Insect-Resistant Vegetables and Grains — Johnny Appleseed Organic (2024)

FAQs

What are the most pest resistant vegetables? ›

Garlic, leeks, and onions are highly pest resistant. Some root vegetables like radishes are resistant to insects, although slugs and snails will still eat them. Rhubarb is naturally pest-resistant due to the high levels of oxalic acid it contains.

Some vegetables seem to have a natural, built-in resistance: carrots, beets, endive (including escarole and witloof chicory), chives, okra, Egyptian onions, parsley, peppers, and rhubarb. Under good growing conditions, lettuce might be added to this list, too.

Insect-resistant crops containing a gene derived from the soil bacteri- um Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produce their own toxin to protect the entire plant from certain insects. (See box, “Agricultural Biotechnology,” for definitions of terms.)

“Ground beetles” is the name of a large group of predatory beetles that are beneficial as both adults and larvae. They will eat a wide range of insects, including nematodes, caterpillars, thrips, weevils, slugs, and silverfish.

Organic pest management may include the use of pheromone traps, release of beneficial insects, use of trap crops, and other organically approved techniques (see Rules Relating to Pest Management, next page).

Peas. Peas are lots of fun to grow and harvest, and they're very hard to kill once they are planted and settled in. Because of their extremely high success rate, peas are commonly used as a starter plant by patient gardeners teaching children how to grow veggies.

Insecticides are used to control insect infestations. Some insecticides are incorporated into the soil (to treat grubs, worms, and other soil dwelling pests), while others are applied directly to plant foliage (to treat moths, aphids, and other above-ground pests).

GM crops don't harm honeybees or monarch butterflies. On the contrary, they may reduce the need for pesticides that do harm them. Insects that eat genetically modified crops can, in some cases, start to develop a resistance to the protein that usually kills them.

What is a disadvantage of pest resistant crops? ›

Another issue frequently cited as a potential risk of pest resistant GM crops is the possible movement of the inserted gene from crops to wild or weedy relatives, and the consequences of such movement.

LADYBUGS

Know them: Ladybugs are the most notorious predatory insects around. They're famous for eating aphids, but most gardeners only recognize them as adults. While the alligator-like larva may be less cute, they are even more voracious.

Use neem oil or insecticidal oil. Apply potassium-based insecticidal soaps and pyrethrin's sprays or miticides.

Topping our list of helpful insects are bees. Bees in particular are quite helpful to humans. In fact, they are essential to human survival. Honeybees are important because they are responsible for a great deal of pollination.

Mix potent concentrates of hot pepper, cloves, garlic, cinnamon and other mints in water, and spray on vegetables. Many of these concoctions also ward off rabbits and groundhogs as well.

So, are organic foods pesticide-free? Not always. However, organic farming only allows for the use of organic pesticides that avoid man-made chemicals at all costs, unless there is no other option. And farmers must use other methods of non-chemical pest control first before using any man-made pesticides.

Produce can be called organic if it's certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Organic foods are clearly healthier for the planet, because they support an agricultural system that avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and promotes a more biodiverse ecosystem, with attention to the health of waterways, soil, air, wildlife, farm workers, and the climate.

What is the easiest food to grow for survival? ›

1. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) Probably the most popular of the perennial food plants, asparagus can take two or three years to become well established but then can continue producing spears for at least 15 years or so.

"The only food that provides all the nutrients that humans need is human milk," Hattner said. "Mother's milk is a complete food. We may add some solid foods to an infant's diet in the first year of life to provide more iron and other nutrients, but there is a little bit of everything in human milk."

Potatoes, butter, and some form of protein. Potatoes are surprisingly vitamin/nutrient-dense, and with butter, you can get the amino acids you need in your diet.

Each morning in the hills above Kenya's Great Rift Valley, the white petals of the pyrethrum plant become laden with dew. To the people who pick them, the flower is utterly harmless. But bugs beware: Its yellow center contains a natural toxin that can kill them in seconds.

The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant well known for its ability to lure insects (and arachnids) into its “capture organ.” Once they enter there is no escape.

Mint. The unmistakable scent of mint is a great insect repellent, and can be very effective at preventing spiders from making your premises their home. There are plenty of mint varieties that work well to repel insects, but peppermint is considered the most potent choice.

Among the botanical insecticides currently marketed, neem oil is one of the least toxic to humans and shows very low toxicity to beneficial organisms, so it is, therefore, very promising for the control of many pests.

