(Or… So Much For the Ladybugs)
They took up residence on the nasturtium. The theory was: let them feast on those, not the vegetables.
Well, feast they did.
The nasturtium that got hit hardest now look… haunted. Checked out. Well, dead.
I don’t see many ladybugs crawling around. Maybe they gave it a shot and realized it was a lost cause. Maybe those aren’t aphids and aphid poop. Maybe I brought the equivalent of vegans to a meat festival or vice versa.
The tomatoes closest to those plants are starting to look suspicious; they’ve got someone hanging out on their stems now. And they’re sporting a distinct scent of betrayal. It’s not definitive yet, but I think I’m losing the war.
So tomorrow’s plan is clear: that patch of nasturtium has to go.
I wanted it to work, but I think the aphids (or whoever) are done with nasturtium and moving on, and that has me a bit worried. Maybe it’s not bad that so many tomato volunteers showed up for service…?
What’s Next:
– Pull the affected nasturtium
– Monitor nearby tomatoes like a hawk
– Maybe release another round of ladybugs, just in case
– Chalk this up as part of the experiment
Gardening is full of little heartbreaks. This one’s mine for the week. But we keep going. Pull, rinse, replant. Try again.
Man, I hope we don’t lose this tomato season.
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