Pests and diseases - Knowledge Pack (digital)

In this mini-course, I explain how to reduce the likelihood of pests becoming problematic, even how to prevent them. Because most plants, at some stage in their lives, will meet a pest, or several. This will affect the amount and quality of harvest, sometimes to zero, which can be so disheartening!

The information in this pack will enable and empower you to understand and manage the likely pests you will encounter when growing food. Understandings are important because they build an appreciation of how plants grow, and how they fit into the wider ecosystem.

Knowledge is key, the vital first step. Being aware of potential problems enables you to reduce damage from the start, before pests even arrive. This pack will help you to know what you are looking for, and when.

What we call pests are part of the soil food web and insect/animal life in general. I explain common and different ones in each season of growth, those you might expect to appear. Then how to prevent or reduce them, simply and effectively.  

Occasionally the pressure on plant growth becomes too much. Significantly damaged plants may be salvageable, but sometimes it’s good to cut your losses.

Here are some examples of preventing too much damage:

1. Time your sowings to make it more likely that plants grow when pests are in small numbers.
2. Care for your plants in such a way that pests are less common and find them less interesting.
3. Lay covers over those plants you know are likely to meet many pests in the upcoming few weeks.

You never need to use synthetic chemicals. Some would call my approach ‘organic’, but it’s more than that. Tune into nature and learn methods from her, so that you can grow plants as healthily as possible.

The information is for reference more  than reading all at once. It’s split into shorter sections so that you can access what you need, quickly and easily.

Contents as below – includes text, photos and videos

• Introduction
• Animals and birds
• Insects 1: Introduction to insects; ants and aphids
• Insects 2: Cabbage root fly, carrot root fly, caterpillars of butterflies and moths, earwigs and flea beetles
• Insects 3: Gall/swede midges, gnats, leek moths, miners, red spider mites, weevils and woodlice
• Slugs
• Soil grubs: Chafers, cutworms, eelworms, leatherjackets, flatworms, vine weevils and wireworms
• Covers for pest protection