Toxic Free NC: Organic Gardening - A Practical Guide for Home, School and Community Gardeners

Bacteria – A type of very small, single celled organisms. Bacteria have all different kinds of characteristics and functions. Most of the bacteria we talk about in Organic Solutions cause diseases in insects, but not in people or other mammals, and so they can be used for pest control. All about bacteria. [top]

Beneficial Insect – An insect that provides a useful service in gardens or farms, such as killing other pest insects or pollinating flowers. All about beneficial insects. [top]

Brassica – The biological name for a related group of plants that includes many tasty vegetables: cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, mustard greens, collards, kohlrabi, turnips, rutabagas, and rapeseed or canola. These are also sometimes called “cruciferous” vegetables. All about brassicas. [top]

BTK (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) – A naturally-occurring strain of soil bacteria. Many strains of the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria produce toxins that kill bugs. The kurstaki strain in particular produces a toxin that kills cabbage loopers, hornworms, and most other caterpillar pests. When the caterpillar eats some of the BTK bacteria, the toxin enters their digestive system and causes them to die within a day or two. Will also kill the caterpillars of butterflies and other beneficial insects, so use it sparingly. BTK is not toxic to people or animals – only to caterpillars – and biodegrades quickly in the soil, leaving no pollution behind. You can purchase BTK bacteria from some well-stocked organic gardening stores and catalogs. Only use BTK products that appear on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved for certified organic farms. This will help you avoid any hazardous additives. Follow all instructions on the product label carefully to ensure you use the product correctly and as safely as possible. More details about BTK for pest control. [top]

BTSD (Bacillus thuringiensis var. san diego) – A naturally-occurring strain of soil bacteria. Many strains of the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria produce toxins that kill bugs. The san diego strain in particular produces a toxin that kills some leaf-eating beetles, including the Colorado Potato Beetle. When the beetle eats some of the BTSD bacteria, the toxic enters their digestive system and causes them to die within a day or two. BTSD is not harmful to most beneficial insects, or to people or animals – only to leaf-eating beetles. It biodegrades quickly in the soil, leaving no pollution behind. You can purchase BTSD bacteria from some well-stocked organic gardening stores and catalogs. Only use BTSD products that appear on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved for certified organic farms. This will help you avoid any hazardous additives. Follow all instructions on the product label carefully to ensure you use the product correctly and as safely as possible. More details about BTSD for pest control. [top]

Catalogs – Here are some of our favorite gardening & seed catalogs for buying organic pest control supplies, as well as seeds. Of course there are many others, but if you’re looking for a reliable catalog, these might be good places to start: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Planet Natural, Territorial Seeds, and Bountiful Gardens. [top]

Certified Organic – Certified organic farms have gone through a rigorous (and expensive!) process of third-party checks to guarantee they follow guidelines from US Department of Agriculture designed to protect the environment. Certified organic foods come from those farms, and many carry a USDA Organic logo. All about the National Organic Program and organic certification. [top]

Cocoon – A protective casing made by some species of insect to cover and protect the pupae. All about cocoons. [top]

Compost – A fertilizer made by piling up natural materials, keeping them moist, and letting bacteria naturally found in the soil break them down. The remaining material is brown or black and looks much like soil. It is used as a fertilizer for farms and gardens because it is rich in nutrients for plants, and it makes soil quality better, helping clay soil stay loose and sandy soil stick together and hold more water. Also, composting recycles old unwanted things to make something useful, so it saves natural resources, not to mention money. All about compost. [top]

Cucurbit – Short form of the biological name cucurbitacea for a related group of plants that includes many tasty fruits and vegetables: winter squash (butternut, acorn, hubbard), summer squash (crookneck, yellow, zucchini), melons (cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew), cucumbers, pumpkins, and gourds. All about cucurbits. [top]

