Research Says Compound In Watermelon Can Have Aphrodisiac Effects

All Headline News ^ | July 2, 2008 | Nidhi Sharma

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Watermelon; it’s a good fruit! You eat, you drink, you wash your face.” ~ Enrico Caruso

[spotbust1]

In my younger days I went to a party where jungle juice was served. Thinking I didn't want to become inebriated, I decided I would just eat the fruit instead of actually drinking the juice. Big mistake. Hugh!!! It was very series and I think I may have stunned a few beebers.

[wildbill]

We’d better be careful with this info. This is the same department at A&M that is researching the transplantation of natural predators to kill off fire ants.

I think it is a kind of gnat that sucks out their brains. Just what we need running loose, brain-eating gnats.

Remember that Kudzu and nutria were imported to cure problems?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

So were Asian Beetles, the ones that look like Lady Bugs, but have NO predators. They were imported to control some problem in cotton; now we're stuck with them. I have a houseful of them all winter long. Grrrr!

The Japanese Beetles should be hatching any day now, too. They can strip a rose bush in a day. Again, nothing but chemicals will kill them off. And we're losing that battle, fast.

[csvset]

Squish the Japanese beetles. Put on some rubber dish washing gloves and squish ‘em. It’s laborious work but it beats spraying them.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

It has been 55 or 60 years since I had any but it seems there was some green left on the preserves.

[Gabz]

Thank you for that -— hubby picked up a watermelon today and I haven’t had pickled rind in YEARS!!!!!!!

[Gabz]

1/2 cup dried cayene peppers
1/2 cup jalapeno peppers
1 gallon of water

Bring to a boil and let simmer for 30 minutes. Let it cool, strain it and put it into a squirt bottle.

Spray your rose bushes (or whatever) from top to bottom and say good bye to the japanese beetles.

It works, believe me, it works.

[tubebender]

So that was why my Pappy had my Mama pickle watermelon rind by the ton...

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Shhhhh! I have LOTS of spray bottles of “Eight” to sell to my customers within the next few weeks. ;)

I, personally, don’t have a problem with these beetles. I have worked hard to have a working “eco-system” in my garden, so the only thing I ever need to use is Round-Up for weeds.

I have so many birds and Good Bugs in my garden that the Bad Bugs don’t even bother to show up. :)

(I know. I sound like those whack-o Greenies I despise so much, LOL!)

[Gabz]

Actually I sound more like the whacko greenies we both despise -— because I don’t use Round-Up. Only because I don’t care to waste the money for it :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

See Post #30. I don’t have a problem with them. My in-town customers do.

And, no. Do NOT squish them. When you squish them, they release a chemical that brings others into the area by the hundreds. Some sort of “distress” hormone. (Ick!)

Use a bucket of soapy water and toss them in to drown. Rubber gloves optional. :)

Actually, it’s a three-pronged assault. You need to spread grub killer on your lawn in spring and in fall. That kills them while they’re pupating (as grubs) from the following season, or kills the just-laid eggs in the late summer-into-fall.

Secondly, use “Eight” to spray any that you see. It kills them on contact.

Thirdly, invest in those Japanese Beetle traps. HOWEVER, under cover of darkness, put them in your neighbors’ yards. That draws them to the traps and out of YOUR yard, LOL!

Just kidding about the last one. I tell my customers that when I’m joking around with them. The traps really do work. They have a female bug scent to them. The male bugs just go crazy for it. Go figure. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You’re right. But the stuff works. Ask any GOOD plant I’ve accidentally sprayed with it, LOL!

I did some brush killin’ today. It felt good, and I don’t care which Greenie knows about it. :)

Did I tell you of my current obsession with Viburnum? I now have a ‘Blue Muffin,’ a ‘Raspberry Tart,’ a ‘Mohican,’ and an ‘Onadoga’ in the yard. They’d better quit breeding them with such CUTE names or I’ll never stop, LOL!

I also added a ‘Grace’ Smokebush and a ‘Golden Mock Orange.’ A ‘Pinky Winky’ hydrangea is going in when we get some more rain and I can actually DIG a hole for it!

Thank goodness I’m a Nursery Manager. I would REALLY be in trouble if I worked in a yarn shop. ;)

P.S. Package on it’s way to you! Went into the mail today. No, it’s not a cutting/graft from my Viburnum Collection. (But I can do that for you if you want!) And everyone misses you at ‘you know where.’ Pop in to say “HI,” would ya? :)

[Gabz]

I know the stuff works, it just hasn’t been in the budget this year :) The stuff ain’t cheap!!!!

The majority of the rest of your post is all Greek (or should I say Latin) to me -— I have no clue what you’re talking about, although I’m assuming you’re discussing “flower” type stuff. If I can’y use it to cook with, it’s not worth my time or trouble to deal with -— but that is just my personal prejudice.

I felt really bad the other morning when I discovered that one of the cats had done a serious number on Jax’s planter. She was so proud of it, she’s got all kinds of flower plants growing in it and they have been doing wonderfully........but Thomasina got ticked at me because I put her outside and closed the door (all our cats are outside cats) She totally tore up that planter.

You know my hesitation about “popping in” but if you think it’s OK I will. Just because I love you so much :)

[SouthTexas]

The way this story has flown around the web, you may have problems finding a watermelon for the kids tomorrow. LOL

[Diana in Wisconsin]

By all means...pop! :)

Viburnum are flowering shrubs. Sorry!

Husband won’t let me let the chickens out to free-range anymore. They DID tear up my planters by the kitchen door earlier this spring, and they like to poop on his newly laid brick walkway which drives him insane for some reason, LOL!

(The hose is right there! Just hose it off, Man!)

[tubebender]

I bought mine several days ago when Diana and Gabz posted a similar thread. >:)))

[SouthTexas]

Surprised wife hadn’t already stocked up. Maybe she saw the article!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We’re just too cheap to use the phone, LOL!

[Alia]

On an earlier thread, I boasted about "Milky Spores" as a way to deal with Japanese Beetle infestation. Well, here's the results, as the infestation is underway -- YES, the Milky Spores has considerably cut down on the AMOUNTS of Japanese Beetles. Apparently, the milky spores increase potentency each year, as the spores spread.

But I did have to resort to Sevin-5. My rosebush is in bad shape. The beetles only got as far as some leaves on the Nile plants.

Lady who sold me the Sevin-5 suggested I use the leg of a pair of pantyhose, shaking over the plant to distribute the Sevin 5.

Diana, what do you use to apply the Sevin 5?