“Alabama is one of the most important aquaculture states in the United States, ranking 6th in aquaculture sales,” said Luke Roy, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System associate professor. Aquaculture is important to Alabama as farmers raise catfish, crawfish, oysters, shrimp, sport fish, baitfish and other species for a wide variety of markets. This practice of using water to grow aquatic species is known as aquaculture. When thinking of farming, your first thought might not be farming in water. From oysters to catfish, aquaculture farmers are committed to providing a healthy, sustainable product for consumers. – Alabama is one of the most important aquaculture states in the country. “Just remember to change the water a couple of times per week to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.”įind more information on gardens and garden pollinators by visiting the Alabama Extension website Alabama’s commitment to sustainable aquacultureĪUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. “Add a few rocks to provide a landing pad for the bees to perch on,” she said. Carroll said a birth bath or shallow pan filled with water will work well. Providing a water source is a good way to care for garden pollinators during the hot summer. “It is important to remember that bees need water too.” “Alabama has been known to face drier than usual weather pattern during the hot, summer months,” she said. When caring for garden pollinators during the summer, Carroll said it all comes back to the necessities-food, water and shelter. With pests like the tomato hornworm, simply picking the worm off of the plant is an easy and effective way to protect the crop.” “If there are only two aphids, it is very likely that native beneficial insects will take care of the problem. “Monitoring is a very effective way to determine whether to use a pesticide,” Carroll said. There are also several easy ways to get rid of pests without using pesticides. Pollinators are generally inactive at night making it a good time to apply chemicals. When flowers are open and pollinators are out, refrain from using pesticides. Monitoring the crop is an easy way to determine a good time for application. Carroll said there are times when pesticide use can be helpful, but as most gardeners know, it can also be harmful. One of the larger aspects to carefully consider is pesticide use. The buzzing vibration helps shake pollen loose for tomatoes, while the cucurbit family relies fully on the services of a pollinator to carry pollen and bear fruit. Each of these benefit from pollinator activity. While there are plants that are totally dependent on pollinators–such as cucumbers of the cucurbit family–there are also self-pollinated plants, such as tomatoes. Many native bees, aside from honeybees and bumble bees, can pollinate the plants that are not self-pollinating and require assistance to bear fruit. Squash bees, sweat bees, leaf cutter bees, bats and butterflies all play a small role in the fruitfulness of productive gardens. There are thousands of pollinators regularly contributing to garden pollination. “But, if you don’t live next door to a beekeeper, there are other native pollinators gardens can attract.” “Everyone is familiar with honeybees as pollinators,” Carroll said. Incorporating a variety of flowers and herbs can help provide pollinators with options to keep them coming back to the garden for more. Also, pollinators do not feed on the same thing repetitively and prefer an assortment of foods. Gardeners often forget different pollinators are present at different times throughout the year. These insects need three major things: food, water and shelter. By simply observing a garden or flowerbed for a short period of time, people can determine whether pollinators are-or are not-present.Ĭarroll said pollinators are like humans. It is up to gardeners to make sure these pollinators have what they need to do their jobs.ĭani Carroll, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System home grounds, gardens and home pests regional agent, said there are several ways to ensure pollinators are active in a growing space. Even during the hot days of summer, these critters are hard at work. A pollinator summer: caring for garden pollinatorsĪUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala.- Just because it is summer, doesn’t mean gardeners should forget about the pollinators.
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