Planning Biological Control - Gardening Guides for Students + Teachers + Organic School Gardens` For more information, Please see websites below: ` Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ` Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ` Free School Gardening Art Posters http://scribd.com/doc/239851159` ` Companion Planting Increases Food Production from School Gardens http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ` Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ` City Chickens for your Organic School Garden http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ` Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide http://scribd.com/doc/239851110

1. A62 Planning biological control
You can introduce biological control to help manage specific pest
problems. These controls are natural predators delivered direct
from suppliers for using outdoors or in a greenhouse/polytunnel. This
activity builds on examples of biological control in section G4.11 and
explains how to introduce control into your pest control plans.
Resources
• Identified pests that warrant biological control
• Suitable biological control
Top tip
Activity
J
Look after control
1 Monitor plants closely. If you find a pest, try to identify it. If the pest is likely
to cause significant crop damage, find out whether biological control is a
suitable option, using the following.
a A42 about diagnosing plant problems and reference books.
b Mail-order catalogues selling controls, eg www.organiccatalogue.com
2 If biological control is an option, check the following.
a You have the correct environment for the biological control, eg April is
usually the earliest to apply slug control outdoors; 20oC is needed for red
spider mite control in a greenhouse/polytunnel, etc. Check with supplier.
Biological controls are
living creatures and need
immediate attention when
delivered. Check with
supplier instructions, eg
some should be applied
without delay while
others can be stored in a
fridge for a few days.
b Correct time to add control, ie before pest population gets too large, eg apply slug control three
weeks before planting for best results; red spider mite control while pest population is still low, etc.
Check with supplier.
3 Apply biological control according to supplier instructions and monitor pest population and plant health.
Extended activity
Contact a local commercial horticultural producer and ask what biological control they use.
Health &
Safety
Be careful handling biological controls, following supplier instructions for applying and managing.
Ensure adult supervision when spraying.
See also Health and Safety Guidelines (Section SG1.2)
Further
information
A42 Diagnosing plant problems
G4.11 Introducing biological control
‘Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Garden Plants’, Collins Photo Guides by Stefan Buczacki and
Keith Harris. ISBN 0007196822
1