Posted on 07/05/2013 1:06:42 PM PDT by greeneyes
I neglected to mention in my earlier comment to you, that the neem oil seems to have gotten rid of at least some of the herd of squash bugs I was plagued with! I also have some insect killer soap which seems to be helpful as well.
TArcher gave me a bunch of info on neem oil in last week’s thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3036854/posts
Post 160:
“It’s listed as a pesticide.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/TOOLS/PNAI/pnaishow.php?id=53
It’s also toxic to honey bees, and should only be applied in the evening when bees won’t bee doing their beedniss.”
~ ~ ~
The soap I [texokie] bought yesterday is:
http://www.saferbrand.com/search?search=Insect+Killing+Soap&x=15&y=10
The one I bought is the 32 oz container
Now we’ll wait and see if I was able to drive off the critters in time to actually have a harvest!
I was enchanted last year when I raised the first giant [Mammoth] sunflowers I had ever seen in person before. I do believe I need to learn more, as you have inspired me, Marcella, to do!
LOL! at your comment, Johnny, about growing tobacco and gourds which are not edible! but they ARE practical!
I’ve been enjoying my purple cone flowers (Echinacea) which are not edible, but medicinal.
Words of wisdom to remember, Johnny. I truly am having a blast learning all this stuff. Like so many in our civilization, I so blithely allowed the food raising intricacies to fall on others’ shoulders. I’m having an intense fun time learning, but I hope that if the day comes that I must survive on what I know about growing food, I’ll know a LOT more than I do now!
It’s so hot here. Much higher temperatures than usual. It seems as though we’re living in the tropics.
I like your suggestion. I have not noticed if pollinators are having their way with the blossoms. I’ll see if I can tell the difference in this particular plant and do the insemination for it. It’s at least worth a try! (Someone recently posted a WONDERFUL picture on the thread showing the difference between male and female blossoms.)
I thought you might be interested. I had stated earlier that the celery stump did not appear to be responding to the root hormone as the romaine lettuce did.
Just a little while ago, I decided to check it again, and lo and behold, THERE WERE ROOTLETS!!
While the stalks were not growing, as in the romaine experiment, the celery stump leaves had nevertheless remained green, which we had been puzzling about.
I guess we’ll let the rootlets get a little more established, and see what it decides to do. Then maybe we’ll plant it as well. I’m wondering, if we do decide to plant it, we would just bury the whole stump wouldn’t we?
That root hormone is magic!
“That’s why I just shake my head at preppers that ‘have some packages of open pollinated seeds’ and no skills or practice”
EXACTLY !! I read about that very thing. Some folks brought the “prepper” canister of survival seeds and tried to grow a garden with them according to the directions. MISERABLE FAILURE.
Much like my annual garden. But at least I’m puttin’ in the time trying to learn and paying my dues.
BTW. Did you mention something called sunflower butter? I’ve never heard of that.
/johnny
Does it taste like sunflower seeds?
/johnny
Thanks for all the info!
/johnny
You are welcome. I do hope it helps!
Hello Garden Friends!
I HAVE PROGRESS TO REPORT!!!! I’m doing backflips here!
LEGUMES seem to be turning around!!! My ethereal snow pea plant, bless its brave little heart, actually produced 3 pods for me! What I’m most pleased about, is that there seems to be a snow pea vine that is starting from it that is a healthy green.
The garden beans are blooming and one of the Great White Northern plants seems to be surviving and producing a pod.
The Black Turtles continue blooming and staying green.
Thanks to all who have commiserated with me on this issue.
DarthReardon suggested I should pollinate my scallop squash myself. I set out to try that this morning, and I had one lovely male blossom, but no other blossoms at all, so I’ll have to hope I may have an opportunity later to do that.
The straight neck squash that I reported growing is still developing, so it looks like the neem and killer soap have done the trick beating back the hoards. I’m keeping an eye on it and hope to pick the little guy if things progress like they are, in a day or two!
“now know to use the cups and organic seed starter.”
What organic seed starter do you use, Marcella? Thanks
“What organic seed starter do you use, Marcella?”
I researched those on Amazon and got the following:
Espoma Organic Seed Starter , Premium Potting Mix, for organic gardening. 8 dry Qt.
THANKS! Noted.
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