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) – A very fine, lightweight powder made mostly of silica. It is a mined substance, and is actually made up of very tiny prehistoric fossils. The powder is chemically inert, meaning it has no chemical activity and is non-toxic. But, when insects and soft-bodied slugs or snails come into contact with it, it kills them by scratching up their outer coating so that they dehydrate quickly. Commonly used for pest control, both in gardening and also in buildings. You can buy DE from some hardware and garden supply stores and catalogs. If you buy DE labeled for pest control, check to be sure it appears on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved for certified organic farms. to avoid any hazardous additives. You can also buy DE that is not labeled for pest control – be sure to get “food grade” DE, as there’s another type made for pool filters that doesn’t work for pest control. Though DE is non-toxic, like any fine powder it can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat. Take care when using it, and follow all instructions on the product label carefully to ensure you use the product correctly and as safely as possible. [top]

Drop Cloth – A big piece of sturdy fabric usually used by painters to keep paint drips from landing on the floor. Drop cloths are referred to here as a way to catch bugs: put a drop cloth, or any big piece of material, under your plants, then shake the plants until the bugs in them fall onto your drop cloth. Then, kill the bugs by squishing, dropping them in soapy water, or another method. Could use an old sheet, a big roll of paper, or even cut open a big plastic trash bag so it forms one big rectangle. [top]

Female Flowers – In order to produce fruit, many plants need to be pollinated, meaning that some pollen (kind of like a plant’s sperm) reaches the plant’s ovary. Some plants only have one type of flower, with both male and female parts, which can self-pollinate. Others – including plants in the family – have separate male and female flowers. Pollen from the male flowers needs to reach the female flowers in order for them to form fruit. For cucurbits, you can usually tell the difference by looking just under the flower: is there a tiny baby melon, cucumber, squash, or pumpkin under the flower? If so, the flower is female, and if not, it’s male. Here’s a great picture showing the difference between male and female squash flowers. [top]

Ferric Phosphate Bait – Also called iron phosphate bait. A mineral compound that is used to control slugs and snails. It can be purchased as a formula that contains both ferric phosphate and baits that smell and taste good to slugs and snails, encouraging them to eat it. Once they eat the bait, they stop feeding on plants immediately, and die within 3 – 6 days. Ferric phosphate is not toxic to people or most other animals, however it should be used cautiously. You can purchase ferric phosphate or iron phosphate baits from well-stocked garden stores and catalogs. Only use ferric phosphate products that appear on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved for certified organic farms. This will help you avoid any hazardous additives. Follow all instructions on the product label carefully to ensure you use the product correctly and as safely as possible. [top]

Fertilizer – Something added to the soil to provide one or more nutrients for crops. In other words, plant food. Can be natural, as in compost, animal manure, or one of many products made from animals (bone meal, fish emulsion, etc.). Can also be man-made. All about fertilizer. [top]

Frass – A biological word for the poop that leaf eating caterpillars and larvae leave behind. Usually dark green or brown. Read more about frass here and here. [top]

Insecticidal Soap – A type of soap used in the control of small, soft-bodied pests, like aphids, thrips, and spider mites. Can also work on caterpillars, but control is more difficult for larger creatures. Also useful against some plant diseases. Soaps have low toxicity to hard-bodied insects, and to people or animals, though like any soap, insecticidal soap is very irritating to the eyes and so should be used with care. Insecticidal soaps can also cause burns on some types of plants, particularly squashes and other cucurbits, so avoid using them when it is very hot out. You can purchase insecticidal soap from well-stocked garden stores and catalogs. Only use insecticidal soap products that appear on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved for certified organic farms. This will help you avoid any hazardous additives. Follow all instructions on the product label carefully to ensure you use the product correctly and as safely as possible. More details about insecticidal soap. [top]

Insecticide – A substance that is used to kill or repel insects. May come from nature, such as neem oil from neem trees, or be man made. Insecticides are a type of pesticides, which are substances used to kill any pest critter. Most insecticides are toxic to people, and when used in the garden can harm beneficial insects and other creatures along with the pest they’re meant to hurt. For those reasons, we recommend that insecticides are used only as a last resort when other, less risky methods don’t work. Use as little as possible, and follow label instructions very closely to ensure you are using them correctly and as safely as possible. A good way to find insecticides with lower toxicity is to look on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved for certified organic farms. All about insecticides here and here. [top]

Larva / Larvae – The biological name for a special young form that many animals go through, including most insects. This is different other young animals because larvae must undergo metamorphosis to become an adult. Some examples of larva are caterpillars, which become moths and butterflies, and tadpoles, which become frogs. [top]

