23,821 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Looks like some pretty severe nutrient deficiency problems - phosphorous for sure - which is rare unless you are using some strange soil mix.

Dave

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 10:32PM
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djkj(9b)

Hi Dave, thanks for your reply. I used Kellogg Potting mix for this. Do you think I should add some bagged garden soil and some slow release fertilizer and re-plant?

    Bookmark     July 20, 2014 at 1:19AM
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ltilton

I don't think insects had anything to do with your split vines.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 7:50PM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Your plants generally look healthy in the photos and bugs are a normal part of gardening. They only become a concern when the damage they do is severe - yours isn't - of when there are lots of them. Your melon leaf in the first picture shows some signs of very early Downey Mildew (the yellow spots). Otherwise I wouldn't worry about the problems you have described.

Splits in stems aren't caused by bugs but by inconsistent soil moisture levels. Just leave them alone and they will usually scab over. The stem base damage in your last pic is due to slugs or snails and there are organic controls for them but it doesn't seem to be hurting the plant.

New gardeners too often over-react and that can lead you to doing more harm than good so developing some patience and tolerance for less than perfection goes a long way toward successful gardening. :)

Dave

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 10:30PM
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jonfrum(6)

You can start pulling them now, but I'd wait until the necks brown. If the leaves are green all the way down to the bulb, the bulbs are still growing. And they'll keep longer if the necks are fully brown and dried.

    Bookmark     July 17, 2014 at 1:36PM
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jack922(6)

When one half of the tops have fallen over, gently push the rest of them over. In a few days pull them and let dry in the sun. We have had good luck the past few years, keeping them in our spare refrigerator. Store them in a netted onion sack. Check them often, usually have them keep till mid Dec.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 9:59PM
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ju1234((8 Dallas TX))

This looks like a Columbian squash (go by a Mexican grocery store to see one, they usually have it).

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 4:32PM
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elisa_z5

Taste it -- even if they sold you a cross pollinated plant, it may still taste good. You could try using it young (green) like you would zucchini, and once it's orange you could use it in any recipe that calls for pumpkin or winter squash. I usually taste stuff raw, and if it's passable raw, it will taste better cooked and with seasonings.

Or look up recipes for Columbian squash!

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 9:21PM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Just as with fruit splitting, vine splitting is caused by inconsistent watering practices. Excessive wet periods followed by very dry and then wet again - whether it be rains or gardener-supplied. As the moisture levels move from one extreme to the other the stems swell then shrink, then swell again and crack/split.

To prevent it we have to do everything we can to stabilize the soil moisture levels.

Dave

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 5:39PM
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homegrown71

Okay. I will try to stabilize my watering. Will my plant survive?

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 9:12PM
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Tomato IssueSame old tune........ Prolly EB huh?
Posted by gltrap54 July 19, 2014
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planatus(6)

Yep, you can tell it's early blight because some of the newer lesions (center leaf) show a bull's-eye pattern. No big deal. Clip off the lower leaves to 12-18 inches and keep your fingers crossed that it stops raining during the evening hours.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 2:51PM
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gltrap54

Thanks planatus! Yeah, in spite of my best effort....... Spray fungicide from incubation...... Pffffft......... Cold have bought Heineken with the money.........

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 8:30PM
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Ohiofem(6a Ohio)

I also am on the border between 5a and 6b with lower than normal temperatures. I saw more stink bugs indoors during winter when we had record breaking cold of -15 to -20 than I have seen this summer. I've seen only a handful of Japanese beetles and only one tomato worm, no aphids and also almost no lady bugs. Last year there seemed to be hordes of them. The photo is of the only hummingbird (or sphinx) moth I've seen this summer when I normally have many of them along with a host of swallowtails. My plants seem to be getting enough visits from pollinators, but I haven't seen any bumble bees or honey bees this summer.

On the other hand, the cold, damp weather has been very inviting to disease. I had to trash a couple tomato plants and many petunias, which normally thrive here, due to fungus infections. And my tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are a couple weeks behind in producing. Okra is pitiful.

I have been on this earth for many decades, and I think weather patterns are changing in significant ways.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 6:27PM
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springtogarden(6)

By the way, Ohiofem, that is a gorgeous pic!

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 6:51PM
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woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a

gardengal: It's true. Overhead watering is discouraged with many veggies because of fungal issues. But your spraying an anti-fungicide, so the practice isn't so frowned upon then. At least that's what I've reasoned.

