23,822 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

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zzackey(8b GA)

Sounds like it might be a cutworm. You can put a cutworm collar around the base of the plant. Use a toilet paper tube or a paper towel tube. Two or three inches inches high. Put it around the base of the plant and push it into the ground. Diachenous (sp) earth will kill snails and slugs. It is make of crushed shells, so it isn't a chemical. Try not to inhale the dust if you do use it. It can hurt your lungs. Good luck! I lost several kale seedlings to those boogers.

    Bookmark     May 8, 2013 at 8:47PM
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lucillle

Last night I went out to the back yard with the new puppy and STEPPED on a big squishy slug on the deck, it was so disgusting. Thank you all who guessed slugs because there were several out there.

    Bookmark     May 19, 2013 at 6:22AM
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jonfrum(6)

My brother gardened on Cape Cod back in the 1970s and got very good results. As soon as you scuffed the surface, you got sand. He used eelgrass as compost and mulch. If nothing else, I'd focus on crops like carrots and parsnips - they'll grow great. Anything that likes good drainage shouldn't need a lot of soil amendment.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 7:27PM
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laceyvail(6A, WV)

Keep adding organic material--year after year, season after season. It works and will give you fine soil eventually.

    Bookmark     May 19, 2013 at 6:09AM
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jean001a(Portland OR 7b)

Aphids seldom move rapidly.
Thrips do. - a potential problem but no reason to be present on dying leaves.
Psocids also move rapidly. -- not a problem.

But since the leaves are essentially dead, remove & discard, then keep the healthy part of the plant healthy.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 2:47PM
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nivin.lawrence

Thanks a lot folks.

thanks and regards,
nivin

    Bookmark     May 19, 2013 at 12:33AM
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fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX

Usually that's day from planting the seed and assumes good, warm, growing conditions. If planted during cold weather in spring it takes longer. 50 days from transplanting seems very short to me. But I'm growing large fruited melons rated more like 85 days.

It sounds to me that you have 90 days growing season from transplanting. That should make early melons OK.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 10:59PM
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kawaiineko_gardener(5a)

Um what could I use as insulation on the outside of the container?

Also a very dumb question but you said if you were to wrap something around the container that's wet, it would reduce dewpoint (as you said the temp of the container). My other question about wrapping something wet around the container, would you wet it before you wrap it around the container, would put it already wet on the container, or does it not matter either way?

The problems I'm referring to with sun scald is on the foliage not the fruit of the plant.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 9:40PM
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daninthedirt(Cent TX; HZ10, Sunset z30, USDA z8a)

You're not reducing the dewpoint. The dewpoint is the dewpoint. It's a function of air temperature and humidity. You can see it in your local weather report. It's a property of the air around the container (and you).

Excuse my lesson here ...

When you're wet, you feel cool, right? That's because as the water on you evaporates, it cools. The warm molecules of water depart, leaving the cool ones behind. The dew point is what the temperature would be if the humidity were 100%.

See here ... http://www.dpcalc.org/

As you can see from that handy calculator, if the air temperature is 90F and the humidity is 50%, the dewpoint is 69F. So if you're at the pool, and you're wet, as the wind blows on you, it's going to feel like 69F. If the humidity is lower, you'll feel colder, right? Ever been wet in the desert? Ouch! In fact, that's why air conditioners in the desert southwest work inexpensively by blowing air over water -- "swamp coolers". That only works well when the humidity, and the dew point, is low, which it usually is in the desert.

So the idea is to keep your container wet, so as the breeze blows over it, the container will be cooler. It's hard to keep a plastic container wet. It dries off fast. But if you cover the container with a thick layer of absorbant cloth -- a towel, or a piece of thick rug, you can soak it with water, and it'll stay wet for a while. When it dries off, just hit it with the hose. As the water slowly evaporates, the cooling cloth will cool the container.

That's why a porous planter is a slick idea for this purpose. The moist soil inside keeps the outside a little moist, and so cooler than the outside air. With a porous container, you don't need to be wrapping towels or carpet!

I've never really heard of someone trying to cool a planter, but if you're serious about it, this is the first thing I'd try.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 10:06PM
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fcc0(Central PA)

I like the sound of it, so please try to post more on results as you go through the gardening season, both positive and negative.

Frank

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 8:11PM
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tammyinwv(z6/WV)

I will do that Frank, as this is an experiment for me too. In my research, I couldnt find anyone with a complaint that actually tried the program. I know I got very little from my garden last yr.
Tammy

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 8:29PM
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sweetquietplace(6 WNC Mtn.)

Yes...please keep us posted. I'm trying TPS for the first time. Mine are still wee babies, but looking good. I'll be interested in how yours are doing. What are you using for fertilizer?

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 7:06PM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Agree that hybridization concern isn't applicable in seed potatoes.

Many people do just as your son did and have for many years with no problems. It used to be the only option - growing your own seed potatoes. Production is just as good assuming growing conditions provided are as good.

The only restriction on doing it that I am aware of is if you had any Late Blight (p. infestans) in the garden the previous year as it will over-winter on potatoes and re-surge in the spring garden.

