With some warm weather over the last 2 weeks, the plants are finally taking off. Today I noticed buds on the Black from Tulas, and a couple others. On the other hand...aphids have colonized a few plants in a big way. I've started spraying with diluted dishwash soap, which is reported to irritate/kill aphids. I'm trying to avoid non-organic pestidicides if possible - not that I'm really philosophically opposed to them, but I do have small kids that play in the backyard and I'd just rather not if I don't have to.
Another tactic is to buy & release insect control species, like ladybugs (their true name is ladybird beetles), but this has some pros and cons. e.g.:
http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/why-you-shouldnt-buy-ladybugs-natural-pest-control-your-garden.html
http://voices.yahoo.com/guidelines-attracting-purchasing-ladybugs-436922.html
Although purchased ladybird beetles can carry parasites, it's probably likely that the native ladybirds in one's garden probably carry a fair parasite load too - most wild insects will. So I believe the concern over introducing parasites that will affect other "good" insects might be overblown relative to simply attracting more ladybirds.
Green lacewings are apparently a good alternative.
Biobest produces Adalia bipunctata ladybird larvae ; distributed by International Technology Services in the USA.
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