Milky Spore™ – A commercial product for controlling the white grubs of Japanese beetles, May or June Beetles, and several other pests in the scarab family. Milky Spore is made of the bacteria Paenibacillus popilliae. These bacteria, when eaten by the beetle grubs that live in the soil, grow rapidly inside the grub and cause it to die from milky disease. When the grubs die, they release billions of new Paenibacillus popilliae bacteria into the soil which can infect and kill other grubs. Milky Spore takes a year or two to come into full effect, but once it does, it can be effective for several years. One challenge for a small gardener, however, is that while you may successfully kill off grubs living in your own soil, adult Japanese beetles are quite mobile and can travel to your garden from a neighboring area to dine on your plants. So, you might share your Milky Spore with your neighbors to make it more effective! Milky Spore is non-toxic to people and animals, and it breaks down naturally in the soil to leave no pollution behind. Only use milky disease products that appear on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved for certified organic farms. This will help you avoid any hazardous additives. Follow all instructions on the product label carefully to ensure you use the product correctly and as safely as possible. [top]

Mollusk – Short form for the biological name Mollusca, a big group of animals that are invertebrate, meaning they don’t have back bones. They come in all different shapes and sizes. Slugs and snails are members of this family. All about mollusks. [top]

Mucus – A slippery substance that some animals make to protect membranes in their body, or in the case of slugs and snails, their very delicate skin. All about mucus. [top]

Mulch – Material put on the soil surface to hold water in the soil, and block weeds from sprouting. May be natural material, such as hay, leaves, or wood chips; or man-made material such as plastic sheeting. All about mulch. [top]

Neem Oil – An oil extracted from the neem tree, which is native to the Indian subcontinent. Repels and kills many pest insects, but is not harmful to people, animals, earthworms, and some beneficial insects. It can however discourage some pollinating bees, and so should be used sparingly. You can purchase neem oil from well-stocked organic gardening stores and catalogs. Only use neem oil products which appear on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved certified organic farms.. This will help you avoid hazardous additives, which are sometimes added to neem oil. Follow all instructions on the product label carefully to ensure you use the product correctly and as safely as possible. [top]

Nematode – The biological name for a group of animals also called roundworms. They are very thin, and many are so small they can’t be seen without a microscope. Many types of nematodes can be parasites. We refer to them because some nematode types are parasites of insects, and can be useful for pest control. All about nematodes. [top]

Nitrogen – An element that is a vital nutrient for plants, and all forms of life. A common component of garden fertilizers. Plants do best when fertilized in a balanced way: too much of any one nutrient can make things out of whack. In particular, plants with too much nitrogen and not enough of the other essential nutrients tend to grow lots and lots of greenery, but not very much fruit. All about nitrogen.

Nymph – A special type of larva, nymph is the biological name for the young form of some types of insects, most notably the “true bugs.” The true bugs include squash bugs, harlequin bugs, and other stink bugs. Nymphs are different from most larvae because they look a lot like the adult bugs. Instead of pupating to become adults, they change slowly from a nymph to an adult with no in-between stage. All about nymphs. [top]

Organic – A word used in many different fields to mean different things. In the field of gardening and agriculture, organic means growing plants in a way that works with nature, is kind to the environment and to wildlife, and is healthiest and safest for the people who grow the food and the people who eat it. Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are rarely if ever used because these products are hazardous. Instead, organic growing uses composting, crop rotation, companion planting, and non-hazardous pest control methods. All about organic farming. [top]

Organic Matter – Material that came from living plants or animals, and is decayed or decaying. Organic matter is an important part of garden soil because it holds water in the soil, and as it slowly decays and breaks down, it releases nutrients that plants need. Composting is a good way to add organic matter to the soil. All about organic matter. [top]

Parasite / Parasitic / Parasitize – A biological name for a creature that takes advantage of another creature’s body for part or all of its life. In the process, the parasitic creature hurts or kills the host creature. Most parasites are specific, meaning they only like to use one or two different creatures as their hosts. Some like to use garden pests as their hosts, but not people or other animals. Those parasites can really help gardeners with pest control! All about parasites. [top]

