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Bees: an Introduction to Native Bees in the Landscape

05/14/2013 in Fun Stuff, Gardening, How To, Landscaping, Plants, Thoughts, What Matters Most by Evelyn | No comments

Most people do not realize that there were no honey bees in America before the European settlers brought hives from Europe. Native pollinators, especially bees other than honey bees, have been pollinating the continent’s flowering plants since long before the arrival of honey bees. Even in today’s vastly altered landscapes, they continue to do the yeomen’s share of pollination, especially when it comes to native plants.

Here are excerpts from one of the best resources I’ve found online regarding native bees from the USDA Forest Service and Pollinator Partnership (I highly recommend printing out or saving this beautifully illustrated and valuable PDF to your desktop)

Bee Basics an Introduction to Our Native Bees

What is helpful for new gardeners to know is that the honey bee, as remarkable as it is, does not know how to pollinate tomato or eggplant flowers. The honey bee also does very poorly compared to native bees when pollinating many native plants, such as pumpkins, cherries, blueberries, and cranberries. Native bees come in a wide array of sizes, shapes, and colors. They are also varied in their life styles, the places they frequent, the nests they build, the flowers they visit, and their season of activity. They remain ignored or unknown by most of us. Yet, they provide an invaluable ecosystem service, pollination, to 80 percent of flowering plants.

Bees are efficient foragers. One example is the southeastern blueberry bee, Habropoda laboriosa, a hard-working little creature capable of visiting as many as 50,000 blueberry flowers in her short life and pollinating enough of them to produce more than 6,000 ripe blueberries. At market those 6,000 blueberries are worth approximately $20 or more. Not every bee that you see flitting about may be worth $20, but all of them combined keep the world of flowering plants going. The world as we know it would not exist if there were no bees to pollinate the earth’s 250,000 flowering plants.

Bees are descended from wasps. Most wasps are carnivores; they either prey upon or parasitize other insects or spiders, and use this rich protein source to feed their young. About 125 million years ago, when the first flowering plants evolved, some wasps made a switch from hunting prey to gathering pollen for their brood. Perhaps they were hunting for insects that visited flowers and ate some of the pollen or drank the nectar along with their prey.

It didn’t take much to find the advantages of consuming pollen over hunting. Pollen is rich in proteins and doesn’t fight back, so it is easy to imagine why the bees became vegetarians. Gathering pollen and nectar requires certain adaptations different from those of hunters, so they started to change, to evolve to meet these requirements and consequently became bees.

Some bees are generalists and will use pollen from a wide variety of flowering plants. Bumble bees are generalists as they depend upon a succession of plants flowering from early spring when the queen emerges to late summer – early fall when the colony dies. Other bees have some degree of specialization in foraging; they resort to using pollen from only one or two families of flowering plants. Fortunately plant reproduction has redundancy in floral visitation already built-in. Each flowering plant species usually has a small guild of bees and other pollinators which coevolved with them to ensure their pollination. Typically, bees collect nectar from a wider range of blossoms than they visit for pollen.

One example of floral specialization is squash bees which are efficient visitors and pollinators of cucurbit plants (squash, pumpkin, and zucchini).

Blueberry bees, globe mallow bees, and cactus bees are also floral specialists.

Some bee species are active only for a few weeks during the growing season and depend on just a few families of flowering plants for their foraging needs. Bees in the genus Macropis depend only on loosestrife flowers (Lysimachia) from which they collect oil and pollen for their larvae’s food. Loosestrife flowers however, have no nectar available so bees in the genus Macropis must visit other flowers for their nectar needs. One highly specialized bee is Anthemurgus passiflorae. This bee is only known to forage on yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea).

A note on Loosestrife: under no circumstances plant the Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), it is an invasive alien species to North America and its sale is illegal as it invades our wetlands, displacing native flora and fauna. More on Purple Loosestrife and its erradication. Insects keep purple loosestrife under control in its native Eurasia, but in America it has no animal to control it. Experiments are under way to see if non-native insects that seem to feed uniquely on purple loosestrife can control it without threatening native species. Purple loosestrife is the only plant that is banned from sale in Virginia. Additionally, responsible gardeners would never share Purple Loostrife with their gardening friends. At the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center you will find a list of the native loosestrife plants.

There are 4,000 species of native bees in the United States. A number of government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and private individuals are creating pollinator gardens throughout the country that will benefit native bees and other pollinators. The USDA Forest Service, the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, the Pollinator Partnership, Urban Bee Gardens at U.C. Berkeley, and the Xerces Society each supply information to those who want to start gardening for pollinators or improving bee habitat in general.

8 Ways to Help Native Bees in Your Garden

  1. Plant a pollinator garden.
  2. Avoid pesticides or choose non-chemical solutions to insect problems.
  3. Provide a source of pesticide-free water and mud. A dripping faucet, mud puddle, or birdbath attracts butterflies and beneficial insects. Mud is an important nesting material for some bee species.
  4. Plant native plants from your eco region.
  5. Provide a variety of native flowering trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that bloom successively throughout the seasons.
  6. Reduce the size of the lawn by creating pollinator gardens will benefit native pollinators and other species of wildlife. It is possible to have a lawn that is good for native bees while being esthetically pleasing.
  7. Provide nesting habitats for bees.
  8. Build or buy your own bee houses.

Helping native bees is essential to our continued survival, health, and well-being. These animals benefit us all because of the invaluable ecosystem services they provide to the environment and to our farms, forests, and gardens. Not only do they pollinate most of our flowering plants, their bodies feed other wildlife and their ground-nesting behaviors aerate and enrich soils. They enrich and sustain our lives. The observation of native bees can become a lifelong pastime and pleasure. Become involved.

Observe bees with close focusing binoculars; plant a small pollinator garden; or help a neighbor, student, or family member drill small holes in scrap lumber to create a bee house. Join a pollinator and plant-friendly organization to learn more about pollinators and their flowers, like the Pollinator Partnership (www.pollinator.org).

Become a pollinator observer as a citizen scientist and report your observations. Some of our bees are declining, and your findings are invaluable to understanding the big picture. Most importantly, get outdoors with your children and experience the amazing natural and urban habitats that we share with pollinators and flowering plants. Do your share to make sure that this precious legacy continues.

You might also like to read:

Resources

Sellers of Bee Houses

Additional readings

  • Buchmann, Stephen L., Nabhan, Gary Paul. 1997. The Forgotten Pollinators. Island Press, Washington, DC, Covelo, CA, ISBN 1-55963-353-0. 292 pp.
  • Mader, Eric, Spivak, Marla and Evans, Elaine. 2010. Managing Alternative Pollinators: A Handbook for Beekeepers, Growers and Conservationists. SARE Handbook No. 11, NRAES-186. Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Services (NRAES), Cooperative Extension, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 162 pp.
  • Packer, Laurence. 2010. Keeping the Bees: Why All Bees Are At Risk and What We Can Do to Save Them. Harper Collins Publishers LTD., Toronto, Canada. 273 pp.

Bee Families, Description & Classification:

Conservation

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Review: Learn How to Make Herbal Remedies Online

04/29/2013 in Cooking, Emergency Preparedness, First Aid (natural), Fun Stuff, Health, Herbs, How To, Plants, Recipe, Reviews, Simple Skills by Evelyn | No comments

I have been interested in and learning about herbal remedies for the past 30 years. While in the past my learning has come reading countless books and attending workshop and classes I found a few years ago an online resource that I’ve found to be excellent. Maybe you’ve heard of them, Learning Herbs.

