Gardens 2023

[RAllison]

You guys growing cucumbers (and gourds or pumpkins) what are you doing to protect them from cucumber beetles? I've lost several plants to beetles this year. In the past, I'd lose maybe one or two. This is out of probably 25 hills or so.

My garden is really struggling with the dry spell we've had. Carrots are all but lost. I think I've picked 12 cukes this year. Usually I'd have 5 gallon buckets full. I've had only a handful of any peppers.
Potatoes are starting to fade out so they'll be ready to dig soon.
I dug up my garlic 2 weeks ago (it was the variety recommended here on the board) and it did well. It seems to have outproduced my Burpee variety that I grew last year.

Over the years I've tried different insecticides ( which I've 100% gotten away from) and even wrapped the stems in foil...all for nothing,the beetles always found their way. This year I have the best pumpkin,watermelon,cucumber and zucchini plants and yield I've ever had,even my peppers! The only thing I did different was move the whole garden about 100 ft away from where it was. I'm not saying that's what did it but just letting you know that's what I did.

 

[dschwandt]

Sold over half the the spuds I dug on the 26th.
One party drove over 50 miles and bought 50 pounds!!
Happy gardener this AM!!

 

[dschwandt]

Just got done digging the 2nd row of kennebeck's
This one yielded 152 pounds.
Got most of the 1st row sold already.

 

[tkhoffman]

These posts seem to be about veggies, can't help with deer and veggies.
We have a growing deer population and they are getting desperate; they eat plants wouldn't touch couple years ago. Their favorite is hosta of which we have 45 plants. For years we've used Bobbex (not for veggies) which gets in the leaves. I'll find a damaged leaf with the chewed-off part spit out. They get used to many repellants, not Bobbex.
Cheers, Jack

Have you tried clothes detergent in a pump sprayer? Dilute the smelly detergent (I use Tide) with water and spray the leaves. That helps my Daylillies. Which were left alone for many years. They seem to like young Daylillies, when they get taller, I'm deer free.

 

[jbratton]

You guys growing cucumbers (and gourds or pumpkins) what are you doing to protect them from cucumber beetles? I've lost several plants to beetles this year. In the past, I'd lose maybe one or two. This is out of probably 25 hills or so.

My garden is really struggling with the dry spell we've had. Carrots are all but lost. I think I've picked 12 cukes this year. Usually I'd have 5 gallon buckets full. I've had only a handful of any peppers.
Potatoes are starting to fade out so they'll be ready to dig soon.
I dug up my garlic 2 weeks ago (it was the variety recommended here on the board) and it did well. It seems to have outproduced my Burpee variety that I grew last year.

We plant marigolds around our cucumbers and tomatoes. The variety of cucumbers we grow are called “Muncher”. We bought the seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. www.rareseeds.com

 

[jack casey]

Have you tried clothes detergent in a pump sprayer? Dilute the smelly detergent (I use Tide) with water and spray the leaves. That helps my Daylillies. Which were left alone for many years. They seem to like young Daylillies, when they get taller, I'm deer free.

I've heard about using detergent cloths under a Cub's hood to keep out mice but not as a deer repellant. Does Tide absorb into plant leaves the way Bobbex does? Using it successfully for more than 10 straight years. As I write this, three deer passed by without stopping. At Amazon, it's $28-$30 per gallon. Costly? Not all garden stores stock it.
Cheers, Jack

 

[tkhoffman]

I've heard about using detergent cloths under a Cub's hood to keep out mice but not as a deer repellant. Does Tide absorb into plant leaves the way Bobbex does? Using it successfully for more than 10 straight years. As I write this, three deer passed by without stopping. At Amazon, it's $28-$30 per gallon. Costly? Not all garden stores stock it.
Cheers, Jack

I doubt it absorbs in. I reapply once a week. When the plants are young. I also think the Chives that are grown around the perimeter help.

 

[dschwandt]

Carolyn picked a melon last week while I was gone.
10 pounds nd 9" diameter!
And it melts in your mouth!

 

[-CӞ]

turned around, and there they were.

 

[jbratton]

Naked Ladies!

 

[kshultz]

Hey, I noticed this around my tomato plants last night. What is this? Rabbit droppings? It is only around the tomato plants.

 

[RAllison]

That's what it looks like but deer droppings are similar but usually more in a pile

 

[jbratton]

Hey, I noticed this around my tomato plants last night. What is this? Rabbit droppings? It is only around the tomato plants.View attachment 154967
View attachment 154968
View attachment 154969

Looks like horn worm droppings. Also called tomato worms. They will eat a plant up fast.

 

[RAllison]

Now that I never knew! And yes,they will make short work outta stripping a plant,I make sure and check for them everyday.

 

[-CӞ]

i agree with the tomato horn worm theory. they look like a green hot dog made a baby with a rhinoceros, and they eat tomato greens like pac-man eats dots.
ornery buggers!

 

[PACub100]

Carolyn picked a melon last week while I was gone.
10 pounds nd 9" diameter!
And it melts in your mouth!

View attachment 154958

Oh boy...Cantaloupe. Mmmmmm....
I don't care, I'd tackle and take it from a kid's still quivering hands...that's how much I love me some good cantaloupe.

 

[dschwandt]

Picked another last evening. 8.5 lbs
There are about 10 left in that patch.

 

[mgwin]

Gave up on a garden this year. Deer are eating everything in sight, even though there seems to be more greenery in the woods this year. May have to try some of your suggestions next year.
For the first time in 26 years, they have eaten all the hostas around my house. Go figure.

 

[-CӞ]

no need for a tree stand; just a window that opens a wee bit and gazes out over where the deer-tracked garden and hosta stumps are.

 

[mgwin]

All doe's and little spotted ones. Don't have the heart to pop one of them. The wife has been out of work due to back surgery. She says she loves watching them play in the yard.