Is it ok to eat oregano leaves from thrips infested plant?
Hi! I'm not sure but I think I have thrips on my garden, specially on the oregano plant, is it safe to eat it anyway? Thanks!
(If you wanna see pictures of the oregano plant check my other questions or go to:
https://www.plantvillage.com/posts/13...)
(If you wanna see pictures of the oregano plant check my other questions or go to:
https://www.plantvillage.com/posts/13...)
Posted
by: Romina
(1 point)
Posted: November 14, 2013
Answers
Yes, eating insects is OK. But they will likely move off as you cut the leaves for preparation. And washing will also remove them. But ingesting insects with plants is not un-healthy (unless you have allergies to insects which some people do, but it is rare)
Posted
by: David Hughes
(67 points)
Posted: November 15, 2013
Peg Boyles commented,
Great answer, David. I reckon I've [unintentionally] eaten my weight in insects from vegetables and fruits over my decades of growing my own. Insects are nutritious! They're efficient food-converters.
Lots of people around the world depend on insects for food http://bit.ly/1cvXFRL, and many scientists believe they could play an important role in reducing food scarcity and feeding the world. http://bit.ly/HX8T9h
As for the disgust factor: Most Westerners eat shrimp, and many savor raw oysters. I rest my case. over 10 years ago.
Great answer, David. I reckon I've [unintentionally] eaten my weight in insects from vegetables and fruits over my decades of growing my own. Insects are nutritious! They're efficient food-converters.
Lots of people around the world depend on insects for food http://bit.ly/1cvXFRL, and many scientists believe they could play an important role in reducing food scarcity and feeding the world. http://bit.ly/HX8T9h
As for the disgust factor: Most Westerners eat shrimp, and many savor raw oysters. I rest my case. over 10 years ago.
Lindsay McMenemy commented,
I've accidentally swallowed many an aphid during lab experiments - with all that honedew they are quite sweet :-) over 10 years ago.
I've accidentally swallowed many an aphid during lab experiments - with all that honedew they are quite sweet :-) over 10 years ago.
Romina commented,
haha! thanks to all of you for your comments, I was actually more concern about the damage that the oregano's leaves has! but now I feel more secure about eating some thrips and sweet aphids! over 10 years ago.
haha! thanks to all of you for your comments, I was actually more concern about the damage that the oregano's leaves has! but now I feel more secure about eating some thrips and sweet aphids! over 10 years ago.
Perfectly safe to eat but if the thrips are damaging your plant then it might be best to treat the plant to get rid of them. There are several insecticidal soaps you can use to kill off thrips which are a safe and effective alternative to insecticides or you could release some ladybugs that will munch on the thrips (although at this time of year you will probably be hard pressed to find any). You can generally use these soaps right up until the day you want to harvest your plants and they will not harm beneficial insects if you are using them outdoors. Thrips not only cause physical damage to the plant, but can also transmit plant viruses, so I'd definitely make an effort to get rid of them before they spread.
Posted
by: Lindsay McMenemy
(4 points)
Posted: November 15, 2013
Peg Boyles commented,
But, boy is it tough to control them. In dense plantings or dense foliage, it's almost impossible to get the spray up under the leaves, where the thrips and their larvae hang out.
I've never found ladybugs much help with thrips in my little food-producing solar greenhouse (though they do a fine job controlling aphids). over 10 years ago.
But, boy is it tough to control them. In dense plantings or dense foliage, it's almost impossible to get the spray up under the leaves, where the thrips and their larvae hang out.
I've never found ladybugs much help with thrips in my little food-producing solar greenhouse (though they do a fine job controlling aphids). over 10 years ago.
Lindsay McMenemy commented,
True about the dense foliage Peg but I reckon its definitely worth a shot judging from the pics of the oregano plant over 10 years ago.
True about the dense foliage Peg but I reckon its definitely worth a shot judging from the pics of the oregano plant over 10 years ago.
Romina commented,
Sure! That's what I've been looking for to treat my plants! I just want to find a natural way to do it, and if it's some natural insecticide I can do myself much better! If you guys know something that could help me please let me know! Thank you! over 10 years ago.
Sure! That's what I've been looking for to treat my plants! I just want to find a natural way to do it, and if it's some natural insecticide I can do myself much better! If you guys know something that could help me please let me know! Thank you! over 10 years ago.
Romina, I don't think this is science-based, but I just heard that soaking cotton balls in vanilla and setting them around infected/susceptible plants works as a trap for thrips. I have a new outbreak in my greenhouse, and I'm trying it myself as soon as I get some cotton balls.
Posted
by: Peg Boyles
(4 points)
Posted: November 15, 2013
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