John and Kimberly Gallagher have created the only herbal online resource of its kind. There is a strong focus on both kids and adults learning how to identify herbs in your own backyard and surrounding areas, what they’re good for, how to process and harvest herbs, and ways herbs are used (in detail too).

The Learning Herbs website is abundantly full of free and paid lessons, educational products (I love their herbal Board game called Wildcraft – which I will write about in a future blog post), an Herbal Medicine Making Kit, they even have a herb ‘mentoring’ membership site (called Herb Mentor) which is filled with all kinds of content, fantastic how-to video’s, and much more. How I wish this was available when I was a kid (or even as a young adult), I would have devoured everything!

Of particular note for parents of budding herbal remedy maker’s, Learning Herbs even has a special section of interest for kids who want to learn about herbs, it’s called Herb Fairies. In particular what I like most is the way the Gallagher’s approach learning, through ‘cooperation’ – a skill-set that has been making some ground in recent years which I am delighted to find occurring. This is particularly true in the Wildcraft board game that teaches edible and medicinal plants, which by the way is great fun for kids and adults!

My personal feeling about everything that Learning Herbs has available is this, no matter what your age or herbal skill level is there is a lot of terrific information to take your herbal remedy making to the next level. I am a member of their herb mentor membership site and I’m loving it! I also enjoy their webinars and other things they offer. I am also an affiliate of what Learning Herbs offers, I personally utilize and enjoy what they offer and enjoy representing the best of what I find.

Be sure to check out all of the free stuff Learning Herbs offers!

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Toilet Paper: Should it go Under or Over

03/07/2013 in Around the Home, Fun Stuff, How To, Intelligent Designing, What Matters Most by Evelyn | No comments

Your toilet paper, do you prefer it to go ‘under’ or ‘over’? Which is best? That depends on your thinking, preference and how many little tinkering paws you have in your house. Here are some ways of looking at the eternal question and their advantages and disadvantages…

Over or Under: The Great Toilet Paper Debate

Over or Under: The Great Toilet Paper Debate infographic by bobbybernethy.

 

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Herb Profile: Blackberry Leaf

02/26/2013 in Health, Herbs, How To, Plants, Recipe, Simple Skills by Evelyn | No comments

Blackberry Leaf Profile

Also known as: Rubus fruticosus, Black Berry, Bramble, Dewberry, Goutberry, Rubi Fruticosi Folium, Rubi Fruticosi Radix, Rubus affinis, Rubus plicatus, Thimbleberry.

Blackberries are sweet darkly colored fruits that grow on bushy vines in small clusters known as drupelets. In Britain, the same plant is usually called bramble, because of its prickly thorns. The plant is also known as cloudberry (in northern Europe) and dewberry (in the American South). Blackberry brambles can become quite invasive if left to their own devices.

Many earth based and Wiccan religions claim that blackberry leaves can help return evil to enemies that sent it, and may also help remove evil spirits from your home. Superstition in the United Kingdom holds that blackberries should not be picked after Michaelmass (September 29th) as the devil has claimed them, having left a mark on the leaves by urinating on them. There is some value behind this legend as after this date wetter and cooler weather often allows the fruit to become infected by various molds such as Botryotinia which give the fruit an unpleasant look and possible toxicity.

Blackberry leaves have been traditionally used in herbal medicine as an antimicrobial and for their healthful antioxidant properties. A laboratory study published in the “International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents” in July 2009, conducted by researchers from the University of Siena, Italy, confirmed the usefulness of blackberry leaves for these purposes. Blackberry leaf extract was demonstrated to be effective against Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria associated with causing stomach ulcers. The study identified blackberry leaves as an effective alternative to antibiotics often prescribed to fight H. pylori.[2]

Young blackberry leaves have high levels of antioxidants, or oxygen radical absorbance capacity, according to a study conducted by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and published in the “Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry” in February 2000. The USDA study found that the leaves of blackberry and raspberry, the portion of the plant used in tea, were higher in antioxidant compounds than the berries of either fruit.

In this video, herbalist and storyteller Doug Elliott shares the wisdom of Appalachia in performing “Blackberry Boogie” at the three-day RootStalk Herb Festival established by Mountain Rose Herbs

Using Blackberry Leaf as an Herb

Commission E, the German regulatory agency for herbs, has approved blackberry leaf tea for relieving non-specific acute diarrhea. Tannins in the leaves can alleviate this problem, according to Flora Health.

The Commission E advises taking 4.5g of blackberry leaves daily as a tea or other internal supplement.

University of Maryland Medical Center[1] lists a standard dosage of blackberry leaf tea for relieving diarrhea as 1 heaping teaspoon of dried leaves per cup of hot water, and drinking 1/2 cup per hour, and the UMMC recommends talking to a doctor before taking blackberry leaf for treating diarrhea, because certain types of diarrhea can be worsened with herbal treatment.

Both blackberry leaf and sage leaf have long been used in traditional medicine to address a number of illnesses and digestive disorders. Combining the benefits as well as the pleasing flavors of both these leaves into blackberry sage tea creates a delicious beverage with the antioxidant and healing benefits of both blackberry and sage.

Both sage and blackberry leaf are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastric distress, including diarrhea and stomach bloating and discomfort. Blackberry leaf is astringent and helps dry up the intestinal membranes to fight diarrhea, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Sage promotes bile flow that aids in the digestion of fats, according to the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. Sage is also an anti-spasmodic, and helps to prevent the formation of intestinal gas.

Thornless blackberry fruit and leaves have antioxidant properties, according to a study published in the February 2000 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The study found that blackberry leaves had higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity than the fruit.[3]

How to Make Blackberry Leaf Tea

There are two ways to extract the medicinal properties of herbs or plants to make tea, infusion or decoction.

When using leaves of blackberry you will want to use the infusion method.

Blackberry Leaf Tea is prepared by adding 2 teaspoons of dried leaves to a cup of boiling water, cover and let steep for 8 minutes then strain.

In order to achieve a greater medicinal effect a decoction can be prepared by using about a handful of dried blackberry leaves in a quart of water. Boil until half of the water boils off. According to medical research, it is recommended to take about 2 to 3 small cups every day. Many say that Blackberry leaf tea has no side effects and it is tea you can drink daily. I would like to add that it is a safe herb for those who are not sensitive to tannins, fortunately most people are not over-sensitive.

~~ purchase fine quality dried Blackberry leaf here ~~

How to Make a Blackberry Leaf Compress

Blackberry leaf tea as a compress for wounds and skin rashes: it is recommended to make a compress for treating skin irritations and wounds. The best way is to make a decoction (see above) with the blackberry leaves then soak a cotton cloth in the liquid. Wring out the cloth then lay it over the affected skin area. Cover with a plastic wrap for about 30 minutes. This process can be done several times a day.

Additional Herbal Uses for Blackberry Leaves

Chewing fresh blackberry leaves releases tannins and vitamin C which can soothe and heal canker sores and inflamed gums.

Anthocyanocides contained in blackberry leaves act as powerful antioxidants that are essential for reversing cell damage resulting from free radicals which makes drinking the tea a very useful herb for wellness.

Blackberry leaf tea also helpful in regulating both heavy and light menstrual flow as well as intestinal inflammation since its leaves contains the astringent tannins. It is advisable to blend 2 oz of blackberry leaf tea with 1 oz of peppermint leaves in order to get the most effective relief.

