Photo below - yellow crookneck squash.......
Photo below - this zucchini plant doesn't look so scary now, does it? Most people have heard the horror stories about "the monster plant in the garden", but it's nothing more than a big baby if ya take care of it.
Photo below - while checking everything out the other day, I ran across this mature green stinkbug. Stinkbugs cause alot of damage in the garden - especially to tomatoes. If you've ever picked a ripe tomato and discovered some kind of white spot underneath the skin - that's stinkbug damage. Looks pretty scary, doesn't it?
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Photo below - Well, it doesn't look scary now! As is done with most bugs in the garden - it was caught, then executed without a trial. Ha! Yeah, i'm pretty rough on bad bugs in my garden, and they meet certain death when an encounter takes place. In a video that will be posted later this week, you'll get the idea. Carnage!!! It's all about carnage!!!! I just know that ribbit is thinking to herself "is there anything that EG won't pick up with his hand?" Hehe...Not much.....
Speaking of bugs, i've got a post coming up that has some cool bug pics included. In one outing, I was able to photograph an adult assassin bug, and also an adult leaf-footed bug. Cool!!!! I like bugs - can ya tell?
In other news, a tour of the garden will be available to the general public on Saturday, June 26th - from 12 pm til 6 pm. Some of the Shoals Master Gardeners requested a visit, and I didn't want to leave out any of my readers from the area. If interested, you can contact me by email for directions.
Take care, and happy gardening!
EG
21 comments:
Thanks for the tip EG! I'm not using my tomato cages this year for tomatoes....I'm going to run out to the garage right now and get one for my zucchini before it gets too big!
I so can't squish bugs in my hands like you do. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! I go for the bowl of soapy water and knock them into it.
HA! I hadn't even scrolled down yet and I knew it was coming. I'll pick the bugs with gloved hands, but I haven't made it to your level of carnage yet. I prefer the more humane cup of soapy water.
My zucchini is sprawling. My leaves would just bend over that wire, the plants are so large. Squash here is smaller, so it may work for that and not the zucchini.
Wow, those leaves look fresh and healthy! I am pitiless to the bad bugs in my garden too. I get nasty with them 'coz they almost destroyed my bean plant.
But I love photographing them for their interesting colors and shapes. Strange, eh. :D
Man, I saw two of those little pests last night and didn't realize what they were or what they could do. I could have caught them too. They were just sitting there. Thanks for the info. No more free passes in my garden. I don't sqush bugs until I know if they're trouble.
Upside down tomato cages....what a great idea to keep summer squash in its place. I bet it is easy to see the fruit and check for bugs too. Brilliant!
I have been waiting for this post to see what you did with the upside tomato cages that I saw in a picture in an earlier post. Now if I could just keep a zucchini plant alive!!
I saw a stink bug yesterday in my garden and I started to pick him up and demolish him with my hand but at the last minute, I panicked. Thinking "what if it bites or stings?".... Panic won! Even though I kept saying, "If EG does it, so can I!!" Maybe next time! Or maybe I would be braver with gloves on!!
Robin - good for you! I hope it helps...
Daphne - well....not everybody is capable of doing gross stuff like me, but I just grew up doing it.
ribbit - my leaves will bend over later too, but it's not a problem for them. Some day, you'll be able to achieve the level of "destroyer of all harmful pests" like me. Hehe..
Chandramouli S - I hear ya on the bad bugs. Death to them all!
Gardener - you're welcome! I don't go on a killing spree either, unless I know for sure they're bad for the garden.
rachel - i'm glad you like the method! It definitely helps...
debiclegg - oh, that's too funny!
um, ya, I'll squish a bug but only with gloves on. Otherwise the shoe comes off and he will be gotten!
The tomato cage for squash plants is such a fantastic idea! Thanks!
Oh EG I just love you! Thanks for the reminder on the upside down tomato cages! I just planted a zucchini and two butternut squash in bed two knowing they were going to take over the whole bed. Now I can control them... this method will work for the butternut too.. right?
Back at it again! No count this year?
ShawnAnn - well...gloves are ok for "squishing", I guess. As long as there's carnage!!!
Melissa - you're quite welcome!
Liisa - you're welcome! I have done spaghetti squash this way, and it worked out well...
Maureen - no count this year, it just irritated my family in the past.....
I have heard that if you squish a stink bug the small that is emitted from them attracts other stink bugs, so I go the soap and water in a jar trick. I certainly don't need to attract any more bugs, unless they are good ones.
Debbie - i'd love to see some hard data on the subject, because it would be good to know.
Garden tours are so exciting. I'm sure you'll have lots of fun.
Great tip!! That is definitely a common problem for people. I am also struggling with my watermelon. It is on the edge of one of my SFG boxes, but starting to sprawl everywhere!
Thank You EG I just signed on here today. I'm in Zone 4-5 I've had 4 raised 4foot square garden beds for years. They are much easier to work with and much nicer for weeding. what weeds?
I have had a lot of problems with holes in my leaves this year. I was nice seeing your video on hunting bugs.
I have thought a lot about rain barrels and am glad you posted about them. Thank you Bill
alizardinthegarden - with trellises or something to run on, they are easy to control.
Bill - you're welcome, and thanks for the comment!
I love how you handle the squash from growing out of control. I'm going to borrow that idea.
We have a lake house at Login Martin and would love to come tour your garden in the spring. We live full time in Charleston, SC and my husband is a master gardener as well. He volunteers at Clemson University Urban Research Demonstration area.
We have two basic gardens (spring to July 15) and then we plant our fall/winter garden. I love gardening.
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