Apart from manual weeding and pest control, I'm not aware of using bio control. Most of the compulsory questions assume that I use it so had to clear my answers as there was no appropriate option for me.
I have added these as options (no need to redo it of course) thank you for you comment it helps me add different options for making the survey more accessible.
I did ask if you’d cleared it with the admin @gemma.crossley … we do get a lot of spam on here … especially first thing in the morning. But then I had a re-think and deleted my post … sorry if I caused consternation. Good luck with your Masters … those were the days 😎
I understand, I bet you do get a lot of those. Thank you for your message !!
No weedkillers, no pest controls beyond brushing off a few caterpillars from my kale seedlings. Some weed editing. Not sure if this qualifies as bio control!
No real problems with pests or diseases either. There seems to be a happy balance and wildlife is thriving. So much so that my 'veg garden' is now home to a bunch of rabbits and most of the veg are homeless.
Accept I may be in a minority of one
Didn't know how to answer some of the questions & gave up.
Well glad for you that you have a thriving vegetable garden that needs nothing !! Thank you for your feedback ! I have been able to provide better responses based on your feedback !
We use nets against butterflies and their caterpillars (and the hen) so we actually get edible brassicas with no surprise protein hidden in them. We feed the birds all year round and provide water too and find they make very good pest controllers for other crops and the ornamentals as they eat up all the juicy aphids and caterpillars or feed them to their young.
We never spray insecticides, natural or inorganic, because we encourage pollinators.
There is a pond full of frogs and toads who do a good job on slugs and most snails but not in my hosta pots or trays of seedlings which means I have to pick them off by hand.
We leave hedges uncut from mid March to mid August so birds can nest and feed in peace and we leave large areas of grass unmown to let wildflowers grow and I've sown a wildflower meadow in our small orchard area to encourage pollinators and birds.
We save all our garden and kitchen waste for composting and mulch it on our beds every autumn so the worms and co can work it in for us over the winter. We also now try and mulch between crops once planted to reduce moisture evaporation and improve soil texture and fertility as it rots down.
I can't see a commercial farmer netting a 4 or more acre field of cabbages or broccoli but they can do the rest and reduce costs on fertilisers and pesticides so the inevitable reduction in yield is offset by huge savings on chemical products.
Being 70 now I garden very differently from when I was a young nipper of 56 - more knowledge and experience, more time but different priorities and a better understanding of wildlife cycles and what makes good habitat we can all enjoy.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I completed the survey, but to be honest, I am really uncomfortable with any type of biological control. I can remember the days when there was a magical chemical ingredient that would cure anything. It occurs to me that biological controls could be just as dangerous. Look at the cane toads in Australia.
This is a stupid marketing exercise with no science to back it up. You have not defined 'bio control'. What do you mean? Maybe get to grips with the science behind what you are asking. I started your questionnaire but gave up because it was so naïve.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
This is a stupid marketing exercise with no science to back it up. You have not defined 'bio control'. What do you mean? Maybe get to grips with the science behind what you are asking. I started your questionnaire but gave up because it was so naïve.
I kindly take into consideration your feelings towards the questionnaire. But the point of this is to develop my research. If you do not want to respond you are free to do so. Saying you gave up because it was “so naive” has no correlation with the point of my survey. My survey is not intended to push a practice but to inform myself on it, through different aspects. I did not state to back this up with science.
If you find this questionnaire not relevant to you, or that the questions are not good I cannot take that away of course it is your personal opinion. But I also do not appreciate name calling “stupid marketing exercice” or “So naive” it is quite petty and a simple no participation or “I don’t think you went about this questionnaire the way you should have but that is my opinion” I would respect that.
Anyways, thanks for the feedback and sorry it came out that way to you !
I completed the survey, but to be honest, I am really uncomfortable with any type of biological control. I can remember the days when there was a magical chemical ingredient that would cure anything. It occurs to me that biological controls could be just as dangerous. Look at the cane toads in Australia.
Thank you for the survey ! I can understand that, the cane toads in Australia is News to me and material I will include in my thesis !
Posts
We never spray insecticides, natural or inorganic, because we encourage pollinators.
There is a pond full of frogs and toads who do a good job on slugs and most snails but not in my hosta pots or trays of seedlings which means I have to pick them off by hand.
We leave hedges uncut from mid March to mid August so birds can nest and feed in peace and we leave large areas of grass unmown to let wildflowers grow and I've sown a wildflower meadow in our small orchard area to encourage pollinators and birds.
We save all our garden and kitchen waste for composting and mulch it on our beds every autumn so the worms and co can work it in for us over the winter. We also now try and mulch between crops once planted to reduce moisture evaporation and improve soil texture and fertility as it rots down.
I can't see a commercial farmer netting a 4 or more acre field of cabbages or broccoli but they can do the rest and reduce costs on fertilisers and pesticides so the inevitable reduction in yield is offset by huge savings on chemical products.
Being 70 now I garden very differently from when I was a young nipper of 56 - more knowledge and experience, more time but different priorities and a better understanding of wildlife cycles and what makes good habitat we can all enjoy.