Minor sore throat pain: blackberry leaf tea is recommended for those individuals suffering from sore throat pain as it acts as an anti- inflammatory for both throat and mouth normally caused by cold. Using the decoction method is best because it has a thicker consistency. Honey can be used to sweeten the bitter taste then simply use it as a mouthwash or as a gargle. When symptoms of sore throat are first observed, it is highly recommended to take this tea to prevent increased severity of the condition. Two to three cups of blackberry leaf tea daily is recommended to provide the effect.

Blackberry leaf is also approved in Germany for treating mild inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. This makes it beneficial for relieving sore throat, mouth sores and gum inflammation. For these purposes, it can be used as a gargle, mouthwash or tea.

Constituents

Tannins, gallic acid, villosin, starch, and calcium oxalate.

Parts Used

Leaf

Tea Steeping Time Reduces the Bitter Tannin Flavor

Tannins tend to have a ‘bitter’ flavor when the tea is steeped for too long. Therefore, it is recommended for ‘normal’ drinking of the tea that the steeping time not exceed 6 minutes.

Try a test yourself… take two individual cups of hot water and add to it the same amount of Blackberry leaf. Steep one of the cups for 5 minutes and the other for 15 minutes. Taste. Do you taste the difference?

Typical Preparations

Washes, compresses, and baths. Can be taken internally as a tea, capsule or extract. Leaf is slightly sweet and may be sprinkled on food.

The properties of tannins should always be kept in mind while applying extracts from tannin-rich plants for medicinal purpose. Tannin is basically an astringent that means that it tauten the pores and pulls out liquids from plants. In plants, tannins are large astringents molecules that easily attaches with proteins. To find the truth about these properties of tannins you may try a few small experiments. If you put tannin on your skin, you will witness it to shrink and if you apply if on your face you will notice wrinkles appearing. At the same time, tannins help to draw out all irritants from the skin. These properties impart medicinal qualities to tannin which is applied on the skin to pull out poisons from bee stings or poison oak bringing in instant relief.[4]

The other remedial values of tannins include application on burns to heal the injury and on cuts to stop bleeding. Tannin’s ability to form a strong ‘leather’ resistance on the exposed tissues helps in protecting the wounds from being affected further. While it stops infection from above, internally tannin continues to heal the wound.

In case of third degree burns using strong tannin sources will not only prevent septicemia, but also help to save life. This traditional method has been practiced by most medicos in all countries. On the other hand, when a tannin-rich solution is poured on the flesh, it generates a sealing ‘eschar’ that often helps in growing new skin albeit temporarily. This technique requires repeated washing of the wound with tannins and this helps to eliminate the bacteria too. Hence, tannins are also said to have antiseptic properties. Interestingly, this practice is still followed in the primary health care centers in China and is also recommended as a first-aid treatment at places where emergency medical services are still inadequate or faulty.

Tannins can also be effective in curbing hemorrhages as well as restrict bare swellings. While tannins are proved haemostatics, they are also beneficial when applied on mucosal coating in mouth. Hence, herbs possessing tannins are widely used as mouthwashes, eyewashes, snuff and even as vaginal douches and also treat rectal disorders.

Tannins sour the mucus secretions and contract or squeeze the membranes of the stomach and other digestive parts in such a manner that secretions from the cells are restricted. Tannins’ anti-inflammatory effect helps to control or curb indications of gastritis, enteritis, oesophagitis and irritating bowel disorders. This action is possible by involving lymph stasis and neutralizing the autolytic enzymes.

Conventionally, tannins have also been used to cure diarrhea. Diarrhea can be caused by the irritation of the enteritis or the small intestine and is the reason for many deaths worldwide. Although diarrhea initially affects the large bowel, but a reflex action origination higher up aims at eliminating the disturbing material in the system as early as possible. Diarrhea many be considered to be a healthy action as it helps to remove the unwanted or disturbing substance from the system, but if it prolongs, it may lead to dehydration and nausea often resulting to death. Thus, in order to control the fierceness of diarrhea, application of an effective astringent medicine is recommended. An effective astringent does not stop the flow of the disturbing substance in the stomach, but helps in controlling the irritation in the small intestine.

~~ purchase fine quality dried Blackberry leaf here ~~

Precautions

Blackberry tea contains tannins, plant substances that can have negative effects. Blackberry tea contains hydrolysable tannins such as gallotannins and ellagitannins, which can have toxic effects on the liver in large quantities. Do not drink blackberry tea if you suffer from any type of liver disease without talking to your medical practitioner. Signs of liver damage include yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, upper right quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

Tannins can also interfere with absorption of calcium and iron. Taking blackberry tea with milk helps to neutralize its effect on calcium and iron absorption. Adding lemon, which contains vitamin C, also helps to increase iron absorption. Don’t drink blackberry tea at the same time as meals. Low calcium levels could lead to bone disorders such as osteoporosis; low iron levels can cause anemia. Signs of anemia include pallor, weakness, low energy levels and shortness of breath on exertion.

In smaller to ‘normal’ amounts Blackberry leaf tea has no negative warnings and is thought of as a very safe herb to use with the exception of those who are very sensitive to tannins.

Likewise, those who experience shortness of breath and/or nausea after having a Tamiflu shot, this is due to the Tamiflu vaccine being very high in tannins.

You might also enjoy

How to Grow and Maintain an Organic Blackberry Patch

Resources

1. University of Maryland Medical Center: Diarrhea

2. “International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents“; Antimicrobial activity against Helicobacter pylori strains and antioxidant properties of blackberry leaves and isolated compounds; S. Martini et al.; July 2009

3. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: Antioxidant Activity in Fruits and Leaves of Blackberry

4. Herbs2000: Tannins

For educational purposes only This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Follow Me on Pinterest

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How to Grow and Maintain an Organic Blackberry Patch

02/24/2013 in Gardening, How To, Landscaping, Plants, Simple Skills by Evelyn | No comments

Each Blackberry plant can produce 10 to 20 pounds of fruit, so four to six plants can easily produce ample berries for a family of four.You might choose to plant more if you like to can or freeze crops from your garden.

Another option for some is to plant a large enough Blackberry patch to share or trade their harvest with friends, family and neighbors. Having a neighborhood where community members trade various garden harvests is a popular and excellent way to eat locally, eat fresher and ‘in-season’ foods, and help form closer bonds with those who are nearby.

Blackberries are vigorous growers that establish themselves quickly with heavy yields, excellent for home gardens. They thrive in most soil types. Cane berries are versatile and hardy in the coldest climates where other fruits fail.

Selecting A Blackberry Variety to Grow

Blackberries are divided by their growth habit (trailing, semi-trailing, and erect), and by the presence or absence of thorns (thorny or thornless). All blackberries benefit from some sort of support such as a trellis or poles to support their canes. If you have room for several plants, select early-, mid-, and late-season varieties to extend your harvest. And, some varieties, such as “Triple Crown” thornless have a very long harvest season, over 5 weeks. So spend some time considering which variety best meets your needs.

Horticulturalists have been hybridizing blackberries for nearly a century so there are many to choose from. Take note when shopping for Blackberry bushes that different varieties grow best in different sections of the country, and it’s important to select a variety that is well suited for your climate and region.

Here is a nationwide list of Licensed Propagators for University of Arkansas Patented Blackberry Cultivars

Here is an online nursery guide of berry growers from Cornell University with listings across the US and Canada with scores of cultivars and nurseries that sell them. Includes nurseries that sell blackberry and raspberry plants among others.

