Dan Gill’s mailbag: Sod webworms and harvesting tips for eggplants and limes – NOLA.com

We have spent the past month dealing with what we believe are sod webworms. We have thousands of the little moths fluttering around in our grass and bushes. We have tried both bifenthrin granules and spinosad spray applications to the entire yard, in addition to an acephate mixture sprayed directly onto the moths. So far, nothing has worked, and we have even more moths now than we did when we started treating for them a month ago. Do you have any suggestions? Melinda and Peter Broussard

Large numbers of small tan or gray moths flying around the lawn alert you to a problem with sod webworms. However, the adult moths are not the issue, and there is really no practical way to control them. Insecticide applications are meant to control the destructive caterpillars, not the adult moths. It is the sod webworm caterpillars that damage our lawns.

If your lawn has remained damage free (and I assume it has because you did not mention lawn damage in your question), then your insecticide treatments have done the job they were intended to do.

As long as you continue to see large numbers of adult moths, you may continue to treat with the bifenthrin or spinosad (organic) every seven to 10 days following label directions. If you want to minimize spraying, you may hold off on additional insecticide treatments and watch for lawn damage. As soon as you see damage start to show up, treat promptly. Since the caterpillars just eat the blades of grass and leave the roots, runners and growing points alone, healthy lawns generally recover very well from damage.

Everyone needs to be aware of the continuing problem we are having with this pest in area lawns this year. Several generations of sod webworms may occur, and you may see damage any time from June to October. If you see the moths in your lawn, dont treat immediately. Remember, insecticide treatments are not done to control the moths. But watch your lawn carefully. At the first sign of damage, treat promptly. The insecticides will not be effective until the eggs have hatched and the caterpillars are feeding.

How do I know when my purple eggplants are ready to harvest? Barry Henderson

We harvest eggplants in the unripe, immature stage. As such, you cannot harvest them too early. Baby eggplants are a delight to eat. But you can definitely leave them too long. Eggplants should be harvested when they are one-third to two-thirds full mature size. But size can be confusing, and it is best to go by the skin. When harvesting purple eggplants, the skin should be glossy and dark.

When the skin begins to turn dull, this indicates over maturity, and you should harvest immediately no matter what size. Harvest eggplants using pruning shears since the stem is tough. If you leave the fruit on way too long, it will begin to change color. When fully ripe, eggplants will turn yellow, seedy, bitter and inedible. Dont waste perfectly good eggplants by leaving them on the bush too long.

Any eggplant bushes still growing should be left in the garden if they are in good shape. Apply some fertilizer now. Large fruited eggplants often produce poorly through the heat of summer, but will set abundant eggplants once the weather cools. If you would like to add eggplants to your garden for fall production, plant transplants as soon as possible.

How do I know my limes are ripe to pick? Cathy Behrens

Limes are generally harvested from late August into October. Because they are harvested in the green, unripe stage, it is not a matter of waiting for them to ripen. Pick a couple now and see how you like them. Continue to harvest through September and into October and see how/if the flavor changes. This may help determine when you will do most of your harvesting in the future.

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Dan Gill is a retired consumer horticulture specialist with the LSU AgCenter. He hosts the Garden Show on WWL-AM Saturdays at 9a.m. Email gardening questions to gnogardening@agcenter.lsu.edu.

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Dan Gill's mailbag: Sod webworms and harvesting tips for eggplants and limes - NOLA.com