C.A.P.A.

  When you write a blog, sometimes you feel you should write because you should. Possibly, for the sake of continuity or cyber-relevance or even perceived readership pressures...At such times in my case, I remind myself that the blog is because the green house and its inhabitants are. And unless something worthy of mention happens to them, I'd be beating about the bush (now that's ironic). So, the silence. Nothing spectacular has happened in the past few days except that the tomatoes of both varieties are happily progressing.

And that, the neem-leaf water I'd used earlier proved only partially effective on the aphids thriving on chillies and bell peppers. With the new cucumber already in place I thought it reckless then, to continue to depend on a half-baked attempt at saving the fresh sapling from fresh aphid attacks. Consequently, this arrived by courier from geekgardener.in.

So, five ml of neem oil, 2-3 drops of liquid soap (Vim double power in my case) and 500 ml of water were very vigorously mixed and generously sprayed on/over/ around/ under all the affected chilly/ bell pepper plants, about 4 days back. I see, that the aphids have visibly reduced. So I've used the same concoction in the same proportions again this morning. I think I've found what the aphids truly deserve after all. So, if they come bothering the cucumber this time, I'm prepared. The corrective action on bell peppers and the preventive action for the cucumber. Hence C.A.P.A. And yes, meanwhile I've also got some 'Sticky Fly Trap' paper. It's basically hard paper with some adhesive smeared on it, which attracts bugs. It attracts and then it doesn't let go. So I cut some with a child's ingenuity and have used it for the cucumber thus. It seems to be working fine.

My actions were evidenced and verified by the sun above and this moth below. Both seemed satisfied.