It's been a long wait, but harvesting the onions finally became a reality over the weekend...I was really glad to get them out of the garden, because they were in the way of the vining plants against the trellises, and also looked kinda rough, too. The largest was about baseball size, I figure - and in all, weighed 10.5 lbs. Not bad for about $3 worth of sets purchased back in February...They're curing behind the house now, and will certainly provide flavoring for all kinds of things later - like salsa....A few more squash were harvested too....
Photo below - One of the yellow squash had a couple of squashbugs on it, and as you could guess - were dealt a quick death after taking this picture...I knew it was about time for them to show up, and in all - at least 10 were found on the plants before the day was finished. Yeehaw! I'm in business once again....I like killing squashbugs, and kept telling them "I'M RICK JAMES!" everytime I killed one. Hahahaha...
In other news, ripe plums are beginning to fall from the trees, and at least 1/3 have some form of pest damage...Man...i'm gonna consult with a commercial grower to see what their trick is, because this just won't do....I'm sure they have access to some kind of special insecticide not available to the public, but will just have to find out, when possible.
Also, the first spotted cucumber beetle was found on the corn, of all places - and all melon vines will be drenched with spectracide since there's no blooms on them yet. Even though most gardeners these days are afraid to use chemical insecticides for pest control due to peer pressure and health concerns, as long as there are no flowers present for bees to be attracted to - I use whatever is available. Besides, the only ones eating the veggies harvested later are the grownups in the family, because the children won't touch a vegetable for anything...
The UCG's bounty from the trip to Huntsville on Sunday weighed in at around 75 lbs. I figure, and we'll get them added to the compost piles hopefully over the Memorial Day weekend. A large bag of freshly cut grass clippings was picked up too, and along with the UCG's and a thorough turning of the contents in the bins, things should really get heated up sometime next week. (At least to 150 degrees or so)
Well, that's about it for today.
Take care, and happy gardening
EG
22 comments:
I don't whip out the chemicals unless is it a matter of trying to save a harvest. I never did a dormant oil spray on the apples this spring, and now I am regretting it.
Your harvests look wonderful as usual EG.
Nice harvest! That is a lot of squash all at once! It made me laugh out loud thinking about you yelling "I'm RICK JAMES!" each time! It's helpful to read about the ways that you use insecticide. I'm wary of using them for the reasons you suggested, but it's good to know that if I get fed up of losing tender baby plants, that there is a way to do it right! :)
Those are some mighty fine looking onions EG! I hope that mine do that well.
Kelly - I generally pull out the chemicals twice a season, but try to handpick bugs for most of the season.
Megan - my main concern is to not harm the bees, so I'm really careful with how and when chemicals are used.
Robin - thank you, it's my best onion harvest to date...
Our plum/apricot tree that was loaded last year, had very few. And the ones that were on it were yucky.
I gave it a severe pruning, hoping that opening it up will help a lot. Plus will give it a good spray this fall and next spring.
HA! Love the Rick James comment. It's one of the best clips I've ever seen. Harvest looks great!
Japanese Redneck - it's so disheartening to be at the mercy of the plum curculio right now, and I can relate to your problem...
Ribbit - I figured you would like the comment..lol.
I'm glad you showed a picture of that bug, so I'll know what the heck to look for...I've got something eating my cabbage and can't find a clue of what's doing it.. I got some Sevin because that D. Earth did nothing.
I am not looking forward to the squash bugs! My son got a little toy bug vacuum for his birthday, I plan on sending him out to the garden with it! Ha ha! Not sure it is strong enough for those squash bugs though.
I started my onions by seed in January, they seem to be growing pretty quickly. You have a pretty good pile there!
Gingerbreadshouse7 - have you checked the cabbage at night? I'd bet anything that slugs are the culprit....
ShawnAnn - thanks, the onion bulbs turned out decent this year. That vacuum cleaner will hopefully do the job for ya....
I noticed a slug on asparagus spear, should I be concerned? Also, I totally get that frustration with all kinds of pests eating fruits in the orchard. I did the bagging with apples last year and it worked great! Apples were nice and big and no pests could touch them!
Randomgardener - yes, slugs can do some serious damage, and ruined my cabbage one year. I bet those bagged apples were certainly worth the time and effort...
I have the worst luck with squash bugs, what have you found to be effective with them?
Melissa Jo - spectracide works pretty well, but nothing beats handpicking....
I'm not going out on the side of the house at night! I don't need any chickens < I'm too chicken at night to look for slugs, Yuck! During the day I I lifted a pot and a bed of slugs were under it and I shook some sevin over them..they went someplace.They were no where near the cabbage.
Gingerbreadshouse7 - I thought everyone went out to check the garden at night. :)
Nice onions EG! Most orchards spray when the flowers open with huge dusting tractors. Not sure on the exact timing. But the bugs start in the flowers and then form as the fruit does.
What do you use to kill your squash bugs? I am battling the same issue on my zucchini
http://georgiahomegarden.blogspot.com/2011/05/squash-bug-war.html
Dan - next year will be different, because I was given some great info yesterday....
Kris - unfortunately, anything powerful enough to kill a squashbug will also kill the bees that pollinate the flowers....I just handpick, which is the most effective and safe method.
I am totally cracking up. I am going to have to say that when i start taking care of the bugs in the yard. Your garden is looking quite nice. I like the concept of using suckers for new plants. I am going to give that a try becasue I don't desucker my plants so I am sure there quite a bit. Is there a technique you use to do it and they survive?
Your harvest looks wonderful! I haven't seen to many squash bugs around yet but now I won't be able to kill one without thinking "I'M RICK JAMES"!
Cynthia - gee, thanks....On the suckers, I just make sure the soil they're put in is kept soaking wet, and place them in a partially shaded area for 2 weeks. After that, they're ready to go....
Jeana - thank you, and I hope you don't have to say "the quote" too many times this season. :)
Post a Comment