Selecting a Site for Your Blackberry Patch

You will want to prepare an easy-to-access location for your blackberries a year before planting as this would provide you time to clear the area and prepare the soil with greenmanure / covercrop.

Blackberries need full sun and plenty of room to grow. The soil should be a well-drained sandy loam soil.

A soil high in organic matter is beneficial under non-irrigated conditions.

If the soil is not well-drained, establish the plants in a raised bed.

All blackberries grow best in full sun, and almost all varieties are self-fruiting, meaning that you need to plant only one cultivar. As a rule of thumb, five or six plants will produce enough berries for a family of four. Each blossom will produce a sweet, juicy blackberry, and when the flowers get nipped with spring frosts it is said that the remaining good flowers will produce berries that can be more vibrant.

Very important, when selecting your site be sure to consider the variety of Blackberry you are going to plant…

  • Erect and semi-trailing blackberry plants should be planted about 3 to 4 feet apart.
  • Trailing blackberries need 6 to 8 feet between plants.

How to Build a Trellis for Blackberries

No matter which variety of Blackberry you choose, upright/erect, semi-trailing or trailing, all will benefit from being trellised.

Chuck Marsh uses the tall metal fence posts (seen in the video below) and spaces them about 20 feet apart. I agree that this is the most cost-effective form of trellising and I do not recommend pressure treated posts for gardening or landscape purposes for a number of obvious reasons.

For a ‘trailing’ variety of Blackberry plants you will want to place between your metal posts  a sturdy wire from one post to the next starting at about 3 feet off the ground. Then, run another line of wire about 4 1/2 – 5 feet off the ground from post to post.

The image to the right is a line-drawing of the trellis system for ‘trailing’ varieties of Blackberries. This is the system used in the following video.

For ‘upright’ and semi-trailing Blackberry varieties a two-wire system is also best as it provides more stability for the plants when they are heavy with fruit. Keeping plants and berries off the ground is good practice as this creates a much healthier environment for plants to grow and helps prevent disease problems.

 

The image to the left shows how the weaving of Blackberry canes through the two wires provides support.

For semi-trailing blackberries, use two wires at heights of 3 ft and 5 ft from the ground.

The erect blackberry varieties do not require support if the tops of new canes are pruned during the summer to keep growth below 3 to 4 ft. Erect blackberries that are not topped may be trained to a one-wire trellis. For erect blackberries, use one wire attached to the post about 30 inches from the ground.

In this video, our friend and Permaculture Designer Chuck Marsh of Useful Plants Nursery in Black Mountain, NC demonstrates how he trellises prima (‘vining’) canes and prunes out flora canes, providing useful tips throughout the process of growing a Blackberry Orchard.

How to Prepare Soil for Planting Blackberries

Blackberries are perennial plants that come back year after year, it’s worth your time to get the soil prepared correctly.

Blackberries grow best in fertile, well-drained soil. Unless your soil is already perfect, you will want to add a 2″ layer of composted cow manure (preferably homemade not store-bought), compost, Rock Phosphate and Green Sand (follow package instructions for application) on top of the soil and work these in to a depth of 8″-10″.

Blackberries do best if the soil pH is slightly acidic, somewhere between 5.5 and 7.0. Take a soil pH test and, if necessary, add lime to raise the pH or sulfur to lower the pH.

Planting Blackberry Canes

It’s best to plant blackberry shrubs in the early spring or, in warmer climates, in late fall. Blackberries can be purchased either bare-rooted or containerized. If your new plants are bare-rooted, shake the packing material off the roots and set the plants in a bucket of water for several hours. This keeps the roots from drying out, which you want to avoid at all costs.

In most cases, the canes of a blackberry shrub will have been cut back at the nursery before you purchase them. If your new blackberry shrubs have not been cut back already, cut the canes to 6″-8″ inches. By pruning back the canes in the first season, you will not have a crop the first year, but you will allow the plants to put their energy into developing a strong root system. The plants will be healthier and more productive in the long run.

Dig a hole that is large enough to allow the roots to spread out evenly.

Set bare-rooted plants into the soil at the depth they were grown in the nursery.

Fill in the hole and tamp down the soil.

Water the newly set plants well, but don’t fertilize until 3 or 4 weeks later.

Fertilize after growth starts.

In established plantings, fertilize in March well before the plant starts to produce flowers and fruit and again in July.

In this video, Chuck returns to the blackberry patch in early summer to check on the earlier pruning and shows a little more love to the plants…

Blackberry Patch Maintenance

As the canes emerge in the spring, evenly distribute them on the wires to form a fan pattern.

Once the canes have reached the top wire, remove the tips to encourage branching.

Trailing types set further apart require a different system; for trailing canes start with a similar trellis with wires at 3 and 5 feet, except do not tip the canes. Instead, allow them to grow to the top wire and then weave them back down to the bottom wire and back up to the top wire to fill in the space between plants.

Erect blackberries, such as Cherokee and Cheyenne, require pruning out of the root suckers that arise from the crown. During the growing season, it is desirable to allow root suckers to develop to about a 12-inch-wide row. Any growth beyond this should be eliminated.

When the new shoots of erect blackberries reach 30 to 36 inches in height, cut off the tips. This will force branching lower on the canes and will cause the canes to thicken, making them better able to support a heavy fruit crop. During the winter, prune the laterals to 12 to 14 inches for convenient harvesting and larger berries. In late winter, remove any remaining dead or weak wood. Leave healthy, vigorous canes spaced at 6 canes per linear ft.

Watering Your Blackberry Patch

Blackberries require about 1 inch of water each week during the growing season.

During fruit development, the plants will need about 2 gallons per plant each day.The best way to accomplish this is by putting out a drip irrigation system that runs for 30 minutes twice a week, this is of course a watering method for a Blackberry orchard that is well mulched to prevent soil moisture loss.

Mulch placed around the base of the plant reduces the need for water and helps keep weeds under control. Pine straw, wood chips, and seedless native low-growing grasses are good mulches.

Harvesting Ripe Blackberries

The fruit is ripe and at its peak sweetness when berries are a dull black color. Ripe berries will pull off of the plant ‘easily’, if they don’t come off with a gentle pull they are probably not quite ripe yet.

Pick fruits that are shiny black if you need to store them in your refrigerator. They won’t be as sweet, but they will last longer.

Harvest will continue for 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the variety.

Blackberry Care ‘After’ the Harvest

As soon as the last fruit has been picked in summer, cut all the old canes and burn them. This is also a good time to tip prune and thin new shoots.

Prune out all the old fruiting canes and remove them from the garden, as they no longer produce fruit. Continue to tie, tip, or train the new canes that have not produced fruit to the trellis until growth stops in the fall.

During winter, prune laterals on erect types to 12 to 16 inches, and leave only 4 to 8 canes per square yard for fruit production in the following year.

Good horticultural practices can prevent insect and disease problems. Timely pruning, removing fruited canes, and maintaining a regular harvest schedule will help minimize common pests. If necessary, apply pesticides labeled for use on edible plants to manage insect and disease problems.

Generally, only a small crop of fruit is produced in the first season. If growth is poor during this first season, cut the canes back to several inches in late winter to force development of sturdier, more fruitful canes. In the second and succeeding years, shoot growth is more vigorous and upright. Tie these new shoots to the trellis when they reach a length of 4 to 6 ft.

