Posted on 03/16/2018 4:46:50 PM PDT by greeneyes
It’s been pretty nice last couple of days; temps in the high 50’s to one day almost 70.
Having fun with my seedlings, but I can’t put any out until at LEAST next week. We have one more possibly-freezing night to deal with down here in NC (I will now pause for the jeers and flying tomatores from y’all up north of me.)
My husband told me to simplify this year. I TRIED. I only had five types of tomatoes planned, and then Baker Creek sent me samples for three more...I haven’t told him yet.
I’m trying to grow a moringa tree this year. One of my seeds has sprouted and is a whole two inches tall. Fingers crossed that it will 1) grow and 2) be useful.
Which reminds me, I killed a fire ant hill with orange oil and water and am passing that on. One ounce of straight orange oil mixed into one gallon of water, drench the hill, and wait about 18 hours. I’ve only tried it on the first one I found, but if it works consistently, it’ll be the best solution I’ve seen yet. I normally kill them with boiling water, but that doesn’t always get ALL of them and also kills happy microorganisms nearby.
Passing that on for all the other ant-oppressed gardeners.
I feel for you on that long drive. Some days, like yesterday, I just love driving. All too often, time is too short or traffic is bad. I am ready to get this place finished and on the market.
No snow on Humboldt Bay but copious amounts just a few miles east of us. Clear skies here but still don’t have the mulch on the strawberry beds. Headed out to breakfast with old friends as is usual on Saturday morning...
I’ve been using variations of the orange oil drench for fire ant mounds for 10-15 years now. I update as Howard Garrett, the Dirt Doctor, improves the formula. We live out in the country in central Texas where we will never escape fire ants so I spend time almost weekly in good weather drenching a mound or 5. Currently the Dirt Doctor’s best mix is equal parts orange oil, compost tea and molasses. Use that as the concentrate then add 4-6 oz to a gallon of water. After drenching the mounds add beneficial nematodes per label directions.
I have also found that by tearing citrus peels up in little pieces and scattering on the ground in our fenced dog area it seems there are less fire ants to antagonize our dogs. I don’t have any scientific data to back that up. But I can say that part of our property needs much less fire ant drenching. If I had a source to get large amounts of citrus peels I believe I’d cover the yard around the house at least once to test my theory.
Thanks for the ping. Reminded me to look after my Canna seedlings that I hadn’t watered for a day or two. After 18 days, only about 1/3 have sprouted and about 8 are in leaf. Some sprouted in 6 days of soaking. I did a bit of additional scarification to the slow ones this week. All the varieties I purchased have the laser scarification treatment - two tiny holes burned into or through the hard seed coat.
Glad to hear from you. Happy sprouting. LOL
I’m not sure I understand your post.
You’ll need it if your weeds are among plants you want to save. I rarely do anything other than pull weeds, but I don’t get a lot of those.
I have raised beds and I plant everything closer than usual-weeds are mostly choked out. In fall, I plant cover crops. Some of those are harvested, and some are turned under before blooming/seed formation.
I don’t think so - as long as you don’t drench the soil.
Not so nice here, but not too bad - better than Jan. and Feb.
I simplified, since Bountiful Gardens no longer has seeds. So I just ordered from Baker Creek mostly. A few things from Territorial Seeds.
Thanks for that tip.
Me too. Hubby on the other hand just wants to ignore it and pretend we don’t need to do anything. I can’t repair a roof, repair a retaining wall, etc. etc.
Once we have some warmer weather, I guess the fur will have to fly. ugh.
Hope you enjoyed that breakfast. My internet has been down most of the day. I used the time to do some bible study and nutrition planning.
And after you can dig it up...and you have "art"!!
Used to kill aphids..with liquid soap.
I've this butter fly plant..that is a monster. I want to KILL IT..!! Badly..!!
I might try your recipe........Nothing else kills it...!!
2nd year.....and I know some things not to do...!! Ha!!
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