Stink bug nasty critter on tomato plants
Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2008
Question: What causes the white pithy tissue under the skin of tomatoes ?
Answer: The white pithy tissue under the skin of tomatoes is the callus formed around the spots where the stink bug has pierced the tomato either at the time of budding, blossoming or fruiting. Damaged tomatoes are edible but sometimes unappetizing. Stink bugs spend the winter as adults in grass, brush and other debris. In the spring, they lay eggs in clusters or in rows on the undersides of leaves. The young that hatch from these eggs mature in six weeks. There are several generations each year so damage occurs throughout the season.
Clearing your garden area in the fall of all crop residue may help in destroying the bugs' hiding places. Inspect the leaves of your plants as soon as they start blooming and destroy the eggs of the stink bug. Spray the undersides of the leaves with a fine oil spray to smother any eggs that you have missed.
You can also spray or dust with Sevin every 10 days if the plant becomes infested.
Question: Some low-growing plants seem to have been chewed. What can this be and should I apply an insecticide to these plants ? There is no sign of an insect.
Answer: Several kinds of insect feed on plants only at night, including some beetles, weevils, caterpillars and others. A nighttime excursion with a flashlight will reveal who is doing the work. Whatever insect is guilty, the cure is the same. Spray or dust the undersides of the leaves affected with Sevin or any insecticide.
Question: What is the powdery stuff on the leaves of my lilac bush, and should I do anything about it ?
Answer: The white powdery stuff is powdery mildew. It is a fungus disease that infects many plants that thrive in both humid and dry weather. The variety that appears on lilac bushes usually does little harm but is unsightly. If the leaves turn yellow and fall or if you can't stand the appearance, spray with a fungicide containing sulfur. Follow directions on the label of any product you use.
Tip: For the best-tasting tomatoes, the "Old Farmer's Almanac"recommends pouring a cup of beer around the root area of each plant after it blooms. Repeat once a week until tomatoes are ripe. We don't know if this really works, but the tomato plants will surely be happy. Send your gardening and landscaping questions and tips to Washington County Master Gardeners, 2536 N. McConnell Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72704. You may call 444-1755 for answers to your questions.
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