Some growers prefer to wait until harvest is over and old canes have been removed before tying new shoots to the wires. Pruning the old canes is critical to the prevention of disease. After harvest, prune damaged or weak canes, leaving 4 to 8 new shoots. Tie these canes to the trellis in a fan shape (do not bunch them). In the spring before growth starts, prune any laterals back to 12 inches to encourage larger fruit.

You might also be interested in reading

Herb Profile: Blackberry Leaf

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Resources for Becoming More Self-Sustainable

08/30/2012 in Around the Home, Emergency Preparedness, Food, Gardening, Health, Herbs, How To, Natural Building, Outdoor Skills, Plants, Preserving Food, Simple Skills, What Matters Most by Evelyn | No comments

With the way things have been going it’s difficult to know whether we will be forced into becoming more self-sustainable or if we will form regional groups on our own and just instinctively begin taking matters into our own hands. In either event I still think it’s a good idea to start making the shift our of consumer driven ways and getting more into functioning as small communities. I was watching PBS Explorer channel the other night and was quite impressed with the work many had done to make spaces in urban and suburban places more community oriented. You can buy the DVD of the four-part series, “Designing Healthy Communities”, and get some good ideas.

Here is a list of resources to help you get started on thinking, living and working towards making your life more rich and remarkable:

Magazines

GRIT

BackHome

Mother Earth News

Gardening Books

Four Season Harvest and The Winter Harvest Handbook by Eliot Coleman

Year-Round Vegetable Gardener by Niki Jabour

Gaia’s Garden: a guide to home-scale permaculture by Toby Hemenway

Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison

Seed to Seed: seed saving and growing techniques for vegetable gardeners by Suzanne Ashworth

Homegrown Whole Grains: grow, harvest, and cook wheat, barley, oats, rice, corn and more by Sara Pitzer

The Earth Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book by Mike Oehler

Chicken and Goat Raising Books

Free-Range Chicken Gardens: how to create a beautiful, chicken-friendly yard by Jessi Bloom

Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow

Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats: breed, care, dairying, marketing by Jerry Belanger

Food Storage Books

Root Cellaring: natural cold storage of fruits & vegetables by Mike Bubel

A Guide to Canning, Freezing, Curing & Smoking Meat, Fish & Game by Wilbur F. Eastman

Food Drying Techniques by Carol W. Costenbader

Water Conservation Books

The Toilet Papers: recycling waste and conserving water by Sim Van der Ryn

Water Storage: tanks, cisterns, aquifers and ponds for domestic supply, fire and emergency use by Art Ludwig

Builder’s Greywater Guide: Installation of Greywater Systems in New Construction & Remodeling by Art Ludwig

Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands (vol.1): guiding principles to welcome rain into your life and landscape by Brad Lancaster

Alternative House Building Books & DVD

The Fifty Dollar and Up Underground House Book by Mike Oehler

Earthbag Building: the tools, tricks and techniques (natural building series) by Kaki Hunter

Basic Earthbag Building DVD by Owen Geiger

Building with Cob: a step-by-step guide by Adam Weismann

The Cob Builders Handbook: you can hand-sculpt your own home by Becky Bee

Rocket Mass Heaters: super-efficient woodstoves YOU can build by Ianto Evans

The Hand-sculpted House: a practical and philosophical guide to building a cob cottage by Ianto Evans

Earthship: how to build your own (vol.1) by Michael Reynolds

Homesteading for Beginner’s DVD

Earth Oven Books

Build Your Own Earth Oven: a low-cost wood-fired mud oven by Kiko Denzer

The Bread Builders: hearth loaves and masonry ovens by Daniel Wing

Creating Community Books and DVD

Designing Healthy Communities DVD

Creating Cohousing: building sustainable communities by Kathryn McCamant

Pocket Neighborhoods: creating small-scale community in a large-scale world by Ross Chapin

Finding Community: how to join an ecovillage or intentional community by Diana Leafe Christian

Creating a Life Together: practical tools to grow ecovillages and intentional communities by Diana leave Christian

EcoVillage at Ithaca: pioneering a sustainable culture by Liz Walker

Herbal Remedy Books

Homegrown Herbs: a complete guide to growing, using, and enjoying more than 100 herbs by Tammi Hartung

Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: a beginner’s guide of 33 healing herbs to know, grow and use by Rosemary Gladstar

Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 teas, oils, salves, tinctures, and other natural remedies for the entire family by Rosemary Gladstar

The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook: a home manual by James Green

Herbal Antibiotcs: natural alternatives for treating drug-resistant bacteria by Stephen Harrod Buhner

Medicinal Herbalism: the science principles and practices of herbal medicine by David Hoffmann

Edible and Medicinal Plants Field Guides

A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs: of Eastern and Central North America by Steven Foster

The Forager’s Harvest: a guide to identifying, harvesting, and preparing edible wild plants by Samuel Thayer

The Forager’s Harvest DVD set includes all of the plants discussed in The Forager’s Harvest book (above)

Nature’s Garden: a guide to identifying, harvesting, and preparing edible wild plants by Samuel Thayer

Edible Wild Plants: wild foods from dirt to plate by John Kallas

Botany in a Day: the patterns and method of plant identification by Thomas J. Elpel

Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in the Wild by Steve Brill

Wilderness and Survival Books

When All Hell Breaks Loose: stuff you need to survive when disaster strikes by Cody Lundin

Field Guide to Living with the Earth by Tom Brown Jr.

Field Guide to Wilderness Survival by Tom Brown Jr.

Field Guide to the Forgotten Wilderness by Tom Brown Jr.

Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking by Tom Brown Jr.

Green Beret Survival Manuel: essential strategies for shelter, water, food and fire, told and medicine, navigation and signa by Mykel Hawke

Special Forces Survival Handbook: the portable guide to getting out alive by Mykel Hawke

Survive! Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere by Les Stroud

Deerskin into Buckskins: how to tan with natural materials a field guide for hunters and gathers by Matt Richards

Some Online Resources

CoGenra Solar – they sell solar panels that combine hot water. This is brilliant because solar panels lose efficiency when the temperature of them gets too hot in the sun. By having water flowing through them helps to keep them cooler and much more efficient! This is brilliant!!!

Cornell University Online Courses – for Aspiring, New, & Experienced Farmers {Northeast Beginning Farmers Project}

Peak Moment TV – Janaia has some wonderful interviews and video’s from which to glean a lot of great ideas on living more lightly.

Episode 301: Winter Gardening with Joe Gardener interviewing Eliot Coleman – wonderful video and be sure to explore their website Growing a greener World for many useful ideas and tips.

Eliot Coleman Keynote at VABF 2011 – an excellent 90 minute video of Eliot Coleman discussing winter gardening and harvesting, followed with a Q&A. The first 10 minutes is difficult to hear but afterwards they’ve gotten the mic fixed and the sound is fine.

Landscape and Human Health Laboratory University of Illinois – terrific site discusses how landscape 9or lack thereof) impacts human health physically and emotionally.

Shoals Creek Village - a newly planned ecovillage in western NC opens its arms to Farmers and Artisans.

New Earth Living – a blog about the Aurora Pocket Neighborhood in Ithaca, NY, an EPA Climate Showcase Community.

