this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2026
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Outdoor veggie and fruit gardeners, how do you protect your crops against disease and from becoming a buffet for pests and wildlife? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by yo_scottie_oh@lemmy.ml to c/gardening@lemmy.world
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I'm growing tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers for my first time not on a balcony, and I'm a tad concerned about caterpillars, squirrels, and other wildlife finding their way to my crops; that said, I would like to keep my space as earth friendly as possible, so chemical pesticides are out. I've read blog articles about trimming the lowest branches to prevent disease and planting trap crops such as nasturtiums and marigolds to lure pests away from the tomatoes. Do these techniques actually work? How do other gardeners handle this situation?

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[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Oh my God thank you for the flames tip. Squash bugs steal my squash vines every time. I think I have to wait until I'm retired to try squash again, don't have enough time to be so vigilant but will remember that. Tried growing it in the mint patch, that worked until it got too big.

Liquid copper very very dilute once a year on my citrus trees, I keep them small(Florida - they don't mind the heat but summer is rainy season). And buy mildew resistant sturdy hybrids for everything in the garden.

Every time I think about pesticide I see bees and ladybugs and oof, start thinking about the insect apocalypse.

Growing what grows best also helps. I can grow fennel so successfully, it's happy for most of the year. Broccoli in fall to winter does well, basil loves the summer, and okra does too. Radishes, allegedly easy, are difficult here. Tomatoes grow but get bugs and if not bugs, birds! You will learn what works over time.