mosaic virus, making a dent in the aphids, fruit flies trapped

Spent the morning treating tomatoes and peppers for aphids.
Am seeing results of treating nursery for fruit flies. There are finally peppers that are beginning to ripen and have no sign of fruit fly larvae. The pepper plants are still loaded with fruit, the aphids are fewer so the daily treatment for aphids is having a positive effect.

The beans under the net on bed #8 popped up. They are easily 3-4 inches high. Began thinning out rows, moving plants to open spaces and to fill in on bed #7.

Pole beans now have ants farming aphids. Treated all plants with soap. Also noticed aphids on dill plants, pulled out a few dill plants that had bolted.

Spoke with experts on Friday and learned that tomatoes are being attacked by the mosaic virus. This virus is spread by aphids. There is nothing to do about it. The plants are still putting out fruit. The extension agent recommends trimming off damaged leaves,  and keeping the plants while producing. The virus will shorten the life span of plant. There are a couple of newsletters on the virus from UH extension. The main point is to keep the virus from spreading by treating for aphids, which spread the mosaic virus to other plants (tomato and pepper), and using good hygiene (wash tools and hands before working with non-infected plants).

March 13 - Saturday
Walked about garden and nursery with etm. Found new bed dug in garden, which was a surprise.
Also found an area heavily mulched that had nice short grass and no garden plants.
Explained to etm the source of onions with snipped green tops.

Checked the fruit fly trap I hung up a few days earlier. Several fruit flies were trapped. At a glance I think the species is Melon, though could be Malaysian. From the number of flies trapped in a short time, I need to make a few more traps and place around garden area.

Found three eggs! Gave chickens grain to last until Monday.
Beans in bed #8 just beginning to break through the surface.

Picked six of the unknown romaine type lettuce as it was more then ready. When I went to wash off leaves and clip root, I realized that the several of the plants had had many of the outer leaves removed. Etm had said T. spoke of insects on lettuce. While washing the six lettuces, I found one caterpillar. That is minimal insect damage.

March 11 - Thursday
Kitchen waste to chickens, the small waterer in green coop was in two pieces when I went in, very strange. Filled it and has been fine.

The tomatoes I had given T. to transplant were crammed into a very small space between pineapple and papaya, six plants all in about two square feet. I asked T. why she put them so close and suggest she spread them out.

Gave T. bean plants from nursery to transplant to bed #6.

Moved 32 cups of lettuce to aquaponics bed #2. Cinder rock is pau.

Made fruit fly trap and hung it in tree near nursery.
Planted yard long beans in bed #4.
Trimmed diseased leaves from tomatoes in bed #2. Took samples of tomato and pepper leaves to show extension agent.

Information on Swiss Chard:
Can be harvested continually, cut 1.5 inches from the ground when 8-12 inches long. Both the leaf and stalk are edible. Unwashed leaves can be stored in the refrigerator for two weeks.
Leaves have a huge amount of vitamin A, naturally high in sodium, high in calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.  Eat raw in salad or use as one would spinach.
One cup chopped has 35 calories.
Price at Times: bunch of six- seven leaves, $4.99.