Which insects are Friends or Foe to my Veggies?

[forensicmama]

Hi All,

I am extremely new to gardening and already completely consumed by it I have spent many hours reading these threads and am so grateful for the information.

I think my children and I went a bit overboard with our first garden . We planted:

tomatoes
squash
cabbage
carrots
lettuce
broccoli
cauliflower
peas
onions
Peppers
Strawberries
Blackberry bushes
Blueberry Bushes
and a Plum tree

We actually started three gardens (two from seeds in the ground and one from already established, transplanted veggies in a raised bed), experimenting with the best location. However, they all seem to be sprouting and doing well .

Now to my question... I see so many bugs in and around the raised bed garden (rollie pollies, ants, flying things, crickets, worms, things with many legs, spiders, etc). I am ready to kill any and all bugs that I see, but is that necessary?

Which insects are enemies to my veggies and which ones can stick around?

If this question has already been asked, please refer me to the post.

Thanks for your time...

[NewjerseyTea]

forensicmama, Please don't kill all the insects, they aren't the enemy. Insects are critical to the health of the planet and your garden. Your questioning and wanting to find out what is a "good" bug and "bug" is an excellent place to start. You want to attract beneficial insects to your garden to control others that could destroy your veggies.

There are a number of ways to approach this. First start with an organic garden using only organic fertilizers. Build up your soil with compost. Add 'trap' plants, companion plants, and plants that attract beneficials.

If you use herbs among your veggies they not only attract beneficials (usually when they flower) but disguise the veggies with their strong scents. Marigolds are frequently used for the same reason. Nasturiums added along the borders not only look pretty and are edible they also attract aphids 'trapping ' them and keeping you veggies safe. Aphids can also be sprayed off your plants with a hose. But they also attract ladybugs to your garden to eat them. You want the ladybugs.
It is all a balancing act between the good and bad insects. It takes a little time to figure out which is which. Enjoy the process, although complex it is very rewarding.

[Roger]

rollie pollies, ants, flying things, crickets, worms, things with many legs, spiders, etc

Out of the ones you mentioned - rollie pollies, crickets, worms, and spiders are all friendly or at least nuetral. Don't kill 'em. 'Specially the spiders. And the worms - at least true worms; not grubs. Grubs could end up being almost anything. Ants - they won't usually be a problem to your garden plants themselves; more likely to be a nuisance to you. Especially if they are fire ants.

the Maybe's - flying things and things with many legs... that covers a lot of ground. The basic rule I use is that if I see anything in the garden, and not on a plant, then I usually ignore it. If I see it on a bloom or a flower, then I definitely leave it alone. If I see it on a leaf, then I take a closer look to see if there is any signs of damage nearby. Look up pictures of various carniverous insects and don't kill any of them. Anything you catch 'in the act' of chewing a leaf, pluck in and stomp it, and remember what it looked like to kill others like it.

[Jess]

A general rule of thumb for predator or pest is touch it. If it moves fast it is a keeper. Predators need to be able to catch the pests....There are exceptions obviously but this works most of the time!

[opabinia51]

Check out the beneficial insects thread (as a sticky) in the organic forum.

The goal is to attract as many beneficials as possible to eat any pests.

[forensicmama]

Thanks!

[opabinia51]

You're welcome!