tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4417673812590532176.post-39042930973125441892008-05-09T13:57:00.003-04:002008-05-09T14:13:56.334-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_BJYdMMiy1po/SCSUJAHh_MI/AAAAAAAAAPg/SLxse7KHCXs/s1600-h/garlic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_BJYdMMiy1po/SCSUJAHh_MI/AAAAAAAAAPg/SLxse7KHCXs/s200/garlic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198442752263716034" border="0" /></a>I love hearing the unique methods growers use to keep pests out of their greenhouses. I've heard quite a few times about brushing plants with plastic strips to retard growth, simulating being blown through the breeze in an open field. We saw this in practice at Elzinga &amp; Hoeksema.<br /><br />The latest thing I've heard is including garlic plants on your benches to repel thrips, being used by Shed Nursery in Mentone, Ala. I can't imagine hating the smell of garlic, but I guess it works. Even as I was looking for a photo of garlic, I came across this <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennyromney/1613145439/">testimonial from a gardener</a> on Flickr:<br /><br /><blockquote>GARDEN TIP: The next time aphids are attacking your roses try spraying them with a mixture of crushed garlic and water...watch them drop.</blockquote><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by Smitten on Flickr.</span>Sara Tambasciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15756047434790240290noreply@blogger.com