Pest
One great thing about Lavender is that it is pretty much free of the common insects
that plague other crops in Central Texas.
Aphids don't go after it and neither do white fly. Really we have not seen any
other biting or chewing insect go after it except for an occasional grasshopper.
Deer will take a bite and then move on. They don't seem to enjoy it, but have
pulled some young plants out of the ground testing it.
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Disease
The clay soil in our area and the humid conditions do make for some challenges when
it comes to soil borne fungus that gravely affect Lavender. We have sent samples of
dead or dying plants to Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for evaluation and
recommendation. They diagnosed our plants with the root fungus Phytophthora. None
of their recommendations were organic so we researched thru trusted resources
(listed below) and found two avenues that we are experimenting with:
First- Using Cornmeal as a deterrent. All of our organic farming resources suggest
using cornmeal to deter soil fungus. It is an inexpensive treatment. 5o pounds
only cost $10 and will treat a 25,000 square foot area. The application is easy as
well. You broadcast it over the soil and work it in gently by agitating the soil,
then watering it in.
Second -Plantshield and Activonate to protect the plant. These are two
water-soluble, drench applications. Both are approved to be used in organic
gardening. They contain live spores that attach to the crown and root system to
protect them from harmful root fungus. They are more expensive costing about $30 to
treat that same 25,000 square feet. |
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