24,795 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

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gumby_ct(CT it says Z5)

Personally I avoid anything that will attract unwanted insects (esp from the neighbors yard). Even beer traps for slugs I feel will attract what is not yet a problem.

I remember during the 70s/80s using those "bug lights" to attract unwanted insects from the whole neighborhood. Maybe IF everyone has and uses one but not IF you are the only light on the block.

And IF you insist on using an attractant place it away from what you are trying to protect.

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

Do ladybugs eat caterpillars? I only know of them and their larvae eating aphids.

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theforgottenone1013(MI zone 5b/6a)

Go with the wasps. Or spray the plants with BT. Ladybugs won't help you.

Rodney

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shermthewerm(8 PNW)

Artichokes can get huge! Probably even more so in So Cal.

I should take a picture of my butternut--I know I way overplanted (2 seeds every six inches along a 20' row). It's my only winter squash because it's my favorite. There's a soaker hose in place, so I don't need to walk through, but by planting so densely the chickens don't mess with that area either! Otherwise, they'd either dig up the plants or peck at the fruit. However, this was done intentionally--the zucchini in my OP was not supposed to be that big as the chickens aren't allowed in the front yard garden & I would like to have access to it.

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ZachS. z5 Littleton, CO

I definitely OVER estimated the size of plants this year. 2/3 of the tomatoes are small, the indeterminates barely got 4 ft tall and hardly filled out the 3 ft of space between them and half of the det's were runty, too. beans kept getting pruned by slugs so most of them were scrawny, and the potatoes...don;t even get me started! Not really even looking forward to digging them up, I have a feeling it's only going to p!ss me off. Hopefully elk season goes a little more according to plan, since we sure wont be eating much from the garden this winter, all I've got is about a gallon bag's worth of frozen beans! Grocery bills have been high this year at Zach's house....

Two years ago, my garden was an absolute mess...in a good way, except it was kind of hard to harvest, lol. So, last year I went back to the drawing board and re-organized everything. Last year was another good year, still a jungle, but an organized one that time. This year... pfffft! Course, the weather has been crap and I probably need to do some heavy amending this fall as well.

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daninthedirt(Cent TX; HZ10, Sunset z30, USDA z8a)

Well, if you're going to plant squash there next year, this is a great time to start composting!

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nancyjane_gardener(Zone 8ish North of San Francisco in the "real" wine country)

My DH is a pumpkin carver, and the farmer who we work with grows these warty things! They are, however hybrids, so you don't know what you're going to get when you plant the seeds! We planted our septic mound (have since found out we shouldn't do that!) and got all sorts of versions of those squash! Some were pumpkin/like, some PL, but dark green, some ghord/like, some striped! Most had some warts! All different! Just cut open that guy and save the seeds for next year! It's an adventure! I can't wait for the drought to be over to plant these again! They make a great fall table décor!

Also, we had so many from the seeds of one squash/ghord that we ended up putting them out on the road for people to pick up after giving a bunch to the neighbors! Nancy

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aniajs(Z6 Reno NV foothills)

We're only officially in year 3 of declared drought, but I have noticed an impact on my backyard garden. Mostly because they switched my municipal water supply in mid-July from Truckee River water to piped groundwater/surface water from Honey Lake, which is way worse in terms of higher pH, higher TDS, higher boron, higher arsenic, higher etc. Results? Everything took a dive right about mid July/early August. My foster garden in Reno proper, which has plants from the same seeds, the same soil and fertilizer regime, and is still on river water supply, is going gonzo.

Grrr. I've been so careful to cut my water use and reuse as much as possible, and it really doesn't matter because I can't do anything about where I get my water.

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Marianne W (zone 10A)

Welcome to the desert. You'll adapt. Grow things in the shade and find stuff that isn't as thirsty. No more tomatoes in the summer, it's a waste of water. That's now a spring or fall crop when the evap rate isn't as bad.

Research what crops people grow in arid parts of the world and learn to love them. It will mean changing your habits and learning new ways. Contact the Us to see what the AG departments suggest. University of Arizona has excellent resources for arid gardening and I bet your local U is working on doing the same--ask them if you can participate in crop trials or go to a class.

You can still garden. But, big tomatoes are now for March/April and summer is for basil.

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Peter (6b SE NY)

As a crow flies? What is this, Lord of the Rings? :)

30-50 tomatoes non-stop from 4 plants is not possible... your friend is boasting. Unless they are Sungolds! :)

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Jason B

I knew it was BS....

