Three “bugs” are showing up in gardens this week. One is the cabbage butterfly. It is a white butterfly with a couple of black spots on the wings. The butterfly is harmless; however, they lay eggs on cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower plants. These eggs hatch and now you have the cabbage looper (caterpillar) which can ruin plants of your cabbage family of plants in a few days. Also, you have their green poop all over. A routine of Sevin spray controls these pests. You can use a biological spray called Thuricide which is a spray of bacteria that will kill the caterpillar and not harm other insects. I have not found this in town, so you will have to order it from a garden center. You can also crush the little yellow eggs beneath the leaves.

The other is the squash bug. These are the little grey soft-bellied bugs you find around the base of squash plants. They suck the plant juices out stunting the plant. Early detection of critical. If you see them, use a spray of Sevin or Malathion. If you have a problem, varieties like Butternut and Royal Acorn are resistant.

Lastly the cucumber beetle. These black and yellow striped or spotted beetles will eat most vining crops but like blossoms of watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumbers the best. They carry a disease called cucumber wilt, which will kill a cucumber vine overnight. The plant will wilt and turn brown. If this happens remove the vine immediately. Use Sevin when you first notice the beetles. There are some traps that lure the beetles to it.

Two problems are happening in tomatoes right now. One is leaf spot diseases whether early blight or Septoria (both are caused by fungi). Things to incorporate in your routine are to stake or use tomato cages to keep the plants off the ground improving air circulation. Keep the plants dry by watering at the base of the plants or water in the morning allowing plants to quickly dry off. Pinch and discard infected leaves. I have found covering the soil with mulch whether plastic or straw helps. Using a fungicide like Daconil on a routine to prevent the spore from infecting healthy leaves.

The other pest on tomatoes is the tomato hornworm. The large 3 to 4-inch worm is quite hungry and will quickly eat the ends of the plant. They emerge into the large Sphinx moth which does not harm anything. I found handpicking in early mornings (they eat and are visible during cooler temperatures) is the best control. You can use insecticide; however, they will still eat before dying. Some have found planting dill or marigolds with the tomatoes will help.