Work in compost or well-aged manure, turning it within at least a few inches of soil. This gives the seedlings a nutritional boost to thrive throughout the entire year. 

Test your soil to see where it lacks nutritionally, as well as where it falls on the pH level. If the pH of your soil is not balanced, the plants can not utilize nutrients properly. If your soil leans on the more acidic side, consider using lime to balance out the pH. The finer the lime – for example, a powder versus a granulized form – will adjust the soil faster. For alkaline soils, aluminum sulfate or pelleted sulphur decreases the pH. The aluminum sulfate will do so quicker, making it a better choice for spring applications. 

Spring garden watch list for bugs

While there might not be massive numbers of aphids or other insects – yet – there are pests that make an appearance as soon as the weather warms. 

Cutworms – Cutworms, the larvae of the army cutworm moth, are notorious for chewing off brassicas at ground level. The easiest way to deter them, if they’re a problem in your area, is to use a collar around the seedlings. This might be a yogurt container with its bottom cut off toilet paper rolls pushed into the ground.

Wireworms – The larvae of the click beetle, wireworms are known to target corn seed and young plants, particularly during a cool, wet spring. Sometimes they will eat the entire germ of the corn seed leaving just a hollow shell. Or they feast upon the roots and tender parts of the young plants, which wither and die.  One way to stay on top of them is to use a trap, such as a half a potato in the area, which draws them to this easy food source. Since they do spend most of the time in the ground they can be very difficult to eradicate. However, pyrethrin-based sprays seem to do the trick if they are problematic.

Handling Diseases and Pest Pressure on Brassicas

Watch for the slow movers 

Slugs and snails – While not insects, slugs and snails or a common problem in the early spring. If these are prevalent in your area, try to eliminate places where they hide. Think like a slug and where they might hide, but the reality is, this isn’t always practical.

University of California – Snails and Slugs

If this just isn’t doing the trick, trap them. A 1/2 inch of beer in a tuna can is a classic slug or snail trap. A mixture of sugar, water, and a little yeast also seems to attract them. When they crawl in and drown, toss them out. Even a board, flower pot, or upsidedown melon rind will work. Lift it up and dispose of the slugs!

Other ways to reduce the damage is to create a barrier. There is a foil wrap that can be used around plants. It works well until it begins to tarnish. In this case use vinegar to refresh it. Another long time favorite is diatomaceous earth. But it has to be dry, and it works best if you sprinkle a 1-3 inch high ring around the plants you are trying to protect. Use this on plants with drip irrigation, and create the ring wide enough that the DE won’t become saturated. Once it is wet it doesn’t work.

Spring typically is not the worst time for pests in the garden, but they are coming. Know what to look for and be ready to nip them before it’s an issue.