[ProfessorM]

damn caterpillars, winter moth I am pretty sure as it is too early for gypsy right now, are doing a number on all my stuff right now. Every year I get more and more depressed as to how hard it is to grow anything anymore without chemicals. Fruit trees you can forget it , no chems. no fruit. My blueberries took a beating this spring from winter moths, the buds, and then it will be the gypsy moths that start to eat what is left with the foliage. Will have to lay on the Sevin to get them if I want fruit. Royal PIA.

It is almost at the point now if I want to get blueberries I have to spray the bushes every spring just assuming there are winter moth eggs in there as they attack the bud stage of the plant, not foliage, and you really can't see them until the damage is done. May have to soak them down early to avoid the friggin damage. As the buds open and the flowers come out you can't spray them then as the bees are working and you will kill them, which is where I am at this year. Now I wait to see if the gypsy moths come knocking and start to eat the foliage and then I will apply the Sevin early enough so that I can eat the berries when they mature. Reason I grow them as I like not having my fruit covered with chemicals but nowadays it is really difficult to do that in the fruit category. Sorry, no crying allowed in gardening.