Red Spider on Cucumbers

Found Red Spider on the small (about 18" tall) cucumber plants I have grown from seed. They are in the conservatory at present, along with Melons and Aubergines

The Aubergines are suffering from Aphids.

I can't seed clear evidence that the Red Spider, or Aphids, have spread, but they will be about of course.

I wonder if I should throw my Cucumbers? and buy some plants from the Garden Centre and put them straight in the greenhouse? if I put the Cucumbers in the greenhouse I doubt they will be much good this year, and I'll fight a battle all season to try to keep the red spider under control.

Any other suggestions for getting on top of these two pests? I've started misting the Cucumbers every hour during the day to keep the humidity up. And I rub my fingers over the Aubergine leaves each day to squish the aphids, but I've been doing that for several weeks now and there is no noticeable change (although they don't seem to have moved on to anything else for some reason). I've captured a few ladybirds from the garden ... but they buzzed off after a bit!

 

Kristern, where do you think the RSM came from?

If you buy new plants the chances are they will get RSM also.

I know the westland spray says only for ornamentals, but ................

 

Marley, wash your mouth out with soap.

Its not allowed in the UK, as far as I know.

I think its ok to scrub your back with it though:D

 

"not allowed"....?... thats got us all looking for it then as it must work.

 

Not allowed eh? I will also be careful not to use Ammonium sulphamate on my Mares Tails then Thanks MF, I'll check what is in it. Thinks get "banned" in the UK because there is no patent protection, and as a result no supplier wants to incur the cost of testing to gain a license when every other Mother's Son could then just market the product ... like Ammonium sulphamate (did I say that already?!)

"Kristern, where do you think the RSM came from?

If you buy new plants the chances are they will get RSM also."

Indeed, had it last year. Year before it was in the Conservatory (where the cucumber plants are nurturing just now). Last year it was on the Cucumber plants in the greenhouse.

I am hoping that there is a chance that the RSM in the greenhouse is not flourishing. There are not plants in there, yet, that it likes - so I figured that buying in new stock, and planting straight into the greenhouse, would give it a head start.

Then I just have to worry about plants that are planted into the greenhouse from the conservatory. I could pot them on, and hold them back, a fair while to delay the transmission.

Well... that was my thinking at least!

"I know the westland spray says only for ornamentals, but"

Indeed, but we only put chemicals on our veg when the whole crop is threatened, in order to have good providence of what we eat. If the RSM gets on to my ornamentals then chemical warfare is fine :thumb:

 

RSM is an absolute begger to get rid of once it gets started, and start it will once it's arrived.
I've used predators - phytoseiulus, in the past, but the problem with that is you can only introduce it when the temperature has risen to summer temps and by that time RSM is usually beyond control.
This year I've started spraying regularly with SB Plant Invigorator BEFORE I see any signs of RSM and in June I'll introduce predators to hopefully keep on top of the beggers.
On the bright side - despite RSM last year in greenhouse and tunnel we still had more cucs than we could use!

Marley's neem oil looks a good option so I think I'll get some. I tried to get it a couple of years ago but it was difficult to find a UK supplier.
Thanks Marley for that link!!

Edit - Just discovered that you can also buy it on Amazon

 

More expensive? (including Markpetplace-Postage ...)

I tried the predators when it first appeared. They didn't seem to do much good, having said that I was not expecting it and did not detect it until I had a massive infestation, and then the predators took a couple of weeks to arrive - and I suppose I kinda assumed it was not a big problem, so didn't do much to reduce the impact before the predator arrived.

Going to have to work harder on it now though :(

I wonder if Feltiella acarisuga might be worth a try. Not cheap :( but could start early in the season and possibly get the thing under control.

I do have some SB Plant Invigorator - never used it though :OUCH: I'll see if I can still find the bottle

I'm going to get some horticultural soap to try too (on my travels looking for contrary information about Neem Oil I found a suggestion to use Neem in Soap solution, and that it might help with Red Spider, White fly and Aphids (which is what I was looking for Soap for)

I haven't yet had time to collaborate it from a reliable source, but I read that in USA Neem is regarded as something they label "GRAS" - some official classification for "Generally Regarded As Safe" - meaning it hasn't been tested, but no worrisome effects have come to light. Mine you ... lots of things have had no worrying effects until someone discovered the worrying effects years later!

 

Here's some information on neem oil and a recipe for a spray.
Neem oil – a gardener’s best friend | No Ordinary Homestead