“I AM” via GaiamTV.com – I AM is an engaging documentary about Tom Shadyac, a Hollywood director with fame and fortune, and a serious bike accident that turned his world upside down. Seeking answers, Shadyac talks with some of today’s most revolutionary minds, asking them two essential questions: What’s wrong with the world? And what can we do to fix it? Start a 10-day Free Trial and watch this excellent documentary!

Green Bronx Machine: Growing Our Way Into A New Economy – this is the best video out there! So moving and inspirational!!! Watch South Bronx teacher Stephen Ritz give his standing ovation talk at TEDxManhattan. His students have gone from 40% attendance to over 90% – all from his edible food walls.

Sustainable Gardening Ideas for A Better Community – an excellent video by Shawna Coronado of www.shawnacoronad… she and a panel of organic gardeners speaking at Google Chicago on her dramatic and life-changing experience in the natural environment and the sustainable personal health and economically viable community benefits of gardening. Watch to learn some great ideas and get tips on how a garden can change lives.

America’s First Public Food Forest – an article of what I believe we need more of.

Desert Harvesters - is a non-profit, volunteer-run, grassroots effort based in Tucson, Arizona striving to promote, celebrate, and enhance local food security and production by encouraging the planting of indigenous, food-bearing shade trees (such as the Velvet mesquite or Prosopis velutina) in water-harvesting earthworks, and then educating the public on how to harvest and process the bounty.

Maine Primitive Skills School – another school that teaches the things we should already know.

Cody Lundin’s YouTube Channel – a variety of video’s on topics relating to survival and simplifying. Cody Lundin’s website has courses and more information.

Alderleaf Wilderness College: a center for traditional ecological knowledge – their site has a lot of information on a variety of topics as well as classes.

Survival Topics – some interesting information on various topics involving survival techniques many of which could and would be used if the grid goes down.

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Wine Bottle Garden Beds: my experience, thoughts and suggestions

06/12/2012 in Fun Stuff, Gardening, How To, Landscaping, Plants, Things that Suck, Thoughts by Evelyn | 2 comments

Wine bottle raised garden bedThere is a tremendous amount of repurposing, re-use, and up-cycling these days, some of the ideas are brilliant and some not so good. When I first learned about using empty wine bottles or edging a garden I have to say I thought it ‘might’ be a cool idea, they certainly can look pretty enough.

A year and a half ago, during a snowy December, Curt and I moved to an eco-village. I love the whole concept of living more consciously, in balance with nature, and in an intentional community, but that’s a topic for another blog post. We moved into this community where people had begun living for 19 years and so there were many things that had already been done. The wine bottle garden beds were one of those things. The winter of December 2010 was a fairly snowy one and Curt and I were focused on moving in and getting set-up but every once in a while I would walk past the bottle garden beds and wonder what type of growing occurred in those raised beds that were at the time bare ground. Quite often during the winters a garden can look kind of ugly, particularly if things are not kept, that was the case here and I found myself thinking that I couldn’t wait until spring to get that garden area into shape and looking beautiful. The image to the left top is when the bottle bed was new and fairly straight, it looks nothing at all like that today.

As the snow melted more and more was revealed and the more I was wondering how receptive folks would be to a serious clean-up and ideas about those thousands of wine bottles. I was thinking of other creative ways to use them without making the suggestion that they be hauled away, since they were already brought to the land.

I believe the garden area itself wouldn’t have looked so unkept if the wine bottle placement stood the test of time. The weeds could be easily pulled or cut back, but the wine bottles, which were once perfectly placed, just looked like you would imagine anything put in the ground above the frost level to look… yup they heaved in every which direction (mostly outward with some more out than others) and the soil in the raised beds was slowly creeping out of its glass confinement too.

One day, I went around and gave several bottles a little wiggle to see just how much work it would require to straighten them out again. The wine bottle beds had only been in place for 3-4 years. Each bottle I wiggled made that glass and grit scratching sound that you might hear when you’re digging and hit a piece of glass that has been sleeping beneath the soil surface for 50 to 75 years. The glass looked brittle, felt very brittle, and sounded brittle.

I stopped my wiggle test, stood back and wrung my brow. As a landscape designer, all I could think about is all the time that had originally gone into this project and how much time was spent driving to bars to collect the wine bottles. And, how much time it would take to solve the ugliness of what stood before us.

The more I looked and thought, the more un-eco this concept of using wine bottles, glass, as edging wasn’t such a very good idea. Just the maintenance alone made it an unwise choice. Sigh.

Gardening Experiences in a Raised Bed Bottle Garden

As the air warmed and it was time to plant the cooler weather plants and seeds into the raised beds I offered to help loosen the raised bed soil prior to planting. These beds were your typical 4-5 foot wide and 15-20 feet long beds, surely easy enough to work in, right!? Wrong!

It was challenging using the broadfork effectively because of all the glass, I found myself standing too close to the inside of the bed which put pressure on the soil and pushed the wine bottles out even further, that glass and grit scraping sound I described above. I’ve used a broadfork plenty but I will honestly say that because of the enclosure of glass it you would have thought that I didn’t know the first thing about the task. I was very disappointed in what the restrictions did to my performance.

Weeding the wine bottle beds presented its own set of issues. Because I can be in the garden for 4 to 14 hours a day without batting an eye, I sometimes like to sit, squat, side squat, kneel with one foot out in front of me, and even keep my balance with one hand on the ground. The wine bottles made it impossible for me to perform any of those comfortable postures.

Then, the inevitable happened, I pulled a weed, with large deep roots, and a bottle broke – popped and went to pieces in the path and in the raised bed. Sunlight degrades the strength integrity of glass over time. I picked up the pieces, all that I could find.

All ready to get back to the weeding task I kneeled down on the path and reached for a weed in the raised bed. Even though I never felt the bottle touch my leg it too popped and shattered. because I was in the ‘reaching’ position I had to do the push and pull yourself back maneuver. While doing that my hand didn’t quite clear the broken bottle and the damn thing sliced into my finger real good, bleeding like crazy. I went inside and put several drops of Lavender and Helichrysum essential oils on the wound and asked Curt to help get it bandaged up.

At this point I was so disgusted with the idea that anyone could be so foolish to do something like put glass in raised vegetable garden beds, I snapped at Curt to, “go get that stinking glass out of the bed before I got out there and rip them all out and bring them down to the recycling center!”

Much Safer and Better Ideas for Repurposing Wine Bottles

Build a cob garden fence or wall!

  • Using wine bottles in a cob wall eliminates the worry of getting sliced when gardening
  • The wall looks pretty when the sun shines through the colored glass
  • The wall, if properly placed, can create a microclimate in your garden which extends your growing season
  • When you build the cob wall properly there will be little maintenance (cob walls need a small roof to help keep rain and snow off)
  • The wall can also double as a privacy fence
  • Including the wine bottles in a cob wall makes the job go faster and uses less cob because the bottles take up spaceA Cordwood building with a pretty wine bottle design
10 Other Ideas for Up-cycling Wine Bottles
There are dozens of other terrific ways to repurpose wine bottles, these are just a few.
  1. Make candle holders out of wine bottles!
  2. Make drinking glasses out of wine bottles!
  3. Make a glass wind chime out of wine bottles!
  4. Make pendant lights out of wine bottles!
  5. Make a wine bottle Hummingbird feeder!
  6. Make a wine bottle garden torch!
  7. Make a wine bottle mood light!
  8. Make hanging wine bottle vases!
  9. Do a wine bottle hydroponics thing, you can do this with plastic soda bottles too!
  10. Build a cordwood shed with wine bottles walls!
  11. Build a cob and straw bale greenhouse and put wine bottles in the walls!

