Tribe.net. Local Connections conrad http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/7d9e6ef7-f6d4-449b-b6f7-f6ae540d0f28#9b114863-7880-4d5c-87eb-2e995f71ba87 2006-08-03T08:00:24Z 2006-08-03T08:00:24Z

spread 'em throughout the garden give the aphids a challenge but perhaps they are trying to tell you something about your soil and air in the garden I can practically hear them laughing as they munch away try amending with seaweed and dolomite lime next time see what happens ask forgiveness from the aphid devas praise the nature spirits

conrad 2006-08-03T08:00:24Z Tom http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/7d9e6ef7-f6d4-449b-b6f7-f6ae540d0f28#386e1dd1-8bf2-45f5-a202-d341b34c6287 2006-08-01T07:02:43Z 2006-08-01T07:02:43Z

I agree with Jessica's strategies and use them to grow mostly aphid free kale. I would also add that stressed or undernourished plants seem to attract more aphids. Kale and other brassicas are heavy feeders and should be given good compost enriched soil and if they are competing with other heavy feeders they should be given plenty of space to develop good root systems.

Tom 2006-08-01T07:02:43Z Chili http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/7d9e6ef7-f6d4-449b-b6f7-f6ae540d0f28#98e6bafa-a469-4ee8-9566-59cd14348b0d 2006-07-31T20:18:27Z 2006-07-31T20:18:27Z

but ew

Chili 2006-07-31T20:18:27Z kalsang http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/7d9e6ef7-f6d4-449b-b6f7-f6ae540d0f28#2f5f33d8-7e86-4d9a-90b2-50ec0be83999 2006-07-31T20:08:54Z 2006-07-31T20:08:54Z

ha ha. a friend used to say, you'd only be eating the SKIN of the maggot in your apple, because inside it's all apple too. i guess the same could be said of aphids.

kalsang 2006-07-31T20:08:54Z Chili http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/7d9e6ef7-f6d4-449b-b6f7-f6ae540d0f28#a93e887b-8cb4-46c3-b3bf-70459f49b03e 2006-07-31T17:14:16Z 2006-07-31T17:14:16Z

greens like kale grow better as a cool-season crop. try successive planting of seeds towards the end of summer for a late winter harvest >> sweeter kale and waaaaay less pests.

Chili 2006-07-31T17:14:16Z Cara http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/7d9e6ef7-f6d4-449b-b6f7-f6ae540d0f28#e77c9b59-6f87-44e3-b58d-8027d774acac 2006-07-31T16:30:58Z 2006-07-31T16:30:58Z

I had the same problem this summer. I used hot pepper spray on them and that worked pretty well. Then I read up on companion planting and I planted some petunias around them. I have NO aphids on my kale since! If you can plant some of those, I recommend it. :)

Cara 2006-07-31T16:30:58Z $item.owner.firstName http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/7d9e6ef7-f6d4-449b-b6f7-f6ae540d0f28#26d21443-1be6-4771-b118-9824d44b8bae 2006-07-31T02:29:12Z 2006-07-31T02:29:12Z

i find that when i grow kale in the fall/winter/early spring there are A LOT less aphids, if any. plus since kale is a cool weather crop, it tastes much better when it is grown some other time that summer. also, for me, controlling aphids was about creating a mini ecosystem in my yard. it took about 3 y ears but i have lots of birds, ladybugs, bees, hummingbirds, etc which keep the pests in control. im not sayin i dont have aphids, but i have A LOT less than i used to. :)

$item.owner.firstName 2006-07-31T02:29:12Z Cowbot http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/7d9e6ef7-f6d4-449b-b6f7-f6ae540d0f28#5f5f5655-ac95-4dad-9fb1-e7ff5a61aae0 2006-07-31T01:37:20Z 2006-07-31T01:37:20Z

... but now it is all covered with Aphids. I can't even get them to wash off in the sink well... (I do it , but it takes forever) Does anyone know the nutritional value of aphids..... ants like em so I was thinking that I might as well just stir-fry them as well. they are plantred amongst zuchinnis and pumpkins and there is a forest of aphid covered kale.

Cowbot 2006-07-31T01:37:20Z