Bug Zappers in the orchard? (forum)

amanda starts with ...
I was thinking (uh-oh)....I use a bugzapper (the purple light electric thingo) in the house at nite (long story but I get plagues of compost/vinegar flies inside sometimes) and I put the bugzapper on at nite when we go to bed and they are all gone in the morning.

I have always wondered if they might work for fruit fly n codling moth in the orchard? Has anyone tried this maybe?

Time: 16th July 2009 10:07pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Brendan says...
Hi amanda, My brother has a 'bug-zapper' on a post in the middle of his vegie garden, it works like a treat. He swears by it. He runs it at night for about 2 weeks, leaves it off for a week, then runs it for another 2 weeks. Because it also kills the 'good' bugs, that's why he leaves it off every now and then. He doesn't have to spray the vegies now :-)

Time: 17th July 2009 6:14am

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amanda says...
Thanks Brendan! That's a good tip about leaving it off now n then...hadn't thought about killing off the good bugs..(but I guess many sprays do the same thing - and at least bees etc aren't active at night)

Time: 17th July 2009 12:18pm

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Julie says...
I can't imagine that this would work for fruit fly. Do they fly at night, and are they attracted to light? As far as I know, they are attracted by scent.



Time: 18th July 2009 6:40pm

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amanda says...
Hey Julie - I don't know...they fly around my kitchen at night (lites on..) I wonder if the "scent" could be put in the bottom of the zapper catcher tray...then they'd fly in maybe!?

Time: 18th July 2009 6:49pm

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randey says...
hey amanda, have you thought about signing up to the "edible fruits: section of daleys web site. you may notice links next to :about the author:
in green. a good way to let others see what you are growing. i just joined but have to take photos of my plants and modify my site.

Time: 19th July 2009 12:48pm

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amanda says...
Hi Randey. 4 sure! Can u add to it over time? I didn't want to take photo's of my deciduos trees at present...they don't look very interesting when they are naked! ;)

Time: 19th July 2009 12:53pm

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randey says...
not sure amanda, i have yet to take photos of all my trees and add all the relevant data but will do asap. my but you have a nice little pile of munchie type trees.

Time: 22nd July 2009 8:18pm

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amanda says...
Yea Randey - i noticed u r keeping me in suspense there! I eat 5 fruit 2 veg hence the cornucopia! but...i haven't actually been sick since we moved here in Feb last year! I love munching my lunch while i work in the garden.

Time: 22nd July 2009 9:18pm

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randey says...
there is definitely something about walking out your back door and just grabbing a bite to eat whilst mowing the lawn. by the way my passionfruit are now starting to ripen, some are still a bit tart but with a little bit of sugar they are going down a treat. also very heavy in the pulp as well.

Time: 25th July 2009 2:15pm

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amanda says...
Cool Randey! mine passionfruit ripening too - I took off a bit of foliage to give them more sun..mine need a touch of sugar 2 - but hey it's winter after all!? Beggars can't b choosers :)

Time: 25th July 2009 8:09pm

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Brendan says...
Hi amanda & randey, put some Epsom Salts around your passionfruit, that will sweeten them up ! For quicker results, mix up a Epsom Salt, water & a wetting agent, and spray the vine and the fruit, say twice a week for about three weeks. I also put some gypsum, composted cow manure, sulphate of potash then mulch heavily out to about a metre and a half around the vine. They don't like too much water either.

Time: 27th July 2009 7:30am

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amanda says...
Hi Brendan...thanks for the tips but I think your climate probly a lot warmer than ours (lucky u! - 4oC here this morn which is my lower tolerance limit!) Many sub-tropical fruits need warmth and sun to develop the sugars. I am not too keen on putting specific chemical fert's down unless I know there is a deficiency - as too much of one affects another eg: too much potassium (in potash) is antagonistic to magnesium uptake!

Time: 27th July 2009 9:16am

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amanda says...
PS Brendan - That was + 4

Time: 27th July 2009 9:32am

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Brendan says...
G'day amanda, I have panama red and another smallish black passionfruit, no name, that the birds have pinched from 'somewhere' ? No, I only give 'em epsom salts ~ twice a year. Just watch the citrus fertilizer, it might contain too much nitrogen, that will give all leaves and reduced fruit. I hate to skite, but mine are sweet as.

Time: 28th July 2009 6:31am

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amanda says...
Hi Brendan...that's not fair - u are in north Qld! Don't they grow 'wild' there? :)))

Mine are pan reds that i am eating now - they are perfect in everyway except that they are dropping off at a colour between a red n gold...there's is just not enough warmth i don't think. Im waiting for an agronomist to interpret my soil test results - so will revisit your handy tip after i see what Mg is in the soil first...

Here's my vine..(1st crop..now i can show off 2!!)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 28th July 2009 9:06am

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peter says...
hi amanda,
just wondering whether this panama red
you have pictured is a seed grown or
grafted plant.
if grafted is it nellie kellie or other.

Time: 28th July 2009 10:07pm

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amanda says...
Hi Peter - it's a seedling and not NK brand...remember the pic from b4? (attached) This was after i turned retic off for winter - but plant in a rain shadow from the house - I just started watering it a bit and the wrinkly premature drop stopped...and the fruit is good.. only put a 1/4 tsp of sugar in them and they are fine.

Will compare flavour for summer fruit.. but yes - i was wondering about an inadvertant gold/red cross - as i know this can happen as friends had this in Carnarvon.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 28th July 2009 11:08pm

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amanda says...
PS Adelaide Peter - I am going to keep seeds of this one and see if they do as well away from the limestone wall. It has out performed all of my Nellie Kellie brands (6 plants) by far n away - but I don't know if it's just a better strain or if it's cos' of the warm wall.

I am skeptical of the NK brand to b honest - I am wondering if it's just a mass produced plant with weakened genetics. Even the virus-infected sunshine special seedling performed better than NK's!

I have seen loads of seedling plants in my time - where people have just chucked an old fruit in the ground - they are always fine..I don't get it!


Time: 30th July 2009 10:17am

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peter says...
hi amanda,
im also skeptical of the nk ones, thats why i asked what sort it was because
im planning on getting a couple.
where did you get yours from.

Time: 30th July 2009 8:13pm

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amanda says...
Hi Peter - I got mine thru a local nursery (a fairly big one) - she sources from Perth. I would b happy to send u seed if u are interested. Daleys have a different selection as well. The tag on mine doesn't have any identifying info - but i could ask Yetna (the nursery)?

Time: 30th July 2009 8:50pm

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peter says...
hi amanda
thanks for the seed offer but id prefer
to get an established seedling to save
time.
will get one from daleys when they get
some of their other ones in.
i would think that a panama red would
be the same no matter wher it came from.


Time: 31st July 2009 6:46pm

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amanda says...
Hi again Peter - not sure about this one - but u definitely can weaken genetics by in-breeding. Plants are no different to pedigree animal breeding either (and humans!?). This is why I am skeptical about Nellie Kellie brand. It would b very interesting to see how they are produced.

Time: 1st August 2009 9:02pm

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