Open House

5/17/2015

The garden is growing and planting continues as we roll into summer. This week I dug the garlic and it is on racks in the shade of the barn drying. I also dug the onions and they are on racks in the barn. I harvested the first cabbage of the year and picked snow peas. With no rain for almost three weeks, I'm watering everything regularly and deep watering the potatoes about once a week. The water potatoes get now affects the size of the tubers when I start digging them in another month. This week I'll plant a second crop of sweet corn and also start squash seeds in trays for transplant next week. A second planting of squash will extend the season longer into the summer.
I'm seeing more potato beetles this year than I've seen in a long time. They are attacking the eggplants this year, nary a one on the potatoes. Mostly I simply pick off the little buggers and toss them elsewhere in the garden. They can't crawl back to the eggplants and die trying to find food.
I've also procured orange oil and soap for fire ant treatment. I'll drop it by the garden this week with instructions for making a drench to get rid of the ants.
Open house on the 23rd, 8-2 here at the farm. Everyone is welcome to come by and enjoy a self guided tour of the vegetable patch, get an idea or two and pull a weed if you are so inclined. The address is 380 Ebenezer Church Rd.
Happy Gardening

8 Comments

Shannon Gentry

5/18/2015 02:41:28 am

Oh great post. Thank you. I enjoy knowing what youre having success with and what insects may be eating your crops. Also, cool on seeing your farm - I'll pull a few weeds but I have my own. See you on the 23rd.
Shannon

Cindy

5/20/2015 01:57:20 am

It seems to be time for bugs in the garden. Do you have any suggestions for getting rid of striped cucumber beetles, spotted cucumber beetles, Mexican bean Beatles and roly poly's? I have seen and removed all of these from my garden. They are eating my zucchini, cucumber, and especially my green bean plants. Thanks!!

Larry

5/20/2015 07:23:57 pm

Insecticidal soaps will work on the soft bodied bean beetles or you can try Spinosad products or pyrethrum products. You can find these at the local garden centers. Spray only in the evenings when the pollinators aren't active.

Jewell Gunn

5/20/2015 10:07:43 am

Hi Larry,
I'm wondering if there will be wheat straw available for the gardens. If so, I would like to use some.
Thank you,
J Gunn

Larry

5/20/2015 07:24:28 pm

I'll get some there ASAP.

Ginger

5/26/2015 09:27:30 am

Hi Larry,
I planted pumpkin again this year. Trying to prevent the vine borers to attacking the pumpkin vines. I think you said to inject the vine with something. What was the name of that and where do I buy it? Any tips on how, where, or when to inject (what stage)? Thanks so much Larry.

Larry

5/27/2015 09:14:02 am

The squash vine borer moth will lay her eggs an inch or so above the soil on the stem of the squash vine. The egg will hatch and the borer will eat into the stem and them continue eating the inside of the stem. First, put a foil collar around the squash stem from the soil up at least 3". Then as the vine grows inject Bt into the stem. As the worm eats he will eat the Bt and die, saving your vine. Look for products at the garden center with the active ingredient Bacillus Thurengensis (Bt) and inject it with a syringe into the vine.

Ginger

6/1/2015 01:49:52 am

Thanks so much Larry.

Open House

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