As far as the quick spray every morning thing. Dunno how others do it. I mulch with keeps moisture in and reduces dust and occasionally give the mulch a good soaking. and yes, in the morn.

And you're doing the right thing in being proactive with prevention. Usually, it's identify, then treat. But with mildews and fungal issues, it's always best to treat before you see the symptoms.

Kevin

    Bookmark     July 18, 2014 at 7:09PM
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springtogarden(6)

Thank you, Kevin! Mulch is just great all around :). I didn't even think about the dust aspect. That's helpful for hard rain storms too. I am happier with prevention this year than last year's discovery and treat, yikes. Newbie gardener to raised beds last year and had lots to learn lol and still learning. Thanks again and hope your garden is doing well!

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 6:44PM
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pd0xgard_

I think I got that beat ;) This one is growing about 5 ft off the ground, hanging on/in our forsythia bush.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 5:27PM
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pd0xgard_

Far away shot....

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 5:28PM
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jonfrum(6)

I've cut them up and used them in a stir fry. Zucchini, onion/scallion and tomatillo make a nice combination. Add chopped tomato or tomato sauce for a nice mix. I either add soy sauce or herbs, depending on what I crave.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 1:51PM
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donna_in_sask

In the Food forum, someone makes enchiladas using salsa verde made with tomatillos...you might want to ask there or do a search in that forum.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 2:44PM
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chas045(7b)

I'm sorry: I can't remember the name. I can't remember how I was able to find it before. It is essentially a weed, but I believe that I found that some in Asia eat the stuff with the flower. Perhaps they even cook the leaves similar to Poke Weed, but perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me about that. With all that almost useless info, I just wanted to let you know that you can consider it to be a weed and yank it/them out.

edit--- OK, found it by searching on 'heart shaped leaf weed'. From Wikipedia: It is Velvetleaf and has been grown in China since around 2000 BCE for its strong, jute-like fibre. The leaves are edible, stir-fried or in omelette. The plant is known as maabulha in the Maldives and its leaves were part of the traditional Maldivian cuisine, usually finely chopped and mixed with Maldive fish and grated coconut in a dish known as mas huni.[4] The seeds are eaten in China and Kashmir.[5]

Wikipedia goes on to say it is invasive in the US and inhibits conventional crops.

This post was edited by chas045 on Fri, Jul 18, 14 at 20:51

    Bookmark     July 18, 2014 at 8:18PM
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rich

Great info chas045! I was hoping it was a vegetable of some sort. Oh well, maybe I'll try the leaves.

Thanks!

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 1:29PM
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glib(5.5)

I would try only vegetables that require less nitrogen. carrots, parsnips (too late), bush beans.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 9:42AM
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farmerdill

Should work fine for beans tomatoes etc. It would be a similar apprach to one of the latest fads. Hugelkultur.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hugelkultur

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 11:30AM
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

Blast with water from the hose. Repeat at intervals of a few days. Aphids are weak creatures and once they are knocked off they will have trouble getting back on the plants.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 10:41AM
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sunnibel7 Md 7(7)

Probably a bird or possibly even another very large wasp (hornet). Considering how many of them get eaten (from within or without) I'm always amazed there are any left to reproduce!

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 10:12AM
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lkzz(7b)

They will shrivel up and die...they are food for the eggs that were implanted inside them by the wasp, hatched and then came to the surface as pupa. By the time you see the pupa (the white rice-like things) the worm has been a host for a while.

It could have fallen off...sometimes they stay on the plant - brown and dried up.

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 10:37AM
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springtogarden(6)

Is that what that is? My word I would have never guessed a horseradish plant! I've never grown one before and I was way off on what family it belonged to lol. I did find about 5 bugs. 2 on each side of my plot and one towards the end ( I have one big plot at a community garden). I have a lot of lady bugs and I have seen webs so I have spiders plus I have seen a beetle that eats bugs and two Daddy Long Leg spiders so maybe they will balance them out?! If not, I can hand pick them off into a soapy water. I just didn't want to kill them in case they were beneficial. Thanks so much for your help :)!

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 10:20AM
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springtogarden(6)

rhizo_1, I will be back to the plot on Monday and will borrow someone's camera. Mine is the worst for small things. Zooming makes it blurry but far away looks like a brown dot so I will post some pics then. Thanks for looking :)!

    Bookmark     July 19, 2014 at 10:25AM
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