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| This weeks progress |
I suppose it worked out though. I laid up for a bit while it rained the first of the week. We've been rain free for about 3 days now (unless you count the light overnight bit we got on Wednesday) I was looking at some pictures I took of some of the rain we got last week and realized just how much everything (including the weeds) has grown. This is a picture from last week.
I spent half a day sitting on my bucket and pulling weeds for the past couple of days. I am in no way caught up but at least I was able to put a healthy start on it.
I'm working on re-dusting the squash and the melons. I've seen a few of those &^%^ squash bugs and killed every one I could see. There aren't many though. Not like the past couple of years. I've checked out most all the leaves for the eggs they lay and there are tons of them. It's a struggle to try and keep up with them but I'm giving it a heck of a shot. If I can keep ahead of the suckers we just might be able to put some up this year. It's a slow process, checking every single leaf but it's necessary. If I don't those suckers WILL take over. Good news is I've been able to harvest a good dozen nice squash. Can you say fried squash?
The lower garden has gone wild. The corn looks good so far and I'm trying to keep the weeds under control. It's got no tassels yet but I'm sure it won't be long at this rate. There are some sort of melons (including some Canary melon)and maybe some squash down there. All of it was volunteer plants from the main garden. We just dug it up and transplanted it down there. Everything looks great so far though don't you think?
JMars has been working on the newest project here and has put in some tremendous labor making it all happen. I'll have pictures soon so I can share it with you. It's amazing just what will make some of us happy!
Those melons are still good aren't they? And about the right size for two people! I'm surprised you can get in the garden.We had 2 inches of rain last night.Its rained every day for a week and a half.
ReplyDeleteNice tarantula too! I like them,they won't stay around if the environment isn't right and they're harmless. Our problem is snakes.the water has driven them out.A man was bitten by 2 copperheads this week he was trying to clean his yard after all the storms.The snakes were under some limbs he was picking up.It to 8 units of anti-venom but he is fine now.
I hope your back is feeling better now,I've saw the shots in the back.I decided I'd pass on them.I watched my friend get them,but there is no help for her back. Good luck in your battle with the bugs! LOL
Hey ZZ!
DeleteI want to thank you again for sending those seed. I've decided I love them more than most any other melon. I'm drooling just thinking about them. I was eating them for breakfast, as a snack throughout the day and added to some nice fruit salads. YUMMY!
Brrrr,,,,, you make me shiver just thinking about copperheads. Those little suckers can curl up and hide under anything. We were always watching for them as kids because a neighbor kid next door almost died from being bitten. You be careful for them.
I have to say this all seems to be helping some with the shots. What they'll do is to inject some sort of painkiller and steroids into the area. Then it's a wait to see IF it works and if so for how long. Next time they go into the area and burn the nerve endings. It's not permanent but has been known to last for at long as a year before the nerves grow back. With the curvature of the spine as pronounced as mine is there really isn't anything short of fusion and rods that MIGHT help; Besides they knock ya out totally before doing the needles!
I hope ya'll get some dry weather so you can get out to your garden soon.
Sci
I battled squash bugs last year too and this year decided that organic was not all it is cracked up to be! I have every intention of killing them if they come back. Not surprised at the growth, we went away for a week and came back to a different garden! Hope your back gets better!
ReplyDeleteKathy,
DeleteI know I gritch about those evil bugs a LOT. This year I've decided to use a product by Bonide called Eight.. It's active ingredient is Permethrin. Which I understand is from chrysanthemums. I don't like using anything in the garden other than organic as much as I can, but I'm done fighting the &^%^ squash bugs. It seems to work well and it lasts awhile. I've tried everything from soapy sprays, pepper sprays, garlic sprays, D,E, and every other thing anyone has suggested. This stuff is working though. You have to be uber careful with it so as not to get it on the flowers though because it is sure death for them. We have a serious enough bee problem in this country for me to add to it. ANYWAY.... Like I was saying, I've only dusted with it once and it lasted a good month. Once I got waded out into the garden I started checking every single leaf for the bugs, scrape off the eggs and dust them. I also sprinkle a bit of the stems on the ground. So far so good.
Oh, I took an old seasoning bottle that had some smallish holes in the shaker and used that to dust with. Seems to make it easier to control and keeps it off the flowers. I heard about it on some gardening show and found they carry it at my local feed store.
Hope this helps some.
Sci
We are getting rain this weekend but not as bad as a few weeks ago. The rivers are still running swift and high. Its been a battle just to keep the grass from looking like a jungle. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteRob,
DeleteYou'll notice that the grass here really needs to be mowed too. The other project that Mars is doing will have to be finished before he can get the mower out. Then again he may decide to just work around things as tall as it is.
Thanks for stopping in,
Sci
squash bugs got us last year too....I'll start dusting this week if needed. Your garden is looking REAL good. hope the back feels better!
ReplyDeleteHP,
DeleteI always love it when you pop in for a surprise visit! Check out the reply to Kathy up there ^^^^
Thanks for the garden compliments and the good wishes for this dang back problem.
