Rocky Mount Gourds & Treasures of Louisiana

I wanted to share with anyone interested what I have found to stop the invasion of spider mites on my tomato plants.

 For years I have been plagued with spider mites on my tomato crop, until one year I did some heavy composting.  That was the only year, out of  25 or more that my tomato plants have not been wiped out by spider mites.

 It was a "school of thought" that spider mites only invaded where the humidity was low....well, living in Louisiana, is it possible to have low humidity?  No, of course.  It was not the lack of humidity, it was the lack of ground moisture that was effecting the plants.  I put the barrier cloth down and then the heavy compost everywhere.  It blocked the weed growth, as well as kept the moisture in the soil!!!  NO spider mites that year.

I have talked myself into it again this year.  It has taken over a week, but it will be worth the work.

If you can get a tree service company to dump piles of the chopped up leaves and limbs, this will eventually turn to compost.  Just leave the pile for a couple of years.  Even if you use it before it composts, it is great mulch in the garden area.  Maybe not around the house, but in the garden, it is great!!

Again, for now, The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount, Louisiana, that is