Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

After a few weeks, your brassicas gain considerable mass, their leaves stretching out and unfurling like parachutes in the air. Until they get eaten by something crawling around, of course.

How frustrating is that?

You can keep an eye out and pick off the bugs one by one, but they may outpace you. And, you can't just camp in your garden all day to do this.

That's where Bt, a naturally occuring microbe that is toxic to insects, comes into play.

There are many types of Bt, and they are usually specialized for each target, whether they be caterpillars or beetles. Bt is a pesticide suitable for organic gardens, and comes in every form from sprays to pellets.

When ingested, this microbe is converted into a protein that is deadly to insects. However, when ingested by people or other small animals, it does no harm at all.

The use of Bt can drastically reduce the presence of some of the most destructive pests for that plentiful fall garden harvest.

Learn more here.