Plant early, avoid grubs
GARDEN: Pea moth is usually just an occasional problem
Q As I shelled my peas from a recent, very early harvest, I noticed a few peas were hosting a tiny dark-headed grub. What is this pest?
A: Peas, like everything else this year, have been weeks earlier than usual.
The grubs you saw are the larvae of the pea moth, a small grey moth that lays eggs in the pea flowers. The resulting tiny caterpillars feed on developing peas as the pods grow. Their presence is not easily discernible from the outside of the pod.
There is just the one generation in a year, and planting very early (late February to early March at the coast) or at the end of June is an effective means of avoiding the main egg-laying period. Also, be sure to move the pea patch around from year to year.
Covering the planting with insect netting or a floating row cover will deny the moths access to the pea flowers. Pea flowers are self-fertile and do not need pollination.
The pea moth is usually just an occasional problem in home gardens. Even when planted late in March, my two double rows of peas rarely have more than a half-dozen infested pods. When shelling, take care to dispose of the grubs and damaged peas. Do not compost them.
Q I was astonished to hear a speaker at a garden club meeting tell of saving household urine to use as fertilizer in the garden. Please comment.
A: Urine from a healthy person is a fairly pure product, safe to apply to the soil in moderation around plants as long as it is diluted at least half and half with water. Undiluted urine can burn plants.
Those who have researched the matter report that this free fertilizer is a superior high-nitrogen plant food containing also significant amounts of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.
The nitrogen content makes diluted urine ideal also as a compost activator.