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veronica_p8(6/7 Pittsburgh)

I'm thinking your "yellow ladybugs" are cucumber bugs. I have both striped and spotted (saw spotted for the first time yesterday) but I've been keeping their numbers low (fingers crossed) with neem oil spray.

They transmit bacterial wilt, which may be what's going on with your plants. I was given this link when I was questioning what the pests were on my pumpkins, and I've seen a few now on my cucumber and zucchini blossoms. When I see them, I spray them with insecticidal soap (being sure to shoo away the bees first) and then apply neem oil, which I don't think kills them right off, but keeps them from "feeding".

See if this seems accurate.

-veronica

Here is a link that might be useful: Cucumber Beetle/Bug

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amysaj

Aphids they ruined my squash plants every year! look under the leaves they leave tiny black eggs all over the bottom of the leaves. They're extremely hard to stop.

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naturegirl_2007 5B SW Michigan(5B SW Michigan)
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

Mache?? (Not a broccoli) Orach ?(Also not a Broccoli)

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ilodato(6b)

I grew most of my tomatoes this summer w/o staking. no issues. i'd let them be.

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Jason B

I just used 2 papa John's pizza boxes to elevate the the collapsed plant, wasn't easy, but at least it's off the ground now

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Tiffany Regan

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

Maybe Downey Mildew (based on just that one leaf in the center) but can't be sure from the photo. You can Google lots of pics of it to compare to your plants. I would also check the undersides of the leaves carefully as aphids and especially spider mites can have that same effect on leaves.

Dave

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farmerdill

There are varieties that are both little and round. If you have a "bunch" you most likely have a small variety. Yes they do need to be picked before seed formation. Incomplete pollination does occur when there are not enough pollinators around. Usually does not apply to the whole crop, just one fruit here and there. Each seed has to be pollinated and can be missed by an insect in a hurry with no back up.

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catherinet(5 IN)

Thanks farmerdill.

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ilodato(6b)

ok thank you! just want to make sure they're not poisonous or anything in the off chance i left one in. there were only a couple between 5 eggplant and i cut them right out. UGH!!!!

making the most delicious smelling eggplant parm right now using home made tomato sauce with tomatoes and basil from the garden! can't let those worms stop me!!

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Marianne W (zone 10A)

Its a matter of taste. My grandparents would say it was "still good" or "it's fine." My husband would hit the roof. So, if you're ok with it, there you go.

considering they're eating eggplant, they're probably not poisonous to humans.

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nzcountrybumpkin

>> Donna R(5), Glad to be of help. Anyway I was trying to think of how to explain it as I can not get a photo at the mo as the irrigation lines are not in place - just doing a new garden - so here is attached a rough picture of the plan. The blue lines are the water flow, the pink are the connectors - a mix of Elbows (the corner ones), and Tees and the Cross (4 way) and where the black line is is where the hose connector goes.

So the water flows all ways and will equalise itself instead of just running along the top line (where the hose is) then down the lines and stopping at the bottom line like the next pic.

The squares at the end of the lines are the stops. As my long lines are only 3m (about 10ft) I do not have the line going across the middle like in the top picture.

The hose is short and right there also is the seaweed fertiliser barrel so every now and again I just change the tap hose to the seaweed hose and all plants get their seaweed fertiliser delivered the same way!

I also run everything on timer so I do not forget to turn off the hose and use up all of my tank water or seaweed fert in one go!

Feel free to ask for any other clarification or anything else that you may want to know :D

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Donna R(5)

Got it! Thank you!!

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

Have the same problem here and it will be to your advantage in the long run to get them out of there if at all possible. Otherwise build a raised bed on top of the area and incorporate the existing 10" of soil into it.

Dave

PS: Tomatoes are tap root.

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rgreen48(7a)

I agree with Dan. Slightly shallow spot, but workable. Edit: also agree with Dave, if you want deeper rooted crops, try to remove. or...

If you want to put in some elbow grease, you can rent a drill with a masonry bit (preferably a hammer drill) and for a small amount, you can buy a set of wedges and feathers. You just drill holes in the rock, insert the feathers, and fairly lightly tap in the wedges. It takes a little work, but not too bad. After exposing some of it, in half a day or so even a fairly large rock can be knocked back quite a bit. Just watch a DIY vid to learn how to take pieces off of larger stones.

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