Organic gardening is not for the faint hearted because pests
and diseases are ruthless when it comes to infesting fruit. I am tired of
losing complete crops to fruit-fly infestation. I have studied their life-cycle
in order to plan how best to fight them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0Pb6V-sl4j9EqH4xxFzdXPPGBiRevLeqBs2edlaxiNnmdhDm6kUGXTeGbLAG8FC5zUImn8R7jJP4cvi1FtCpAeEu6eHK7G9NGKEZZ2GCiDZKhSE06kiAksY17B-DwRaMbdErbXWzB08/s640/baitstations4.jpg) |
Equipment to make the bait stations |
I decided to start fighting them in winter by making bait
stations and hanging them in the trees after pruning. I found the recipes for
different mixes of bait to lure them to their death.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsgaPtOfp-_23z_duHaN92Vcz3ZEZXlHmYvS5gz1uOOApRn4JBvWCRt9KkmlRJ9aviHugIM8l6Mg_ylYurdjiAhhDgyYX_ODMd0B_er6L8pQTdoFa09_0seBQAW_9oqlkJUtY9OwSfCU/s640/baitstations2.jpg) |
Bait stations with their handles for hanging in the trees |
I collected the plastic bottles, made four 6 to 8 mm holes
on the shoulders and put a wire handle through the neck of the bottle.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXbpTb6HM_N3JE3VirCWOHRgCDd53ty9blXrdBqvw-w4vPAFnkdYUHleKkkZ0vOkYoJXCZjpYEZlcwlBdExQ3IvJnpd5Bzb_7qQUp2wEBaXn7oRxuDJvJnDq6srDwZbmiZnppwKpylbM/s640/baitstations3.jpg) |
The entry holes for the flies |
I was impressed with my battery of bait stations that stood
on the table in the garden shed waiting to be deployed.
A gardener never stops learning and I hope that this time I
have found a solution for one of my biggest gardening headaches.
Let us know what bait recipe you have come up with.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your interest. I will share the recipes in a follow up blog post.
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