Link on how to cut the glass and video on cutting glass.

My suggestion is, don’t make wine bottle garden beds unless you are willing to:

  • Do yearly maintenance to keep them straight and looking goodHanging wine bottle vases
  • Always wear protective clothing and eye gear
  • Keep children and pets out of your garden
  • Be prepared for wounds and probably trips to the emergency room for stitches
  • Be prepared to take them all out and bring them to a recycling center in less than 6 years, and replace them with newer bottles
  • Not use metal tools in your garden
  • Not kneel or touch the edges of your garden beds
  • Learn how to extend your reach and build enough muscle strength in your body that you never need to rest a knee or hand to get back up onto your feet

My advice… do not do wine bottle garden beds if you:

  • Value your time and energy
  • Want to live truly environmentally friendly
  • Want to be able to work ‘freely’ among your soil and plants
  • And, don’t make bottle garden beds if you want to get anything else done in your garden this season

Glass bottle hanging vases image is from CountryGirlWedding.

 

 

 

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Lifecycle and How to Control Whiteflies in the Garden and Greenhouse

05/19/2012 in Gardening, How To, Insect Pests, Plants by Evelyn | 6 comments

Identifying Whiteflies is easy because they congregate on the undersides of plant leaves and fly up in a cloud of white when disturbed. The adults are typically found on the top parts of plants and the nymphs will be found lower down on the undersides of plant leaves. The eggs are a grayish or yellow cone shape and are the size of a pinpoint.

Whiteflies occur in groups on the undersides of leaves. Their name is derived by the mealy white wax that covers the adults wings and body. The adults are tiny with yellowish bodies and whitish wings. Some whitefly species have distinctive wing markings. Many species are easily distinguished in their last nymph (immature) wingless stage.

Whiteflies develop rapidly in warm weather, and populations can build up quickly in situations where natural enemies are sparse and weather is favorable. Whiteflies normally lay their tiny oblong eggs on the undersides of leaves. The eggs hatch and the young whitefly increases in size through four nymphal stages called instars.

Whiteflies suck more plant juice than they can digest, as such they excrete the excess as a sweet, sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew covers leaf surfaces and acts as a growth medium for a black, sooty mold. Between the removal of plant juices and the presence of the black, sooty mold growing on the honeydew can interfere with photosynthesis.

Nymph Stages of Whiteflies

  1. The first nymphal stage (crawler) is hardly visible even with a hand lens. The crawlers move around for several hours, then they settle down and remain immobile.
  2. This nymphal stage they are oval and flattened like small-scale insects.
  3. The legs and antennae are greatly reduced, and the older nymphs do not move.
  4. The winged adult emerges from the last nymphal stage, sometimes called pupa for convenience purposes.

All stages feed by sucking plant juices from the leaves and excreting excess liquid as drops of honeydew as they feed.

Adult whiteflies are about 1⁄10 to 1⁄16 inch long and have four broad, delicate wings and are covered with a white powdery wax. Adult females usually lay between 200 and 400 eggs. Sometimes the eggs are deposited in a circular pattern in groups of 30 to 40 because the female will often keep her mouthparts in the plant to feed while moving her abdomen in a circle.

Within about a week, the eggs hatch into flattened nymphs, called crawlers, that wander on the plant. Soon, they insert their mouthparts into the plant and begin to feed. After their first molt, the nymphs lose their legs and antennae. They attach themselves to the undersides of leaves with several wax-like rods coming from their bodies, giving them the appearance of small white oval scale. The nymphs remain fixed to the plant and feed for about four weeks. After a pupa stage, the adults emerge and live for about one month.

Whitefly Feeding and Plant Survival

Whiteflies are tiny sap sucking insects. Their feeding behavior, done by piercing-sucking, plant-feeding insects is a much more complex plant-insect interaction than the feeding by herbivores with chewing mouth parts. The mouth parts are modified having a long, hypodermic needle-like structures called stylets that insert deep into the plant tissue. Because they have very thin stylets that penetrate they can pick and choose which plant cells to feed from.

Whiteflies also specialize on the types of plant tissue utilized (for example: parenchyma, xylem or phoem sap). The physiological interactions between the feeding insect and the defense responses of the plant can determine whether or not the insect will be successful in feeding on the plant.

Whiteflies are frequently abundant in vegetable and ornamental plantings. They develop rapidly in warm weather and their numbers can build up quickly in situations where there are no natural enemies and the weather is favorable. They excrete a sticky honeydew which a sooty black mold can grow over on the tops of leaves. This honeydew can also cause yellowing of plant leaves and cause leaves to drop-off. Either condition can cause plant death. Outbreaks of whitefly can occur when the natural biological control is disrupted.

Whitefly Damage to Plants

Whiteflies suck phloem sap and large populations can cause leaves to yellow, appear dry, or to fall off of plants. Due to the excretion of honeydew plant leaves can become sticky and covered with a black sooty mold. The honeydew attracts ants, which interfere with the activities of natural enemies that may control whiteflies and other pests.

Feeding by the immature Whiteflies can cause plant distortion, silvering of leaves and possibly serious losses in some vegetable crops. Some whiteflies even transmit viruses to certain crops. Low levels, or concentrations, of whiteflies are usually not damaging, however, it is best to address a small issue early on so an infestation doesn’t hit you. Generally, adult Whiteflies themselves will not cause significant damage unless they are transmitting a plant pathogen, still keep an eye out to avoid a huge problem.

Management of Whiteflies

Heavy infestations can be difficult to manage. The best strategy is to take a pro-active approach and prevent problems from developing.

Frequently natural enemies will provide adequate biological control. However, the use of pesticide and insecticides, dusty conditions, or interference from ants, can disrupt any natural process.

Trying these simple techniques may help get Whitefly populations under control:

  • Removal of infested leaves (during early stages of development).
  • Hose down the plant(s) with a fine but strong blast of water.
  • A reflective mulch, such as aluminum foil can help repel Whiteflies (make by spray painting clear plastic sheeting with silver spray paint). Note: plastic mulches do require drip irrigation to be installed before laying down of plastic.
  • Yellow Sticky Traps (these can help monitor Whitefly numbers as well as catch most of them). Whiteflies do not fly far so many traps will need to be placed area the garden or greenhouse. Place trap so the sticky side faces the plant and not direct sunlight.
  • Vacuum the Whiteflies off of plants with a Dust Buster during mornings or cool evenings when insects are sluggish.
I have found that when I spot adult Whiteflies early on that I have been able to completely control and eradicate them with nothing more than spraying them with a mist of water from a garden hose in a  greenhouse situation. I typically do this in the morning of a dry sunny day so my plants will dry out quickly. I repeat this hosing every 2-3 days for about 2-3 weeks. Doing this approach appears to be why I have not had to use any other methods. This function alone seems to be enough to seriously disrupt the lifecycle I spoke about above and it completely eliminates any further Whitefly pest problem.