Good luck with your garden and I'll see you in the funny pages! lol FaceBook that is *wink*
Sci
I only got 2 squash last year. This year, I've already harvested a dozen and some zucchini. You do have to stay on top of the bugs. No matter how many you squish, more comes back :/
ReplyDeleteKelly,
DeleteCongratulations on the squash. You are so right about those suckers, no amount of squishing can deter these little devil bugs!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend,
Sci
Your garden looks great, Sci. Last year we had lots of squash bugs. I picked the leaves with eggs and fed them to the chickens, then squished every bug I could find. We also had lots of assassin bugs last year which seemed to help with the squash bug population. At first, I thought assassin bugs were squash bugs, until I figured out the difference. Then I quit killing the good guys.
ReplyDeleteWe have had very few squash bugs this year and I'm not sure why. I have lost a plant to squash vine borers, though. So, I liberally sprinkled wood ashes around the base of all of the plants and filled any borer holes I found in the vines with ashes as well. That seemed to have worked, but I still have my fingers crossed.
Take care of your back. They can be a real pain! Blessings.
Fern
He Fern,
DeleteI've been seriously considering ordering some assasin bugs. For whatever reason I don't seem to be seeing many around. I love "good" bugs!!
Thanks for the tip on the borers I'll have to try that. I'd never heard of using wood ash on the base of the plants. I've already lost one plant to them so I'll get out there today and lay some ash down!
Thanks for the advice,
Sci
What are you dusting with? I'm sure you said somewhere but I missed it.
ReplyDeleteRuth,
DeleteThe product is called Eight. It's made by Bonide. It's active ingredient is Permethrin. Which I understand is from chrysanthemums. I don't like using anything in the garden other than organic as much as I can, but I'm done fighting the &^%^ squash bugs. It seems to work well and it lasts awhile. I've tried everything from soapy sprays, pepper sprays, garlic sprays, D,E, and every other thing anyone has suggested. This stuff is working though. You have to be uber careful with it so as not to get it on the flowers though because it is sure death for them. We have a serious enough bee problem in this country for me to add to it. ANYWAY.... Like I was saying, I've only dusted with it once and it lasted a good month. Once I got waded out into the garden I started checking every single leaf for the bugs, scrape off the eggs and dust them. I also sprinkle a bit of the stems on the ground. So far so good.
Oh, I took an old seasoning bottle that had some smallish holes in the shaker and used that to dust with. Seems to make it easier to control and keeps it off the flowers. I heard about it on some gardening show and found they carry it at my local feed store.
Hope this helps some.
Sci
Thanks! I'm hoping to not have to use it myself, but trying to keep running tabs on what works for others....
DeleteI hope the garden continues to do well. Looks like you have it all under control!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jim. It's to bad you aren't closer because I'm sure I could always send you back to the house with something!
DeleteThat's some spider. I wouldn't want to walk up on one of those in the corn patch. Your garden is looking impressive.
ReplyDeleteHarry,
DeleteHe IS pretty impressive! Last year we saw a solid black one that Miss Kitty had found. She didn't want to mess with it but watched it for about an hour. She did the same thing with this one. Silly cat!
I hope all is well in your beautiful mountains!
Sci
It looks fantastic. I have been doing war with bugs this year too. I haven't had squash in five years because of those squash beetles. It will be war if I see one egg.
ReplyDeleteI have some little tiny squash but none eatin size.
I hope you feel back to yourself soon. Oh, and cool spider.
Farm Girl,
DeleteI'm still killing eggs too. I can't go out into the garden without going out to the squash and checking on the leaves. I swear I'm starting to get anal after the past three years. lol
Ours is huge and is starting to set bunches and bunches of fruit.. I was actually going to take a picture of the first of the fried squash but they were gone as soon as they hit the plate.
Thanks for stopping by and good luck with your bugs. hehehe
Sci
SCI,
ReplyDeleteHey girlie!!! I say enough with all that rain, especially when it comes all at once.
Do you think the rain helped with keeping the squash bugs down in quantity?
I not a fan of those spiders, we've been careful because of all the rain. There are spiders every where.
I can't wait to see and hear more about this project Mar's has been working on.
Did you by chance get that pkg?
Darn computer ..... I didn't get to finish my comment, lol....
DeleteDo you fry up the squash any special way?
Your garden really does looking amazing!
Sending hugs and love to you and Mars.
Sandy
Sandy,
DeleteI couldn't believe it when I woke up this morning it was raining again. I accidentally left out some stuff yesterday that should have been put up. You would think I would learn by now. Nothing important though but the towel I was using on my bucket for padding got a good soaking.
I'm so sorry I didn't email you and tell you the package arrived. It traveled the whole state of Oklahoma before it got here! I've set the lights out where I can see them at night.
I don't do anything really special when frying my squash. Flour and a bit of cornmeal and season the heck out of the mix. Dip in egg and then in flour and into hot oil. Yummy!!
Hugs to you n' yours (and beanie weinie scratches for the belly)
Sci
SCI,
ReplyDeleteI so hear you regarding the rain, one time I left out several packets of seeds (had a senior moment). They got nice and wet, when I found them I just planted them and wouldn't you know it they grew :-)
Good I'm glad you got the package. What is it with the mail going that direction, it seems to go all over the state before getting delivered?
I'll have to use flour and cornmeal mixture with my veggies when I go to cook them.
Hugs to you and Mars (scratch to BB).
Sandy
That is an AMAZING amount of work! And so useful, too! Good for Mars!
ReplyDelete