Posted on 07/08/2016 1:32:57 PM PDT by greeneyes
Sorry about your garlic. I still have older pictures I swiped. ice to see your other pictures. Love the basket. I was at a craft show many years ago and someone made beautiful baskets and used old worn out hand garden tool and some old kitchen tools like spatulas for handles too. great re-use.
For the first time ever, I hear no crickets. [No! not *that* Euphemism]
We had *peepers* this spring, per usual, but not for as long as we usually do.
But there are no crickets chirping at night. Not one. Seems strange.
Should I panic? Call the EPA? hilLIEry?
When you sow a lying victim entitlement mentality and resentment, and plant a root of bitterness, and water and fertilize it with more deception then you reap the fruit thereof of insurrection and anarchy, murder, leading to dictatorship in which the devil reigns thru his lying proxy servants.
But in the literal world of gardening my tomato and butternut squash plants are growing, thank God, although they both are just beginning to have blossoms (but i only saw one bee), because i started them in April and May from seed inside, and lack the amount of warmth and sun for normal growth.
However, this month i gave away my last squash that i harvested after ripening on the vine last Sept/Oct, and placed in the back hall, and 9 months later it was still good. Glory to God!
two seeds per hole?
They wear black; they destroy your stuff, they mock you and crap all over.
You saw something; now say something: TERRORISTS!!!
Call the Feds to get rid of your uninvited border invaders: uh; I mean undocumented avian immigrants.
Keep those OUT of your garden area!!!
Place them on the EDGES of your property to 'attract' them away from your garden.
BINGO!
>>>two seeds per hole?<<<
Close.. Because of our cool spring soil I start the corn seed in the greenhouse and transplant to the garden two plants per hill 12”apart in rows 12’ long and rows 30” apart. Then I install my drip irrigation lines.
LOL!
That's a well balanced fertilizer (8-8-8) - ideal for any garden or orchard.
Yes it is illegal to kill crows, so the use of an air rifle or bb gun can be effective, especially when underpowered, or in a residential area .
I consider it a 'persuader' to let the crows know that they are unwelcomed; and crows are remarkably intelligent, social, and have a 'memory'.
The local laws prevent discharge of firearms within the village limits, however an air rifle or bb gun does not issue a loud report, so it will not upset the locals.
My crow blind (AKA bedroom window) was used once this spring and the crows have not returned - thanks to their social skills and memory, which works to your advantage.
They don't like sudden unexpected noises, or sudden movement even if you miss either purposely or by accident.
On the other hand , our regional drought may have encouraged the crows to look elsewhere for greener pastures and gardens for bugs and grubs .
Actually, I’m on acreage, zoned ‘agriculture’ so I don’t have neighbors that close. We target practice in the back fields so I could likely get by with shooting a crow(s). I won’t because it is currently illegal.
Unfortunately for me, we have some “attractants” in addition to the garden: 3 old grape vines that have green grapes they’re eating, 5 redbuds with seed ‘pods’ hanging that they’re into, blue cedar ‘berries’, and something on 2 small holly trees that they’re eating. They also like the shade of a large elm that is nearby. The garden is ‘dessert’ and easy pickings ... or at least it was until I got out the netting.
No air or BB gun .... I’ll check with a relative & see if they have one. Once the fence goes up, they’ll be kept out of the garden so I won’t have to worry. I’ve been after them all week & now if they just see a slight movement at the door, they’re off to the woods. I’d love to know what they’re saying ‘cause when they see me, they definitely have something to say ... probably couldn’t repeated on a family site. :-)
Flea Beetles :there are several organic controls:
Trap crop:Southern Giant Mustard (Brassica juncea var. crispifolia), or, interplant radishes—'Chinese Daikon' and 'Snow Belle'.
Botanical pesticides used for controlling flea beetles include neem, rotenone, pyrethrin, sabadilla, and formulations of these in some combination.
Insecticidal soap as an organic option for flea beetles seems to be only moderately successful.
Garlic sprays are useful, as are intermixed plantings of onion , garlic, and members of the mint family.
Diatomaceous earth has been observed to reduce flea-beetle populations, but does so gradually and slowly due to perforations of the beetles exoskelitins (chitinin).
Perhaps a combination of insecticidal soap (surfactant) along with the diatomaceous earth (rupture exoskeletins) would work out well.
Yes , crows do get quite "chatty" when disturbed .
I don't need to understand what they say, just as long as they go away.
Yes, your location seems to provide all that the crows want: a rookery, shade, breakfast, lunch, and desert.
You have my sympathies !
That would be a balanced fertilizer. Good for all purpose. For flowers and veggies one with the Middle number higher than the others is better once the flowering and fruit bearing begins. I have several different ones that I use occasionally.
DynaGro is 7-9-5 , Miracle Gro tomato is 18-18-21, Expert Gardener is 15-30-15 for fast results.
However, one of the best things is to grind eggshells, dried banana skins, and empsom salts mixture to add to tomatoes.
Last year, Hubby’s tomatoes in buckets were plagued with blossom end rot, and I had him add Epsom Salts and Bone Meal to the buckets - it worked, and we had a record crop of Romas.
Say thanks! We get a cricket now and then in the basement. Annoying noise, that keeps me awake. LOL
Yes, I am planning on trying out the Diatemateous Earth and Garlic/pepper spray, since we are supposed to have a few rain-free days in a row.
Throw in a couple of drops of dishwasher liquid (Dawn) soap as it will act as a surfactant (allow Diatomacious Earth to spread and stick) on the leaves.
You will probably have to reapply after a moderate , to a heavy rain.
I also like the idea of a "trap crop" of radishes, myself.
If the radishes get to harvest, its a bonus/ if not harvestible, the flea beetles leave your main crop alone.
Thinking about the radishes. It’s so hot now, not sure they will do anything. My garlic/pepper spray recipe has some dishwashing liquid added to it along with onions.
I hate to use it, because it doesn’t distinguish between the good and bad bugs, but it does kill whatever you squirt it on. Not sure how long that lasts. Hope to do it in the PM and hoping that by the AM, it will be less potent.
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