Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen
Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen
Cook Brussels sprouts until the insides are just tender, not soft, and the flavor will be sweet, mild, and delicious. Choose Brussels sprouts that are dark green, tightly formed, and of uniform size–smaller, not bigger is best. Cook the same day they come off the stem or use the sniff test to tell you they
Honey bee Honey bees are important pollinators of vegetables, fruits, flowers and other plants. The honeybee is a beneficial insect. Attract honey bees to your garden by planting flowers high in nectar and pollen including asters, cosmos, calendula, snapdragons, zinnias, foxglove, sunflowers, mints, lavenders, borage, rosemary, Echinacea, and sages. Also provide a water source in
Ladybug Ladybugs are beneficial insects. One ladybug can eat 5,000 pest aphids in its lifetime. Adult and young ladybugs also eat asparagus beetle larvae, Colorado potato beetle larvae, lace bugs, mealybugs, Mexican bean beetle larvae, scale, spider mites, whiteflies, and the eggs of several insects. The ladybug is also called the lady beetle and the
Green Lacewing adult Green lacewings are beneficial insects. Adult lacewings feed on nectar, pollen, and aphid honeydew. Young, larvae lacewings feed on the eggs and immature stages of many soft bodied insect pests including aphids, asparagus beetle larvae, caterpillar eggs and young caterpillars, Colorado potato beetle larvae, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, leafhoppers, and the eggs
Assassin Bug Assassin bugs are beneficial insects. There are hundreds of species of assassin bugs. Assassin bugs have broad bodies and narrow heads with a sharp curved proboscis—like a beak–which they use to impale their prey—thus the name assassin bug. Assassin bugs feed on aphids, cabbage worm, Colorado potato beetles, cucumber beetles, cutworms, earwigs, Japanese
Tachinid fly The tachinid fly is a beneficial insect. Tachnid fly larvae are parasitic; they feed on the living tissue and vital organs of many caterpillars including cabbage worms, cutworms, corn ear worms, sawfly larvae, and tobacco budworms. They also feed on Colorado potato beetles, cucumber beetles, Japanese beetles, and Mexican bean beetles. Adult tachinid
Roasted butternut squash Small winter squashes such as butternut, Delicata, and acorn can be roasted in halves to serve right in the shell. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Halve the squash and scoop out the seeds. No need to remove the skin. Place the halves cut side up on an oiled rimmed baking sheet or
Soldier beetle The soldier beetle is a beneficial insect. Both adult and especially larvae soldier beetles are voracious eaters preying on insect pests including cucumber beetles, corn rootworms, aphids, grasshopper eggs, caterpillars, and beetle larvae. A second common name for the soldier beetle is leatherwings. Attract soldier beetles to the garden by planting goldenrod, milkweed