Parasitic Nematode – A very small round worm that lives as a parasite for part of its life. Some parasitic nematodes attack and kill insects that are pests for gardeners, and can be useful for organic pest control. All about parasitic nematodes. [top]

Parasitic Wasp – A type of flying wasp insect that lives as a parasite on other insects for part of its life. Some parasitic wasps are very useful for gardeners because they choose pest caterpillars as their hosts, laying their eggs on the caterpillar or even inside it. When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars die. All about parasitic wasps. [top]

Perennial– A type of plant that lives for more than two years, growing and blooming in the spring and summer, and dying back in the fall and winter. Plants that live for only one year and must re-seed themselves each year are called annuals. Those that live for two years are called biennials. Most garden fruits and vegetables are annuals or biennials. All about perennials. [top]

Pesticide – A substance used to kill, hurt, or repel pests. Includes insecticides, which get rid of bugs, as well as herbicides that get rid of weeds, fungicides that get rid of molds, and even many antibacterial products. All about pesticides. [top]

Pheromone (as in pheromone traps) – A chemical produced by a living thing that sends a message to other living things. Used by lots of insects. Some pheromones are alarms signaling danger, some send the message that they’ve found food and let others know to come join in, and others are for reproduction and send the signal that the individual is ready to mate. All about pheromones. [top]

Pollinate / Pollination / Pollinating – In plants, transferring pollen in order to fertilize the flowers and allow for sexual reproduction of the plant. May be done by wind or other non-living forces, or may be done by living creatures called pollinators. All about pollination. [top]

Pollinator – A living creature that pollinates plants, usually by transferring pollen from one flower to another. Flowers may have specific colors, scents, or contain nectar to attract pollinators. Many insects are pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Some garden plants can produce fruit and seeds without pollinators, but other plants depend on them. All about pollinators. [top]

Predator / Predatory – A creature that hunts and eats other creatures, called their prey. Some predators prey on garden pests, and can be very helpful for pest control. All about predators. [top]

Pupate / Pupa / Pupae – A stage in the growth of some insects when they are making a dramatic change from larva to adult. They often look very different before and after pupating. Most pupae have a protective covering during this transformation – sometimes called a cocoon – and they usually can’t move or eat during this time, much like hibernation. All about pupae. [top]

Pyrethrin – Also sometimes called pyrethrum. A derivative of a certain species of chrysanthemum plant that is grown mostly in Kenya. Useful as an insecticide because it is a nerve poison to most insects, and killing them at high concentrations and repelling them at lower concentrations. Relatively low toxicity for people and animals, however it can be just as hazardous to beneficial insects as to pest insects, and so should be used sparingly and only as a last resort. Piperonyl butoxide is a common additive to pyrethrin products that is significantly more toxic to people and animals, and so should be avoided. You can purchase pyrethrin from well-stocked organic gardening stores and catalogs. Only use pyrethrin products that appear on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved for certified organic farms. This will help you avoid hazardous additives like piperonyl butoxide, which are sometimes added to pyrethrin. Follow all instructions on the product label carefully to ensure you use the product correctly and as safely as possible. *Note, pyrethrin is not to be confused with pyrethroid pesticides, including permethrin, deltamethrin, and bifenthrin, which are man-made chemicals that mimic the action of pyrethrin on insects, but are significantly more hazardous to people and animals, and are not approved for certified organic farms. More details about pyrethrin. [top]

Reemay – One of several brand names for very light weight, polyester fabric that can be used in the garden for pest control, as well as for frost protection and season extension. It allows water, air, and 75% of sunlight to pass through to plants, but if properly pinned or weighted down to the ground, it can keep bugs out. It can also protect plants from frost very early or late in the growing season. It can be reused until it wears out, which usually take at least a few years if you handle and store it carefully. You can purchase Reemay or other row cover brands from many well-stocked gardening stores and catalogs – for pest control purposes, look for the lightest gauge fabric, called “AG-15.” For frost protection, choose heavier grades AG-50 or AG-70. Many places will also sell special clips or staples to keep the fabric pinned down. These may be helpful, especially for covering a large area, however for a small garden, rocks or bricks can be used to weigh down the fabric just as easily – just be sure not to tear it. You can also bury the edges of the fabric in garden soil. Wire hoops can be used for delicate plants, and are very helpful for frost protection, however they aren’t necessary for most pest control uses of Reemay. More information on how to use Reemay and other floating row covers. [top]