5 Additional Tips:

  1. Try companion planting Nasturtiums to help ward-off Whiteflies and Squash Bugs. However, do not plant Nasturtiums next to your brassicas, corn, or potatoes. The Nasturtium flowers are also edible and bring a colorful splash to salads and other recipes as a garnish.
  2. Using insecticidal soaps and Neem may reduce but will not completely eradicate a Whitefly problem.
  3. Always rely on multiple tactics when dealing with Whiteflies as usually no one organic or IPM (Integrated Pest Management) method will eradicate the problem particularly if there is an infestation.
  4. Insecticides are typically not a good method of treating Whitefly issues because the it will only kill the Whiteflies that come into contact with the spray.
  5. Insecticidal Oil, such as Neem, could be used as a spray for the Whitefly Nymphs, be certain to heavily spray the undersides of leaves and do so only when plants are not drought-stressed and when temps are below 80 degrees F to prevent damaging your plants.
  6. Avoid using pesticides as these are not terribly effective in garden situations and are very harmful to the beneficial insects. Additionally, Whiteflies quickly build-up resistance to pesticides.
  7. Interplanting tomato rows with cabbage rows can provide some protection from Whiteflies and Cabbage Flea Beetles, in one study; researchers theorized that the smell of the tomatoes hid the smell of the cabbage. Clover, lettuce, and weeds also help protect from infestations by making the cabbage hard to find.
  8. Keep in mind that when you use Nasturtiums or Calendula to deter insect pests that it is likely those plants will become a magnet for the pest and you will need to pull the plants at some stage. Think of it as they’re performing their job well and making a sacrifice for the sake of your gardens health.

How to make your own Yellow Sticky Trap

Paint a piece of plywood bright yellow and attach a stake.

Or, if your garden or greenhouse is small, use index cards painted bright yellow – you will want to make small stakes for these too as you do not want them blowing in the wind.

Use one part Vaseline and one-part dish soap detergent, smear evenly onto board.

Your homemade Yellow Sticky Trap can be and should be cleaned regularly with soap and water, and a fresh Vaseline/detergent mixture reapplied.

Whiteflies, Aphids and other insects are attracted to the yellow color because they think the yellow color looks like new leaves.

Controlling Whiteflies with Biological Methods

Insects that feed on Whiteflies:

  • Lacewings
  • Lady Bugs / Lady Beetles
  • Bigeyed Bugs
  • Minute Pirate Bugs

Parasites that feed on Whiteflies:

Encarsia formosawasps (good for greenhouse situations but not outdoors)

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Live Video Stream: I Can Do It! Ignite! Conference 2012

03/07/2012 in Fun Stuff, How To, Living in Beauty, News, What Matters Most by Evelyn | No comments

An event to attend in your own home…

I Can Do It! IGNITE! San Jose: Live Video Stream

I Can Do It! Conference 2012 – Streaming Live from San Jose

Date: March 17-18, 2012

Sponsored by: Hay House

Format: Live Online Video Streaming Event

Cost: $50

Watch the live video stream of the I Can Do It! IGNITE! Conference

…in your pajama’s and bunny slippers!

The 2012 conference features cutting edge authors, speakers and documentary filmmakers in the mindful spirituality, health, holistic, and sustainability lifestyles movement.

Hay House will bring you the LIVE video stream plus, when you register by March 16, you’ll receive an On Demand Video Stream available for you to watch again at your leisure for up to 90 days!

Please note: This event will be broadcast live Pacific Standard Time and all participants will also have access to an on demand video of the event. Hay House will notify you via email when the on demand video is available in your customer account.

All times are Pacific Standard Time – Click here for time zone conversion.

Hay House, Inc.The event starts at 9am PT with a 3 hour keynote with…

  • Dr. WAYNE W. DYER on Wishes Fulfilled: Master the Art of Manifesting!

Then, after lunch is…

  • GABRIELLE BERNSTEIN on SPIRIT JUNKIE – Access Untapped Inspiration and Become a Magnet for Miracles.
  • NANCY LEVIN on Writing for My Life.
  • DAVE CARROLL on The Power Of One Voice In The Age of Social Media
  • AGAPI STASSINOPOULOS on Unbinding Your Heart: Creating Your Portable Paradise
  • JESSICA ORTNER on The One Hour Apprentice.
  • KATE NORTHRUP on Money: A Love Story.
  • NICK ORTNER on It’s Time: Use EFT to Clear Patterns of Self-Sabotage Forever.
  • MICHAEL CHASE on A Revolution of the Heart: Igniting the power of kindness within.
  • DENISE LINN on Past Life Hyper-Time: Release Limitations and Activate Your Spiritual Path.
  • KRIS CARR on From Illness to Activist.
  • DOREEN VIRTUE on Healing, Help and Guidance from Your Angels.

Then, on Sunday March 18,2012 it starts up again at 9am PT with…

  • LOUISE HAY & CHERYL RICHARDSON on Holding Steady in Times of Change.
  • MICHAEL EISEN on Empowered YOUth.
  • SARAH DE ANNA on The Healthy Secrets to becoming Model Skinny.
  • MICHELLE PHILLIPS on Finding Your True Beauty.
  • BARBARA CARRELLAS on Ecstasy is Necessary.
  • LISSA RANKIN on Diagnose The REAL Reason You’re Sick.
  • LOUANN BRIZENDINE on The Love Brain.
  • DANIELLE LAPORTE on The Strategy of Desire.
  • ALISA VITTI on The FLO Living Method™: Your body as your partner to health, power, and global change.
  • LATHAM THOMAS on Ready, Set, GLOW!: A journey into abundant living, spiritual fitness, and healthy lifestyle.
  • TOM SHADYAC on What’s Wrong With Our World and What Can We Do About It.
  • MEGGAN WATTERSON on REVEAL Your Soul-Voice.
  • Congressman TIM RYAN on A Mindful Nation.
  • KRIS CARR on Crazy Sexy Life: Live Like You Mean It.

–Ends Sunday night at 6pm CT–

Please note: This event will be broadcast live Pacific Standard Time and all participants will also have access to an on demand video of the event. Hay House will notify you via email when the on demand video is available in your customer account.

Hay House, Inc.

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

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Does Cooking Harm the Beneficial Omega-3s & 6s in Fish

02/23/2012 in Cooking, Food, Health, How To, News, Preserving Food by Evelyn | 2 comments

Cooked SalmonPopulations around the world that eat fish regularly live longer and have less chronic disease than populations that do not. Whether this is because fish displaces meat or because it has positive attributes of its own is not clear. Certainly, fish provides high-quality protein without the saturated fat present in commercially raised (feedlot) meat and poultry. It is the fatty fish from cold northern waters – also provide omega-3 fatty acids, the special, unsaturated fats our bodies need for optimum health. The cold water fish are; wild salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines and bluefish.

Most Americans are deficient in omega-3s and as a result are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammatory disorders, and mental and emotional problems. Recent research suggests that supplementing the diet with omega-3 fatty acids not only can reduce these risks but can also help treat depression, bipolar disorder, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It’s the omega-3 fatty acids that are associated with many health benefits, including protection against heart disease and possibly stroke. New studies are identifying potential benefits for a wide range of conditions including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, not to mention the studies on fresh fish diets and how they delay Dementia, protect memory and ward-off Alzheimer’s.

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential nutrients for health. We need omega-3 fatty acids for numerous normal body functions, such as controlling blood clotting and building cell membranes in the brain, and since our bodies cannot make omega-3 fats, we must get them through food.  Continue reading “Does Cooking Harm the Beneficial Omega-3s & 6s in Fish” »

Evelyn Vincent Evelyn Vincent

Native Plant Landscaper, Gardener, Labyrinth Design, Feng Shui Practitioner,  Aromatherapy / Essential Oils, Big Fan of Nature and Living Simply.

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Follow Me on Pinterest

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