A question for other gardeners

[Rocinante]

Stink bugs are wearing out my late tomatoes. I bought beetle traps earlier this summer to take care of Japanese beetles and they worked. I've never heard of stink bug traps, my only option is to use the nasty sevin poison. I hope you folks know some stuff I don't know about the dreaded and stinky stink bug.

[gkdmaths]

1. there's a lot of methods you can use

the last of which should be chemical applications of any type. Even pyrethrum and other botanicals are quite dangerous.

First off, try using an antifeedant. I am currently in the pilot phase of an experiment using antifeedants on tomatoes and basil. Try Allium ( http://www.hdra.org.uk/pdfs/international_programme/TNP3-Garlic.pdf ) and Capsicum ( http://www.hdra.org.uk/pdfs/international_programme/TNP1-chillie_pepper.pdf )

If you want to make sure which pests are causing problems you can get yellow sticky traps from your local seed and feed. The yellow color attracts coleptera and hemiptera. I suspect you are getting some damage from flea beetles on your tomatoes as well.

Another student is working with onion spray in the production greenhouse to control chewing/sucking pests, this might also be benificial.

hope this is helpful
gkd

[Rocinante]

2. I bet that will help

I can't think of anything that will be lured by that stuff. Thank you!

[BigMcLargehuge]

3. We alternated marigolds between each tomato plant

and they've worked wonders keeping the bugs away.

Then again, we could just be lucky... but I like to think it was the marigolds that did it.

Marigolds, for what it's worth, are my all time favorite flower.

[HereSince1628]

4. The soapy water tirck may help kill the early instars...

n/t

[FlaGranny]

5. That was going to be my suggestion.

You can also mix some tobacco juice into it. Get chewing tobacco, soak it in water, and mix a little of it into the soapy water. Stinks, looks ugly, but kills bugs.

[gkdmaths]

6. this works, but it is quite dangerous

and if you're not experienced in making nicotine tea I suggest you avoid using something this toxic on tomatoes. Nicotone is a deadly toxin when you soak it and concentrate it like you will need to using this method, and it is also slightly transdermal. If all you are trying to do is get your tomatoes to finish setting fruit before late blight gets them, I would consider using something less severe. Also, one should not apply nicotine tea within 30 days of harvest, and you may already be beyond that threshold.

Not that nicotine teas don't work or anything, they're very, very potent. :)

-gkd