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Is tomato dust evil?
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Posted by jampolk MarrickvilleNSW (My Page) on Fri, Nov 11, 05 at 21:59
Last spring/ summer I didn't dust my tomatoes or take any precautions against fruit flies. As a result I didn't get to eat a tomato until April when it had cooled down enough to kill of the f' flies.
As I am trying to keep it organic in the back yard can i use tomato dust or is it a horrible 'anti-organic' killer that will give everything it comes in contact wih cancer? |
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RE: Is tomato dust evil?
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It's not that horrible. The product labelled Tomato Dust usually contains carbaryl as well as derris dust. Carbaryl is not a nice substance. Derris (aka rotenone) has been around for a long time and is less toxic than carbaryl, also less effective on it's own. Plain derris dust, no additives, is an 'allowed organic input', for whatever that's worth. It kills most grubs. Not sure that it deters fruit fly though. You'll have to make your own decision about whether you use either or not.
I have no idea if this works but try covering a truss of tomatoes with a large white handkerchief. There was a grower in Brisbane, sadly no longer with us, who used to swear that this worked. His claim was that the fruit fly would not sting from below. I'd have to admit that it sounds doubtful, but it's cheap.
Another product that might help is from Wild May Essential Oils. It's an attractant that supposedly attracts males, both adult and, importantly, juveniles and they drown in the trap. Their claim is that four traps per hectare is sufficient to significantly reduce FF sting.
Hope this little bit helps. |
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