Which natural insecticides protect crops? ›

Neem oil acts as an insecticide and protects plants and crops against pests.

Turmeric powder is another good alternative method to prevent the grains from insects and pests. Grains and seeds are mixed with turmeric powder before storing them in containers or jute bags. This treatment provides protection for up to 6-8 months and is equally safe for consumption.

Genetic engineering is prohibited in organic food and farming because of concerns about their environmental and health repercussions.

In the past 30 years, the practical application of GMO's has lead to large scale monocultures, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and appallingly ugly landscapes. Also, it has led to financial dependance and despair of thousands of farmers, most notably a large number of farmers suicides in India.

The prevalence of GMOs in major field crops threatens the genetic diversity of our food supply. Genetic diversity helps individual species adjust to new conditions, diseases and pests, and can aid ecosystems in adapting to a changing environment or severe conditions like drought or floods.

Antibacterial resistance

Some GMOs contain changes that make them resistant to certain antibiotics. In theory, the genes from these plants could enter humans or animals when they eat them. As a result, the person or animal could also develop antibiotic resistance.

This presentation summarises their core ethical arguments. Five sets of ethical concerns have been raised about GM crops: potential harm to human health; potential damage to the environment; negative impact on traditional farming practice; excessive corporate dominance; and the 'unnaturalness' of the technology.

Predators (which may consume all or parts of aphids) include green and brown lacewings, lady beetles, hover flies, midges, bigeyed bugs, damsel bugs, soldier beetles, and blister beetles. In many cases, both adults and larvae (or nymphs) feed on aphids.

Make a homemade insecticidal soap, a low-toxicity bug control solution that will desiccate the soft bodies and kill the aphids without doing harm to your plants. Simply mix a few teaspoons of liquid dish soap with one quart of water, then spray or wipe the solution onto the leaves, stems, and buds of the plant.

What active ingredient kills aphids? ›

An effective step up from the soaps and oils, are insecticides that contain the active ingredient pyrethrin. This botanically derived compound can be very effective in providing a relatively quick knockdown of aphids. These products only affect natural enemies and pollinators that are directly within the application.

Add three tablespoons of Dawn dish soap to a gallon of water. Pluck out all the leaves with severe spider mite damage due to infestation. Pour the solution in a spray bottle and spray all over the infested areas of the plants.

Spray your plants with alcohol to kill spider mites. Using 70% isopropyl alcohol is an effective way to get rid of spider mites. Simply spray your plant down with the alcohol and the spider mites will die off.

Mixing liquid dish soap and water is a DIY way to take care of invasive spider mites as the soap will stick to and suffocate them. Combine one quart of lukewarm water with one teaspoon of liquid dish soap, shake the solution up, and pour it into a spray bottle.

Important natural enemies of insect and mite pests include predators, parasitoids (parasites), and pathogens.

Yellowish, pinkish, or orange (sodium vapor, halogen, dichroic yellow) are the least attractive to most insects. When white incandescent bulbs were all that was available, the advice was to change them to yellow incandescent bug bulbs.

1) Mosquito's: Itchy bites, annoying buzzing sounds, and they carry diseases. 2) Fleas: Tough to handle infestations, itchy bites on pets and people. 3) Midge/Sand Fly: Painful bites, and they attack in groups. 4) Common House Flies: Hang around our food, loud buzzing, nasty habits, and they carry disease.

EWG's Clean Fifteen for 2022

Avocados and sweet corn were the cleanest produce – less than 2 percent of samples showed any detectable pesticides. Just under 5 percent of Clean Fifteen fruit and vegetable samples had residues of two or more pesticides.

Peas. Peas are lots of fun to grow and harvest, and they're very hard to kill once they are planted and settled in. Because of their extremely high success rate, peas are commonly used as a starter plant by patient gardeners teaching children how to grow veggies.

What is the most durable vegetable? ›

Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid, a chemical that can cause death if a human consumes between 5.7 and 11.7 pounds of rhubarb leaves, depending on the specific leaves and the individual's weight, according to Healthline.

Organic produce may have residue because of pesticides approved for organic farming or because of airborne pesticides from conventional farms.

Basic Rat feeding guide

Some examples of suitable fruit and vegetables are: apples, pears, banana, melons, stone fruits, citrus fruits, broccoli, cabbage (not red cabbage), endive, carrots, Bok choy/other Asian greens, celery, parsley, berries, fresh corn (small amount only) and peas.