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RE: PROBLEMS in the Food Forest...

in #gardening7 years ago (edited)

Maybe I missed it but what type of pest was hurting your trees. If it is an insect try drenches with frass to boost up the plant cell walls and immunity. I started adding fass to worm aerated worm teas and then top dressing the mixture after brewing. Has worked fantastic on all insect pest even the pine beetles that destroy whole large trees. Great looking garden you are going to get such a good harvest for all the hard work getting it put in. Really great. Up vote and resteemed.

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Thank you @libertyworms!
I didn’t mention the name but it is plum curculio. Cuts into the young fruit and lays an egg which feeds on the inside of the young fruit.
I never heard of “frass” but I will look into it. And maybe brew some compost teas in here future. 👍😁

It is insect frass and really good stuff. I have seen it go in grow shops for $12 to $20 a lb but it is mainly from mealworms farms sifted out of the wheat bran. It is insect poop but very good stuff just like worm castings but builds up the resistance from insects like crab meal from the chitin. Look around on facebook and find a local mealworm breeder they will sell it for sometimes as low as $1 a lb. We sell 5 lb bags for $15. Great information here. I also run a facebook group about mealworms if you would rather find it there with all the account theft stuff going on I don't really click links. https://growingorganic.com/soil-compost/insect-frass/

we get corn weevils here that are a pain and confused flour and red flour beetles. Such a pain. Best of luck I think the frass will start to work for you.

i LOVE frass! ordered mine on amazon. works very well. cheers to crab and shrimp meal too. chitin!

If your happy with it that is great but if you want to save a little cash look around on social media and find a local mealworm farmer and get it super cheap in comparison. We do 5 lbs for $15 but I know some people do even cheaper. Just find out what they screen to. We screen frass to 1/30th which is super fine like you buy in the stores but if you want extra chitin with more shells you can request it at 1/20th or even ask them to scrap the shell sheds off the top of the bin before they harvest the frass. It is super light and would take tons to make any weight and can be added back to the frass or even ground up like egg shells. I top feed the shells on their own just for the chitin. If you don't find any cheap frass around you we drop our prices to $2 a lb for people to help cover shipping cost which a flat rate box is usually the cheapest at $13 for around 10 lbs depending on location. That ends up being just over $4 or so a lb which will stomp even bulk buys from most places. Just something to think about I run a mealworm group on facebook and am involved in several others if you are on the platform it may help our save a little $$.

thank you!!!!! this is stellar information!!!!!!!!!!!!

absolutely fascinating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!