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Hardly any Ppesticides in Asparagus Control

All asparagus fans can breathe easily. The popular seasonal vegetable was tested by the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and the results are encouraging: most asparagus samples are free of pesticides.

The royal vegetable

With spring comes the asparagus season. Since asparagus is so popular, the quality is strictly monitored in Germany and regular checks are carried out by the supervisory authorities in the federal states.

As in previous years, the results this year are again pleasing. The Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) has published data on pollution.

The investigations showed that asparagus is one of the least contaminated vegetables and is virtually free of pesticides.

Little strain on asparagus

As early as 2016, the Federal Office for Consumer Protection found residues of pesticides in only four of the 502 asparagus samples examined (the stipulated maximum level here is 0.8 percent). In 2015 not even in any of the 350 samples.

The inspectors also found multiple residues extremely rarely. Only 3 percent of the inspected asparagus showed residues, compared to an average of around 30 percent.

In contrast to other types of fruit and vegetables, where ten or even more active substances were sometimes found in one sample, a maximum of five active substances were detectable in asparagus samples from 2010 to 2016, reports the BVL.

Strict controls

Asparagus is very often tested for pesticides and is sometimes even one of the most frequently tested vegetables. Since the German asparagus is the most commonly offered on the market, the quality controls are very regular.

The news that asparagus is hardly contaminated by pesticides is all the more gratifying. Even ahead of Germany, China is one of the largest growing countries for asparagus, followed by Peru and Mexico.

Lead levels have dropped significantly

Overall, the lead content in asparagus is very low compared to previous studies. In most samples, no or only very small amounts of lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, and aluminum are detected.

In the case of lead, in particular, exposure has decreased in recent years.

Hardly any perchlorate pollution

During the controls, the asparagus was also checked for perchlorate. The intake of salt inhibits iodine absorption in the body and can thus impair the metabolism of the thyroid gland. Because of this, intake of this salt should be minimized.

But the all-clear is given here too, because only two of the 294 asparagus samples showed a quantitatively determinable perchlorate content, which was clearly below the applicable European reference value, according to the BVL.

Enjoy asparagus without hesitation

The popular vegetable is therefore as good as free of any pesticides and is, therefore, one of the vegetables with the lowest levels of pollution.

Nothing stands in the way of enjoying asparagus and delicious, healthy, and low-calorie dishes can be conjured up from the white and green spears.

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Lifestyle

Repellents for Snail Control

Fighting snails made it easy and finally driving out the snails in the garden. Snail infestation can be combated with simple home remedies. The right means of combating snails at a glance.

Snails in the garden can be stopped without natural poisons and the plants are naturally protected from snails. However, combating snails requires a strategy that works all year round. For this purpose, the best means against snails without poisons for the environment or chemicals.

Home remedies for snails

If there is a plague of snails in the garden, there are effective remedies against snails. Many garden owners struggle with a plague of snails every year. If the snails are all ready in the garden, it is often difficult to get rid of them. Our home remedies help.

1) Slug pellets are the best repellent

Slug pellets are a popular way to control slugs in the garden. These are small grains that are scattered in the garden. The snails eat the grains and are poisoned as a result. The active substance metaldehyde destroys the body tissue of the snails. The preparation should be used as early as March or April. The product is not harmful to the environment and has a permit for organic farming.

2) Driveaway odors from snails

Snails avoid onions, garlic, and Mediterranean herbs. Lavender, nasturtium, thyme, rosemary, and ornamental onions do not pose a problem in the garden. Most of the snails are kept at a distance by a ring of thyme around the vegetable patch.

3) Fighting snails with moss extract

An alternative is moss extract sprayed over the plants. Moss releases substances that snails avoid. As a result, you can also make this remedy yourself with dried moss. There are also special snail traps with a moss smell on the market.

4) Driveaway snails with beer

As an insider tip, beer traps are considered a remedy against snails. The cups are buried at ground level and, full of beer, also attract beetles and spiders into the trap. Furthermore, the beer must be replaced regularly. Only the alcohol in the beer causes the snails to die. Stale and non-alcoholic beer are ineffective.

Making a beer trap yourself is very easy: Simply dig a plastic cup into the ground and fill it halfway with beer.

5) Collect wooden board for snails

You can also put a board on the bed. The snails retreat under the board because it is cool and damp there. If you turn the board over after a few days, most of the snails are on the board and can easily be destroyed. If you don’t want to touch them, you can find special snail tongs in stores.

6) Use a snail fence

If you only want to protect individual flowers or vegetable beds from snails, you can also build a snail fence made of metal or wood. Both can be bought at the garden center. Individual plants can also be protected with a plastic snail collar.

7) Use protective rings for salads

A protective ring against snails guarantees safety for the lettuce, other seedlings, and tender plants. An outwardly curved edge is insurmountable for the snails. In addition, a protective ring also offers a protective climate in rough weather.

Tips and tricks against snail infestation

In winter, the soil should be raked vigorously several times. Snails hibernate in the ground and will not survive the winter if the frost penetrates deeper soil layers. To avoid snails, it is therefore recommended to prevent future snail infestations. But when a plague of snails attacks flowers and vegetables, the only solution is usually to kill the animals.

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Lifestyle

Control Small Black Midges in Potted Plants

If small black flies buzz around when you water your potted plants, then you are probably dealing with an infestation of so-called fungus gnats. Fungus gnats look very similar to fruit flies and are often confused with them. In any case, normal mosquitoes are much larger.

Fungus gnats have small black bodies, however, and are mostly found around potted plants. They multiply in the plant soil. The fungus gnat lays its eggs in the bottom of the potted plant. There the larvae hatch and feed on dead roots and leaves. Sometimes they nibble on young roots and can damage a plant.

How do you know if your plants are infested with fungus gnats?

Fungus gnats usually crawl on the surface of potted plant soil. If you move or water the plant, they buzz. The larvae can be found about 1 cm deep in the ground. They are about 5 mm long, white with a blackhead.

What to do against fungus gnat infestation?

  • Repot affected plants. This reduces larvae infestation.
  • Cover the surface of the potting soil with a 1-2 cm thick layer of quartz sand. The insects do not lay their eggs in the sand.
  • Fungus gnats love wet soil. So keep your plants as dry as possible. Always water from below.
  • Keep your plants free of fallen leaves. The insects feed on dead plant parts.
  • Lay yellow sticky paper around the infested plants. There are also yellow boards or yellow stickers available in stores. The insects are attracted to the bright color and stick to the panels.
  • For biological pest control, there are SF nematodes (Steinernema feltiae nematodes) and BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis). Nematodes are tiny roundworms that feed on the sciarid larva. BTI is a bacterium that produces so-called stomach poison and kills the larvae. Both beneficial insects are harmless to humans and pets and are freely available in stores.

  • Check any newly potted plants for infestation before bringing them indoors.

Fungus gnats are annoying little pests that can spoil the fun of your potted plants. But don’t despair. With the tips and tricks above, you can get rid of the little black flies in no time at all and be able to enjoy your plant splendor again.

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