Mostly late season green picked Picus tomatoes lazing around waiting to ripen. (Mid November....yes, after the picture I put a bunch of bananas in the bin and covered it to encourage ripening!)
Posted on 11/01/2024 6:46:36 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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Me!!! Grew up in Florida. Love bugs. Hated them being all over the car.
And a steer! (You can feed him the Kale!)
Mostly late season green picked Picus tomatoes lazing around waiting to ripen. (Mid November....yes, after the picture I put a bunch of bananas in the bin and covered it to encourage ripening!)
Box Elder Bugs were a MAJOR problem this season; they were in all the door frames of my old VW Golf. Most are gone now, but I’m finding one or two in the house. Ugh!
I gave my assistant a large philodendron to take to her husbands new business office. It was a really beautiful plant with the big leaves.
They went into the office one morning and all the leaves had fallen off. The office shared the building with her father’s wholesale tomato business. Some of the ethylene he gassed the tomatoes with penetrated under the door and caused the philodendron to drop it’s leaves.
Bromeliads are notoriously difficult to bloom. However, by placing an apple near the bromeliads, the ethylene the ripening apple gives off will induce the bromeliad to bloom.
Kale scraps go to the chickens. ‘Stew’ is still able to graze; we’ve had a warm fall, but it looks like that’s going to all be over but the shoutin’ come ‘Black Friday.’
Arctic Air Mass moving in. Predictable. It had to end sometime. ;)
My tomatoes got whacked beleaguered footed beetles this year.
Mynstutal pesticide ( wTer, veg oil, baking powder) which usually kills everything may add well been mouthwash for them.
I don’t like putting spinosad etc on my plants.
I prefer something that isn’t a lab created chemical.
Any of you have suggestions or ideas?
I need to add, I keep bees so a lot of the of the shelf stuff is no Bueno
Do you mean ‘Leaf-Footed’ Bugs? If so:
“Preventing and Controlling Leaf-Footed Bug Infestations
I’ve found that the key to managing leaf-footed bugs in your tomato garden involves a mix of biological, chemical, and physical strategies. It’s about disrupting their life cycle and making your garden less attractive to these pests.
Natural Predators and Biological Control Methods
Natural predators play a significant role in controlling leaf-footed bugs. I introduce beneficial insects like assassin bugs, ladybugs, and lacewings, which feed on the eggs and young nymphs of these pests. Encouraging birds and spiders in the garden can also provide assistance. I make sure not to disrupt these allies, as their presence offers long-term control.
Organic Pesticides and Insecticidal Soaps
When it comes to pesticides, I’m careful to choose organic options that are less harmful to beneficial insects. Neem oil and insecticidal soaps can be effective against leaf-footed bug nymphs. I mix two tablespoons of pure neem oil with a gallon of water and spray it directly on the tomato plants. For immediate action, pyrethrin-based sprays can quickly knock down visible pests without the long-lasting environmental impact of synthetic alternatives.”
More at link:
https://www.evergreenseeds.com/how-to-get-rid-of-leaf-footed-bugs-on-tomatoes/
Thanks
https://www.bryair.com/technical-articles/control-of-ethylene-in-fruits-vegetables-warehouses-and-cold-stores/
Abstract
This article explains the repercussions of having high concentrations of ethylene in warehouses and cold stores. Industries that are involved in handling and storage of fruits and vegetables are severely affected monetarily by Ethylene. High concentration of ethylene causes premature aging and rotting of fruits and vegetables and wilting of flowers and leafy vegetables – thus lowering its shelf life…
For anyone interested see discussion at the link!
Some bad effects of ethylene on some common fruits and vegetables are:
Apples: scald
Eggplant: brown spots
Bananas: decay
Potatoes: sprouting
Grapes: mold Onions/ garlic: odor
Broccoli: yellowing
Carrots: bitterness
Carnations: sleepiness
Green leafy vegetables: loss of color
Winter: time to get your hot chocolate, light the fire, grab a blanket, and sit by the window where you can look out and enjoy the snow gently falling! (A body needs a break sometime!)
The calves are all getting ear tags as soon as the farmer spots them. The tags are almost as big as their ears! Mamas all have red tags so I think red is for females, green is for males. Of 4 calves I have spotted, 3 tags are red, 1 is green. My cousin says “must be an old bull” ... evidently old bulls tend to sire more females. Learn something new every day!
One year here in MO we had a cricket bomb. Those weren't windshield bugs but we took a short trip and when we stopped for gas, the pumps were covered and so was the parking lot, crunch, crunch. Also had a bad caterpillar year where the outside of the cabin was covered and the ground appeared to move.
Luckily, I wasn't gardening for either of those years. I think I better get some more chickens.
Just went out and grabbed some Bok Choy and lettuce. I get to try Yellow Heart Winter aka Yellow Flower in the Snow for the 1st time. It develops a yellow center in cold weather.
Mine has a lighter colored center but not quite yellow. Our low so far has been 29 degrees. Maybe the 27 degrees Tues morning will help. The leaves on it are salad worthy. All the other Bok Choy I've been growing has thin, flat floppy leaves. Just tried a chunk of leaf on this and there was no bitterness. The stalks are typical of small bok choy, good for stir fry, saute etc. Salad ingredient + stir fry/saute ingredient from a single plant. I think this variety's a keeper.
Never knew they tagged that way, but it makes sense.
Indeed; I live near a large forest, and heard shots first thing. As suburbs have encroached around this large tract of trees and wild grasses, more deer are killed by cars this time of year than by guns. You see them lying beside the road. God bless his dear creatures.
So wonderful on crusty bread with —or without— some fresh mozzarella or feta cheese!
Love those guilty looks and the dirt on their snouts! LOL
Wonderful first-hand account! Thanks for sharing!
Great idea on the sandwich! Yeah - GOTTA have some cheese! :)
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