Garden Pests Archives - Home Garden Joy

Meet a Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar

Jeanne — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:49:33 +0000

We were on our evening walk last night when this beauty crossed our path: a polyphemus moth caterpillar. What Is the Polymphemus Moth? The Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a large and visually striking moth native to North America. It belongs to the Saturniidae family, which includes many of the giant silk moths. Its name...

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Sunscald on Tomatoes: What It Is and How to Prevent It

Jeanne — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 13:57:20 +0000

If you’ve ever walked out to your garden and spotted tomatoes with pale, blistered patches, you might be dealing with a common but frustrating issue: sunscald. It’s not a disease, and it’s not caused by pests. It’s a physiological disorder that stems from too much sun and heat, especially when fruits are suddenly exposed. What...

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Battling Anthracnose: A Cucumber Grower’s Guide to a Sneaky Fungal Foe

Jeanne — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:57:15 +0000

If you’ve ever stepped into your garden and noticed strange brown spots or sunken blemishes on your cucumbers, you might be facing a common but troublesome fungal disease known as anthracnose. Caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare, anthracnose thrives in warm, humid conditions and can quickly spread across your crop if not addressed early. This year in...

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