Spring is in Full Swing

Spring is in full swing, which means warmer weather, new plants, baby animals, and - BUGS! If you’re facing extra bug pressure in the garden right now, you’re not alone. Our first reaction may be irritation by these little creatures, but they can actually be a very useful tool in managing our garden.

*THIS MAY BE A GOOD PLACE TO PUT “CLICK TO LEARN MORE” OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT :) *

You see, healthy plants produce high amounts of sugars within their leaves. We measure this sugar content as “Brix”. So the healthier the plant, the higher the sugar content, the higher the Brix score. This is important to know, because this is a mainline of defense against pests and diseases.

Different classes of pests are deterred (or even killed) from consumption of plants at various Brix levels. See this graphic from Urban Farming Institute:

You see, critters’ digestive systems are designed to only be able to tolerate certain sugar levels. Did you know ants will actually “farm” aphids for this reason? They will raise aphids on a higher-level brix plant- which the aphids can’t properly digest - resulting in a dead, “candied” aphid that the ants can enjoy!

The above information is what allows us to make useful inferences about our plants’ health. For example: If you are seeing more than a leaf or two damaged by aphids, you know your brix levels are probably no more than around 7. If you aren’t seeing many aphids but are getting more than the occasional nibble from caterpillars, you can guess your brix is between 7 and 10.

If you suspect poor plant health (because of pest pressure and ultimately low brix levels), consider the following factors and look for areas of improvement in common stress factors:

-Sun Exposure

-MacroNutrients Availability (N,P,K)

-MicroNutrient Availability

-Moisture consistency

-High, Low, and Average Temperatures

-Soil Compaction/Aeration/Drainage

Sometimes there are just certain factors we can’t control, like lower leaves not getting enough sunlight because of blockage from upper leaves - or the temperatures/time of year creating stress in a plant.

In the event that the stressors are something you have no control over, it doesn’t hurt to explore non-toxic, soil-friendly, pollinator-safe ways to support and defend your leafy friends. Additionally, making note of the stress produced in a plant (and the suspected cause) can help us make improved decisions for time/location/infrastructure/etc. of planting next year’s crop.

As you’re tending your garden this spring, spend some time observing and pondering its condition and what it may be trying to tell you. Its structure and systems are incredibly telling, and beautifully designed by the greatest engineer to ever exist. Your plants (and those consuming them) will thank you!