Integrated Pest Management

for the Urban Farmer

Jacqueline Kowalski

Types of Urban Agriculture

Community Gardens

(many people doing

their own thing)

Social Enterprises (not

for loss)

Market Gardens (for

profit)

Characteristics of Urban Gardeners

Persons of diverse

backgrounds

Often have not engaged

in agricultural

enterprises in the past

Often have alterative

philosophies of

agriculture production

Characteristics of Urban

GardenersUtilizing much smaller spaces. The sites may have

challenges

May be unaware of pest destruction potential

Many choose not to use conventional pest controls

May not be aware of efficacy issues of available products

Advantages Urban Farms have

with regard to Pest Management

• Less wind (can be a disadvantage too)

• Less predators (sometimes)

• More diversity in cropping systems

• Smaller areas to control

• Some strategies are more suitable

Disadvantages

Less area to rotate

crops

Limited control options

Cost effectiveness of

product purchase for

small farms

What is IPM

IPM is a sustainable

approach to managing

pests through biological,

cultural, physical and

chemical tools in a way

that minimizes risks to

the community.

www.ipminstitute.org

Where do you start?

Vegetable Production Fruit Production

Where do you start?

Recognize that insects, diseases and other pests

will find you regardless of your intentions

Know what the common diseases and insects will

problems for your crops

Learn where in the life cycle insects are most

vulnerable and where damage potential is high

Whole farm approach

• What is your farm’s big picture?

• What are you most profitable crops?

• What is your long-term rotation plan?

• What do you need to be ready?

Scout and Scout Again!!!!!

• Look under the leaves

• Around the soil line

• Net sweep

• Traps and sticky

cards

• Growing Degree Days

Photo Credit: Debbie Roos

Degree days

How many growing degree days

in your location?

Cultural Practices

(Preventive)

• Healthy soil structure

• Variety selection

• Appropriate spacing

• Weed management

• Mulches

• Rotation, rotation, rotation

Mechanical or Exclusion

Techniques • Row covers

• Trap crops

• Ring barriers

• Hand picking

Photo: University of Missouri

Biological Controls

• Maintain natural

predators through

providing habitat for them

to stay

• Release of biologicals

problematic and limited in

effectiveness

• Utilize pesticide products

to conserve the “good

bugs”

Top insects of note for urban

farms

Flea beetle

Cucumber beetle

Mexican bean beetle

Mites

Tomato &tobacco horn

worm

Many, many others

Cucumber Beetle

(Affects cucurbits, bean and corn)Spotted Striped

Less active during cool, rainy weather

Vector bacterial wilt

Plant rotation, eggs are near host plant

Plant late

Row covers, take off for pollinators

Beneficial nematodes, pyganics

Photo Credit: Debbie Roos

Photo Credit: Debbie Roos

Photo Credit: Lawrence Ralph Berg

Mexican Bean Beetle

Affects beans (all kinds)

Adults overwinter in plant debris,

Eggs are yellow

Adults and larvae feed on underside of

leaves

Handpick and destroy.

Remove debris

Spinosad, neem, pyrethrum

Imported Cabbage Worm

• Moths emerge in spring

• Lay hundred

• Many generations per

year

• Remove and kill eggs

• Bt.

• Cabbage loopers and

diamondback moths are

also problematic

Photo Credit: Sarfo

©Utah State University

Spider Mite

• Not technically an

insect

• Problem during hot,

dry weather

• Spread easily and

reproduce rapidly

• Can be sprayed off

• Keep plants well

watered

Tomato hornworm

• Seem to appear out

of nowhere

• Heavy feeder

• Leave large feces

• Pick them offPhoto credit: George Bredenhoft

Photo credit: Shawn Harahan

Game changersBrown Mamorated Stink

Bugs Spotted wing drosophila

Other friends

©Canal Photos

Weed control

You have to control your weeds to

be successful

Mechanical

Cultivating

Mulch

Hand pulling

Chemical

Careful of timing

Mulch

Photo: Colorado State University

Mulch

Common mistakes

• Ignoring a problem or not treating in a

timely manner

• Pesticides are the line of first defense

• If it works on one thing, it must work on all

• More is better

Be in the know

• Sign up for the OSU VegNet newsletter and other pest

alerts

• Get to know your county ANR Extension Educator

• Attend Field Nights and OSU Workshops

• Take the private pesticide applicators training

• Keep up to date with products and changes in pesticide

labels

Questions?

Jacqueline Kowalski

Ohio State University

Extension Educator

Cuyahoga County

kowalski.124@osu.edu