Source
r/SoCalGardening•
SW1V

Is it safe to use Bonide 8 Insect Control on carrots?

I'm growing some carrots in planters -- the group in one planter is growing super tall and beautiful, but a different set seems to be under attack by some bugs. The carrot tops aren't growing as quickly, and they're being bitten off slowly by some kind of bug. Additionally, I'm finding small golden/amber colored sacs on the carrot tops, and the bed itself is crawling with little black/brown gnat like creatures.

I'm thinking about spraying with what I have on hand (Bonide 8 Insect control) but I don't know if there's a better solution, or if it's safe.

Posted Apr 7, 2020, 6:00 PM UTC

43
MairisieFleur•

Would neem oil work on those pests?

3
SW1VOP•

I think it might. I ended up just crushing all the gold eggs I saw with my fingers and squashing the bugs when I saw them. The carrots have been growing really well the last few weeks -- I saw a peek of orange yesterday, so almost ready to harvest!

2
bmwnut•

I'd say identify the pests then figure out how to deal with them

http://www.vegetable-gardening-with-lorraine.com/carrot-diseases.html

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/vegetables/carrot-pests-diseases.html

I don't know anything about Bonide, but you might find some answers on their site:

https://www.bonide.com/question-and-answer-center/insect-control/

2
Shoemugscale•

I don't grow carrots but Captain Jacks dead bug is a great product. Its rated for organic gardening because its main ingredient is Spinosad insecticide, essentially a natural bacteria (safe to us) that basically gets in to the bugs themselves and kills them.

Something to note though, this bacteria does not discriminate, so it will also kill good bugs (bees, ladybugs etc) so it's important that you apply at dusk or very early AM before they start coming around.

I recently had some nasty cabbage loopers on my Tomatoes and one application has rid me of them

1