WOW! That is one GORGEOUS Salanova! I picked leaves from ‘Buttercrunch’ this morning for me and the chickens. Plenty to go around. ;)
The chewing looks like flea beetles, since the holes go all the way through. But they’re usually pretty easy to spot and hang around the underside of the leaves when they’re not feeding. Maybe they’ve moved off to lay eggs? Those would be on the underside of the leaves though, too. Slugs, maybe?
Meh. Soapy water kills just about everything, or put out a shallow saucer of beer and see if you attract any slugs.
Yeah I think they got in did their damage and left. With the new job and no need for watering, I haven't been out there much. Needs watering now so I gotta fill a tank. I read earlier that they lay eggs at the base of plant stems but haven't checked yet.
Will run up to Menard's sometime in the next week to get some 1/4" drip line to water the other beds. I'm soaking beans(x3), watermelon(x2), cucumber(x2) and squash seeds(x1) right now, four of each variety. Got the cups they're in sitting on a heat mat set for 86.
I planted in bed 2 this Spring. Last Fall I planted in bed 3 and it's empty right now. Bed 4 has been killed off with black tarp and is ready to fluff and amend. Beds 1 and 5 are staying empty for walking room when I get back to working on the tunnel.
Beans and squash are bush varieties. Cukes can climb a hunk of cattle panel. Got plenty of hay to keep watermelons mulched and fruit clean.
Forgot to add; The damage hasn’t really changed since I first saw it 2-3 weeks ago. I think I’ll try cutting some outer leaves off to stimulate new inner leaf growth.
Your mention of watermelon made me decide to grow the summer stuff. Little front yard garden wasn’t big enough but I kept buying seeds every year. Good thing melon/bean seeds last. I have no idea why I have four packets of Sugar Baby watermelon seed but I do. Must have been on clearance or something. I’ve got those and the slightly bigger Otome soaking.
The “joys” of living in the country LOL!
We got ‘manured’ yesterday. The Cow Palace was cleaning house & running up/down the road with a huge manure spreader. It was loaded every time but the last, the only time I didn’t see it piled higher than the sides - they must have made 6 trips.
When I went to trim around the mailbox (across the road from our driveway) there was a huge pile of manure next to it (2/3 - 1/2 of a 5 gallon bucket - not a small pile). Plus, on the actual post about 18” up was a ‘splat’ about the size of a baseball. On one if those trips, some ‘piled high’ came off the load & landed next to the mailbox. Another foot & it would have been ON the mailbox. It’s pretty stinky, but should dry out fast. Knowing mom, once she sees it, she’ll take a shovel down there & push it into the ditch behind the mailbox. I was too tired to do anything with it last night.
One more thing - I found out our AC wasn’t turned on! Evidently, when the maintenance check was done a couple of months ago, it got set to ‘heat only’ from ‘heat/cool’. Once I realized what was going on, I put it on ‘cool only’ & lowered the thermostat. What a difference ... glad I figured it out before temps hit 91 & we have company.
I got both side dishes made last night & I’m about to start on the casserole, which is an easy recipe. On schedule - yay! Both cousins (twin boy & girl) are excited to see us & each other. They’re 5 years older than me & were in mom & dad’s wedding, so she’s got pictures ready to go.
PS - no digging in the wash tubs last night :-)