Resistant / Resistance – A word used in many different fields to mean something that is strong and pushes back. In farming and gardening, pests may be resistant to a pesticide, meaning they aren’t easily hurt by it. Or, a plant may be resistant to a pest, meaning that it isn’t easily hurt that pest. All about pesticide resistance. [top]

Rotenone – A chemical derived from the roots of certain plants, which is useful as an insecticide against many insect pests. It is also very toxic to beneficial insects and to fish, and is considered moderately hazardous for people and animals. Given these many health and environmental risks, this product should be used only sparingly and as a last resort. Piperonyl butoxide is a common additive to rotenone products that is significantly more toxic to people and animals, and so should be avoided. You can purchase rotenone from well-stocked organic gardening stores and catalogs. Only use rotenone products which appear on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved for certified organic farms. This will help you avoid hazardous additives, which are combined with rotenone. Follow all instructions on the product label carefully to ensure you use the product correctly and as safely as possible. More details about rotenone. [top]

Scarab – A short form of Scarabaeidae, the biological name for a related group of beetle insects. This group includes Japanese Beetles and May or June Beetles. All their larvae are called grubs. All about scarab beetles. [top]

Scout – To do a thorough search. In organic gardening and farming, one should often search the garden for pests as well as signs of pests like leaf damage or frass. This is called scouting, and involves looking closely at plants, checking under leaves and in other likely pest hiding places. Scouting helps the gardener catch and kill pests, stopping them from hurting plants, and preventing a few pests from multiplying. All about pest scouting. [top]

Seedling – A very young plant, only recently sprouted from the ground. All about seedlings. [top]

Solanaceae – The biological name for a related group of plants that includes many tasty garden fruits and vegetables: potatoes, tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, eggplant, and tobacco. This group is also sometimes called the “nightshades.” All about solanaceae. [top]

Spinosad – A chemical derived from a rare type of bacteria that is useful as an insecticide. Effective against many caterpillar and beetle pests. It is also quite toxic to many beneficial insects, so it should be used very sparingly. It has low toxicity for people and animals. You can purchase rotenone from well-stocked organic gardening stores and catalogs. Only use spinosad products which appear on the Organic Materials Review Institute’s list of products approved for certified organic farms. This will help you avoid hazardous additives, which are sometimes combined with spinosad. Follow all instructions on the product label carefully to ensure you use the product correctly and as safely as possible. More details about spinosad. [top]

Succession Planting – A system of timing for multiple plantings used by farmers and gardeners to get the most produce out of their land each year. Succession planting is especially useful in North Carolina since our growing season is relatively long, and you can get more than one crop from the same land each year. Some succession planting extends the harvest for one crop. For example, instead of planting all their lettuce the same day, a gardener may plant some seeds today, some in two weeks, and some more two weeks after that, so they can spread out the harvest. Another type of succession planting uses two or more crops. For example, a gardener may plant an early season crop like potatoes, and then after the potatoes are dug in the early summer, plant a heat-loving crop in the same place, such as green beans or okra. All about succession planting. [top]

Till / Tilling – Preparing the soil for plants by digging and mixing it, sometimes by hand and sometimes with a machine, such as a rototiller, a plow, or a tractor. This softens the upper layer of soil and mixes in any organic material on the soil surface so it will decompose. Tilling in the fall can kill many insect pests that spend the winter hiding in the top layer of soil, reducing the number of pests that come out the following spring. All about tilling. [top]

Transplant – Has a few different uses, but in the field of gardening and farming, this means a young plant that is grown from seed in a pot or tray, where it can be easily protected from cold and pests. Then when it is big enough, or when the weather is better, the young plant is taken out of the pot or tray and replanted in the garden or field. All about transplanting. [top]

Trellis – A structural support for vining plants, which keeps them from growing along the ground. Can be made of wood, rope, or other materials. Metal is not recommended because it can get very hot in the sun and burn the plants. All about trellises. [top]