Bags Produce Bug-Free Fruit

Bags Produce Bug-Free Fruit FARM HOME Food Alton Eliason keeps his grapes apples and other hanging fruit bug-free by bagging them After 75 years of gardening organically Eliason sees no reason to use even organic plant protection products if possible “Despite all my efforts to enrich my soil by mulches and other enrichments keeping the plum curculio the codling moth and especially the apple maggot from rendering my apples inedible has been a losing battle until I started bagging apples ” says Eliason In the past the 99-year-old sprayed with Imidan for plum curculio and 10 days later for codling moth and hung Tangle-Trap red balls for apple maggot Today he simply hangs plastic bags over the fruit and that includes grapes as well as apples “Take a plain plastic bag and cut a small hole in the lower corner to allow moisture to drain out ” says Eliason “Place it around the apple when it is 1/2 to 1 in in diameter and staple it closed to either side of the stem ” Eliason says the same process works just as well on grapes and other fruit as on the apples He adds that the bags do more than just eliminate poisonous spray “No more deer fence no bird damage and no worry about being wiped out by a hail storm ” he says Although any small plastic bag will work Eliason recommends using dog waste bags from pet stores “Just cut them off to about a 9-in length ” says Eliason Eliason credits working in his gardens and gardening organically for reaching 99 years of age He notes that in November he and his 101-year-old wife will celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Alton Eliason 206 Parsonage Hill Rd Northford Conn 06472 ph 203 484-0277

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