I have planted out some raspberry canes today. It is the first time I have had a go at growing raspberries and I am keen to make a success of it.
I would like to know if there are any organic pest controls that are good for this sort of crop?
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opabinia51
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 4659
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
- Location: Victoria, BC
Be careful when using Neem Oil, only use it a maximum of three times a week.
Give this thread a read:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=925
The active ingredient (azadirachtin) can have some ill effects of small bee hives if overused. So, armed with the above information, I would say spray it no more then about 3 times a week.
And really, if you plant companion plants around your Raspberries (Just look up Raspberries AND Companion plants on google) and plant them in a rich nutrient filled soil with lots of broken down leave, manure and so on, you should have many problems with infestations and disease. Also, plant flowers such as Baby Blue Eyes, Marigolds, Cosmos, Day Lilies and so on to attract beneficial insects.
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=335
The above thread has a lot of good information and beneficial insects and I believe plants to attract them. Just check to make sure that raspberries and the plant you wish to plant are compatible.
Before I forget:
If you plan to do a sheet mulch this year for your Raspberries (which by the way, are my favourite berry!) Be sure to leave about and inch (2.54 cm) around the canes where you don't mulch (by mulch I mean: leave, manure and what have you (don't forget the leaves!))
If you touch the canes with the mulch some decay of the canes can occur.
Give this thread a read:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=925
The active ingredient (azadirachtin) can have some ill effects of small bee hives if overused. So, armed with the above information, I would say spray it no more then about 3 times a week.
And really, if you plant companion plants around your Raspberries (Just look up Raspberries AND Companion plants on google) and plant them in a rich nutrient filled soil with lots of broken down leave, manure and so on, you should have many problems with infestations and disease. Also, plant flowers such as Baby Blue Eyes, Marigolds, Cosmos, Day Lilies and so on to attract beneficial insects.
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=335
The above thread has a lot of good information and beneficial insects and I believe plants to attract them. Just check to make sure that raspberries and the plant you wish to plant are compatible.
Before I forget:
If you plan to do a sheet mulch this year for your Raspberries (which by the way, are my favourite berry!) Be sure to leave about and inch (2.54 cm) around the canes where you don't mulch (by mulch I mean: leave, manure and what have you (don't forget the leaves!))
If you touch the canes with the mulch some decay of the canes can occur.
