23,948 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

This discussion reminded me of the old Radiolab podcast "Parasites" --

http://www.radiolab.org/story/91689-parasites/

The story about toxo is at the very end of the podcast. Although the hookworm story at the beginning is pretty darn entertaining.

Radiolab did followup episodes on both hookworm and toxo later on. Here's the other toxo episode --

http://www.radiolab.org/story/91692-the-scratch/

When cats were a problem, I just stuck a lot of sticks in the ground. The cats didn't like picking their way between the sticks, the sticks could decompose if not needed, and I could easily find more. Another person I know used a bunch of metallic pinwheels. Made his garden very colorful!

I found any kind of cover was more annoying to work around than some sticks, and no spray I tried worked.

I'm counting 7 plants? How many in your family? For the 2 of us one plant of each zuk and crookneck are more than enough for us and the neighbors! Just a thought! Nancy

Yeah I started a bunch of seeds. Mainly because I knew I was new at this and it gave me plenty of room for screw ups. I started with a dozen of everything and have already thinned them out. Some were real stunted and I was worried about damping off so I chucked them early on. I also have some friends and neighbors that are interested in plants If I don't use them.

Last year I did one of each and had problems with powdery mildew and what I think was poor pollination (we only picked about 4 squash and zucchini ) . So I hope to have 2 of each this year. I put in soaker hoses instead of overhead watering to help prevent powdery mildew and hopefully more flowers will help with better pollinating.

I'm only growing 5 or 6 types of veggies this year so I have the space. Next year I hope to try some new things once I get the hang of all this.

I planted basil yesterday but under cover of high tunnel. Balloonflower is correct in temp for basil yet in my high tunnel temp dipped to 40*F at 5:00 this morning before I started a propane heater and it looks OK.

Harden the plants off by reducing water and fertilizer as well as exposing them to outside conditions.

It could be that your growing area is very dry and regular watering is needed. If your experience is that this is the case I would suggest transplanting everything now to larger pots. It may not seem the thing to do but I always can skip watering for a week after potting-up. Rootbound plants may actually need watered more than daily and those should not be allowed to remain in that situation for long anyway.

Your alternative solutions don't seem feasible. Maybe I don't understand your setup but why do you have those particular plants(other than tomatoes) Started nnow?

More info needed. I often leave my garden for a week or three, but do check the local forecast and might call and ask someone to check on things. They get the added benefit of harvesting for themselves as well.

A week is fine as long as it gets a good soak with proper mulch to keep that moisture in. We all have different set-ups for holidays depending on climate and what time into the growing season extra care is needed.

(i do have a drip system, but it can clog with newts after a heavy rain)...so i have a neighbor check...

I also have a 12 inch deep bed, and grass did come up through all that soil, so I would definitely use cardboard. I don't know what type of grass I have, but I live in northern VA.

Actually, the cardboard works great. It deters grass and weed growth from below and provides a welcome attraction to earthworms that improve your soil. This raised bed has a layer of cardboard under it and it supports artichokes and has supported tomatoes.

nice! did you get your golden bantam 12-row from baker creek?

Yep! ^_^

thank you for all of the help. I can't remember the types of zucchini of the top of my head. When I get home I will let you know.

They are two different varieties. I'm glad that the sliver leaves aren't concerning, and that everyone thinks they look good.

As Peter said my main concern is the wilting and brown spots.

OK the two varieties are costata romanesco, I believe the ones with the silvery leaves is a raven.

I remove suckers in the greenhouse (to train the plants up a trellis) and leave 'em be in the garden where I don't have capacity issues.

Galinas and Celestial,

Thanks so much! Both your responses were also helpful :)

You can look it up. A third of the worlds population is estimated to carry a toxoplasmosis infection. You've probable gotten it. In immunocompetent people it just causes flu-like symptoms. It is not dangerous, though pregnant women who have not been previously exposed to it (such exposure confers some natural immunity) are exposed to some fetal risk. Such immunity is normally tested for in pre-natal exams, I believe. Those who are immunocompromised can also be at risk for serious symptoms.

Now, that being said, warm blooded animals can carry the parasite, so if you're worried about cat poop, you'd better be worried about at least squirrel poop as well. Your cat is unlikely to have it if it is primarily an indoor cat, such that it can't eat the parasite-ridden meat outside.

Wash and or cook your food (especially that food whose fruit grows in the soil) and wash your hands after yo've been handling soil. It's that simple.

Soil is soil. Birds that could be caring deadly viruses poop there. Wild animals, who's health is not better then your cat's poop there. You still use the soil and eat your veggies. Wash them well. Remove the poop you see. And stop worrying)

Not flea beeltes, holes too big? Probably slug damage like annew says.

Also agree, looks like slugs eating your plants. Try going out just after it gets dark, when they become more active. Pick them off your plants and drop them in a bowl of soapy water.

A few years ago I might have agreed with Dave about transplanting cucs but there are often good reasons for starting indoors. One of my best reasons is to know the germination of plants and adjust planting routine accordingly. Another is that the cucumber beetles won't be devastating them as they emerge.

I like to plant both ways but I'm leaning to indoor starting when a good stand is important. Like other cucurbits you want to transplant before they start growing into each other. Mine are in the ground a week and I'm expecting them to takeoff any time now.

You are all great! This has been very helpful! My beans, broccoli and kale are all doing well outside... So we'll just have to see how the cucumbers turn out!

I've put them inside at night and cut off the dead leaves and they're showing some progress sprouting new leaves.

I notice you're not answering where you live, so I'm guessing you've figured out that you put them outside way too early. :) Generally, you don't want to put tomatoes outside until the LOWS are consistently above 50 degrees, and peppers until the LOWS are above 55. That's typically a good couple weeks after your last frost date, unless your long range forecast says differently. Baby those damaged plants as an experiment to see how they do, but don't count on them as your main crop; you may not get much from them even if they survive. Since you say you have others in pots that are still OK, put them outside when the daytime temps are in the 70's, but bring them all inside at night until the lows are above 50-55. Peppers like it warm, warm, warm, even warmer than tomatoes. Good luck!

Well, all I got with the cornmeal in the damp newspaper was a bunch of baby centipedes! No earwigs! Nancy

Sorry took so long to respond woohooman. Here's the one I'm referring to. I did this last year and it did in fact work. I'm not ambitious enough to go out with flashlights, filming at night like he does, but I caught a bunch. Cheap too.