Let's see those '09 gardens

[jjirons69]

Originally Posted by shilala

I'm a Certified Master Gardener, Jamie, for what that's worth.
I used to help the Extension Office with the public, taking care of crops, orchards, farming, and domestic fowl. I gave away my farm when I got divorced.
I've created four or five cultivars (notably a purple sunflower) and invented a dark egg laying (hershey bar colored) chicken along the way, too. Made a lot of money from that stuff.
I used to be addicted to botany and genetics something fierce.
Now I just try to keep the fungus off my tomatoes, play cigars, learn about Christ, and make stuff out of wood.
I've invented a bunch of stuff along the way, too. Some have been very successful, some I never shared, some I'm still waiting to build.
I have about two dozen projects, inventions or systems in my head at any given moment. I never stop reading.
I kind of put everything aside while I'm trying to get my back fixed.

+1 Scott! I wished you lived closer.

[jjirons69]

Here's my till from yesterday. 3 jalapeno and 2 bell bushes left. Rather I say small trees. I'll slice these up and pickle this weekend.



This is why us southern folk can't grow a damn squash, squash vine borers. I've tried ever poison and trick on the Internet and nothing works. I planted 6 more hills today. Maybe the adults are gone by now. The only way I can get squash is to plant them early in the spring and hope a frost doesn't get them. The borers come in by June. This was one of two plants I have left. Now I only have one, but she's still healthy.

Lil' bastards!

Originally Posted by jjirons69

Here's my till from yesterday. 3 jalapeno and 2 bell bushes left. Rather I say small trees. I'll slice these up and pickle this weekend.

This is why us southern folk can't grow a damn squash, squash vine borers. I've tried ever poison and trick on the Internet and nothing works. I planted 6 more hills today. Maybe the adults are gone by now. The only way I can get squash is to plant them early in the spring and hope a frost doesn't get them. The borers come in by June. This was one of two plants I have left. Now I only have one, but she's still healthy.

Lil' bastards!

Your pepper abundance has me wanting to grow jalapenos next year. Great shot of the vine borer.

Hey check this out…

Biological pesticides are an option.
Insect-eating nematodes can be used to kill squash vine borers. A solution of the nematodes is injected into plant stems with a syringe when the holes of the borers are first seen. There are three species of insect-eating nematodes available commercially.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by tzaddi

Your pepper abundance has me wanting to grow jalapenos next year. Great shot of the vine borer.

Hey check this out…

I used to use a dry nematode preperation in every hole with every plant.
The company was from Pittsburgh and I can't remember what they were called.
They also offered a product that caused the roots to get all lumpy with nitrogen fixing nodules (the soil was VERY poor on top of that hill). I'd mix the two products with compost and absorbant polymer and throw a handful in every hole every season.
I've no-till gardened for years through Dewitt Sunbelt earth fabric.
The worms do all my tilling, and the soil in those gardens has improved dramatically over the years. The ex does nothing when she plants, and can still grow nice plants in those gardens.
I live in a river bottom now. All I ever had to do is roll out earth fabric on the grass, cut holes, and drill plant holes with my cordless and a bulb drill.
I just built a compost bin this year, and I'll have plenty of worm castings to add to the garden in the coming years, not that it needs improvement.
The flower beds alongside the house sure do, though.

I liked the article you left, Richard.
"Learn the pest's life cycle" is the only way to kill bugs on anything, in my experience.