Kayas Pest Management Guide
What are Pests?
Pests are any animal that harm your plants, whether they eat the crops or cause an infection
LRRCN has a short season = fewer pest generations, but damage can happen fast
Cold winters kill many pests, but some overwinter in soil or mulch
Climate impacts pest behavior (e.g., flea beetles thrive in cool spring)
Integrated Pest Management
1. Prevent
Healthy soil, crop rotation, timing
2. Observe
Regular checks, pest ID
3. Intervene
Use least-toxic control methods first
4. Evaluate
Monitor effectiveness and adjust
Prevention is better than cure — especially with short growing windows.
Prevention Strategies
Healthy Soil & Strong Plants
Compost and mulch support plant resilience
Avoid over-fertilizing (aphids love tender growth)
Crop Rotation
Rotate families: brassicas, nightshades, etc.
Prevents soil-borne pests like root maggots
Timing & Row Covers
Delay planting a week or two to avoid early flea beetle peaks
Use row covers on vulnerable crops (e.g., brassicas, carrots)
Companion Planting & Habitat for Beneficials
Plant nasturtiums for aphids, dill/fennel for ladybugs
Encourage native pollinators and predatory insects
Organic Pest Control Methods
Physical Controls
Handpicking pests (e.g., cabbage worms)
Beer traps for slugs
Diatomaceous earth for crawling pests
Netting and collars for seedlings (cutworm barriers)
Home Remedies
Soapy water spray for aphids (1 tsp soap/L water)
Garlic or hot pepper sprays (test before wide use). This can also deter dogs from digging in garden.
Commercial Options
Neem oil – general-purpose insecticide (avoid flowering plants)
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) – targets caterpillars
Always follow label directions; avoid harming pollinators
Conventional, not organic, pesticides
Monitoring & Recordkeeping
· Create a simple garden journal or pest log
Note what crops had issues and when
Use yellow sticky traps for monitoring aphids or whiteflies
Learn from experience, test what works in your garden
