Question
Ym mother is 82, she lives in south Fl. She has little red bugs on her broccoli plants. She wants to know what they might be, and how to rid them.

Answer
Vic, without seeing a picture, it is hard to say given the hundreds of garden pests common to broccoli. The two most common are aphids and flea beetles, but it could also be one of several other small beetles.

Regardless of which pest it is, the treatment is the same. You can use a chemical pesticide or an organic control. Personally, I only use organic products on vegetables.

The two most common are pyrethrum and rotenone. Both are sold as concentrates and must be mixed with water. They are toxic to insects but will not harm humans or pets. They can also be applied up to the day of harvest.

You can purchase these products at most garden centers or through companies such as Planet Natural or Gardens Alive. I have attached links to both companies below.

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/index.html

http://www.gardensalive.com/

I hope this information helps. Good luck, and have a great holiday weekend.

Mike