Organic gardening is about working with nature to grow your plants, harvest the fruits of your labors, and share the planet with the plants and animals around you. Sometimes, though, the animals, specifically the insects, get greedy and you need something to make sure you get your share. Spinosad can help with that.
Spinosad is the fermented juices of a soil bacterium called Saccharopolyspora spinosa. It is approved for use in organic production, so you will not loose your certification if you use it. Even better, spinosad is very selective about what it kills.
Caterpillars and thrips are the main target of this insecticide. Beetles die, too. Adult butterflies and many insect predators and parasites are safe, though. People and animals are safe, too.
The other great thing about spinosad is that it has a residual effectiveness of up to four weeks. This contrasts with Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, which has a residual of only one or two days. A longer residual means less spraying and less expense.
To use spinosad, you will have to find a commercial product containing it. Although spinosad is not new, having been certified as organic by the USDA in 2003, it is not well known by home gardeners. You will have to ask your nurseryman what products contain it or search the shelves. Products focused on caterpillars and thrips are more likely to contain it than more broad spectrum products. Always read and follow the label. The label is the law.
