23,948 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening
Thanks for your help! By small dead fruit, I mean about pea sized - well before the flower opens up for pollination. If I don't just pluck it early, it turns brown and dies without ever flowering. This hasn't happened much (3-4 times).
Photos posted.
I may experiment with some lettuce again. I had success growing it before, but the aphids loved it. I picked a head of curly leaf, brought it in the house and immersed it in water, and about 1,000 aphids came swimming out. Gave me such a bad case of heeby-jeebies that I threw it away, pulled up all the lettuce and haven't planted it again. LOL
I was thinking about a smooth leaf type like romaine or maybe spinach, then doing a better job about spraying with neem right from the start. I've been better about spraying my zucchini this year and haven't seen a solitary aphid yet. Normally, I'm having to hose colonies off the new growth by now.
I'm just not one of those people who can shrug off the possibility of eating a bug. If I want "protein", I'd rather get it from a nice piece of steak. LOL
Me too prairiemoon! I planted them and immediately after the weather decided to drop to the 50s for daytime highs and cold rain for a week. This stunted them. Now they are starting to get tiny buds because the weather has been sort of ideal but the weatherman says it will be 90s by the end of next week. Hoping they set fruits before then. This roller coaster really confuses my poor plants.
I don't know whether it is safe for plants or if it will work but at least it won't blind the squirrels like the chili powder recipes can.
Lots of these "homemade recipes" are more dangerous and damaging to both plants and animals than any possible benefit they claim to provide.
Dave
OK - here is what you'll need:
1 chainsaw
1 trampoline
1 pogo stick
6 rolls of duct tape
1 parachute
1 propeller beanie hat (You can use a children's hat if you can not find an adult one. If you CAN find one buy 2 and wear one and mail the other to me.
Here's what you do...first, put the beanie on and give the propeller a mighty spin! Then start the chainsaw, get a running start and do 3 handsprings. on the first handspring fling the chainsaw up in the air towards the branch in question, on the second, grab the pogo stick, in proper useage position. On the third, land on the trampoline and vault up toward the branch. In mid-air, eject the pogo stick, catch the chainsaw and with an windmill arcing ninja-like motion cut the branch off, Then throw the chainsaw clear and karate kick the falling branch clear, and pull the rip-chord on the chute. VIOLA! Just that easy, your done!!! (you may wonder where the duct tape comes in...well it doesn't, but it's handy to have around and does a good job in closing gaping wounds (don't ask how I know that!).
HHHMMMM, the more I think about it, the rope saw would be more effective. Not nearly as death defyingly cool, mind you, but probably more effective.
There are motion activated devices you attach to a hose that will blast the deer with water. I've never used those but have heard they're effective.
You may want to spray the fence itself with deer repellent. I've used both Liquid Fence and Deer Stopper. Both work, but i prefer Deer Stopper because it's water resistant. You only spray once a month - and it smells better than Liquid Fence.
If you can string some electric up that would probably be your best bet.
At least for a period of time, deer don't seem to like jumping into small enclosures. I think your fence may do the trick, at least for awhile. One easy addition would be to add four more outer poles with a thin fishing line wrapped around them at deer chest height. They may not see it while they are focused on your regular fence and bumping into this 'ghost' may give them the creeps.
Blossoms can drop off for many reasons, most of them beyond your control.
Blossom Drop
birds
poor pollination
hard rain
wind
pests
contact with cage or support
etc.
A single blossom falling off would be almost impossible to determine why but assuming the rest of the plant and the remaining blooms appear fine it usually isn't a cause for any concern.
Dave
Here's mine.
Thank you both! Apparently, "browning," really means brown :)