Dave

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 4:58PM
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alisande(Zone 4b)

Thanks, everyone! He'll be relieved to know this.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 5:33PM
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AiliDeSpain(6a - Utah)

Of all my plants started from seed my peppers were the smallest and most pathetic looking. I did some research and found that peppers are slow growers. I started mine on March 1 and planted them out a few days ago but they were only about five inches tall if that. They now have flowers and I'm worried that tiny plant won't be able to support a pepper but we shall see!!!

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 2:10PM
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daninthedirt(Cent TX; HZ10, Sunset z30, USDA z8a)

I've seen those foot-tall vegetable plants in the stores, and never had a clue why anyone would buy them. I don't often transplant a plant (peppers, tomatoes) taller than 4-6 inches. I think there is some psychological attraction to a large plant that looks like it's up and ready to produce instantaneous fruit, and you pay heavily for that emotion. Once transplanted, any plant will take a few weeks setting roots. But even the tiny ones will take off like a shot when conditions are good. I should say that, yes, peppers really wait until it gets very warm. They grow slowly before that, but then grow explosively outside when you've got the a/c on inside. The big ones in the store are hot-house grown.

I actually very much dislike buying 4" or larger pots, except if an interesting variety is only available in that form. I'd rather get six-packs. My indoor lighting is poor, so if I'm starting seeds in the window, and because of that, the plants tend to go outside when they're pretty puny. No sweat.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 5:06PM
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pitcom(6b SE Pa)

Gardenlen;

Yes it took us a lot of time and money. We spent several thousand dollars fighting this. However, we are planning to sue the township and those involved in the case to recoup our losses. I have also contacted the district attorney's office, and the attorney generals office of pennsylvania to file a civil rights violation case against the township. There is also a new public corruption task force that was implemented and I am trying to contact them as well. The commissioner whom I mentioned in this story has lost his political backing for the new election this year. Hopefully this story has alerted the residents to the type of person he is and he will loose his seat.

Galiana;

It's funny you mentioned moving. My fiance and myself, have just bought a home in another county. One with a much larger piece of property. In the town we are moving to, chickens and goats are legal. I am very excited about starting a new garden the way I have always wanted to, after learning from all the mistakes i made my first several years of gardening. I already have the plans drawn up for the chicken coop and garden. I will post pictures of the new place at the end of the summer.

One thing I do not look forward to is digging up my 20+ apple, apricot, and plum trees. I also have 36 blueberry bushes and 15 honey berry and currant bushes to dig up as well. It will be a busy, busy, fall, but I look forward to the prospects of the new garden.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 2:37PM
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gardenlen(s/e qld aust)

pitcom,

we wish you good tidings in your future legal exploits, the truth be known if we all stood together our gov's could not then treat us in these ways.

len

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 4:56PM
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girlgroupgirl(8 ATL)

How wet are they? I just got some and they are just slightly moist. I keep them in a 5 gallon bucket out of the sun on my porch and use them to make teas all summer. No problems storing them, i just try to keep some moisture in them.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 4:27PM
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ChicagoDeli37

They are like perfectly moist now but I just don't want it to rain on them over the next week and soak them

I rather store in garage but its warm in there on warm days.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 4:44PM
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woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a

t-bird: That was your problem -- CEDAR is fine as a mulch, but never as an amendment.

seysonn: That's what I do -- any large pieces get raked off and the rest gets tilled in. It's pretty much a compost at that point after the original composting done by the landfill and then sitting in my garden for 9 months.

Kevin

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 4:20PM
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girlgroupgirl(8 ATL)

I have been using wood chips and rock dust in my garden for over 10 years. No problems at all. Sure I get fungus on the mulch, but it's never been a problem. Breaks down beautifully, keeps the soil moist....my only tip is that if you need to turn soil, rake off the chips, turn and re-apply the same chips and apply another layer on top (excludes light from any weed seeds that have fallen on old wood chips). This keeps the older wood chips in contact with the soil so they can continue to compost. My chips have either come from my trees, or from a tree I saw the crew cutting (then ask them to come and give me the mulch). There are just some trees (like black walnut, or magnolia) that I won't use.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 4:31PM
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edweather(Zone 5a/b Central NY)

IMO there is no way that plants can get that leggy unless they are reaching for the sun. I'm guessing that they are getting no more than 5 hours of sun per day.

    Bookmark     May 11, 2013 at 9:53AM
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robertlovesmaters(Zone 10 Petaluma CA)

It does look a bit dry.. tomatoes need plenty of water.. the leaves look healthy albeit spaced out.. might try digging it up, cut off all the branches except the top two., dig a trench and plant it laying down with only top sticking out.. the entire stem that is planted will become part of the root structure. don't worry if it is crooked. it will right itself.. but,, if you don't have it in full sunlight,, it continue to get long and lanky.. maters need full sun.. and plenty of H2O

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 2:53PM
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jean001a(Portland OR 7b)

Yes, millipedes. Are scavengers. Don't damage live plants.

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 2:43PM
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nancyjane_gardener(Zone 8ish North of San Francisco in the "real" wine country)

Well, the plant started getting dry, and every time i watered it, the water would run STRAIGHT THROUGH the canna coco, like ALL the water...

I'm thinking that the canna coco isn't the best choice for a container (don't know what it is, though)
Any time the water runs straight through usually means the soil is so dried out that it repels water, and either needs to be broken up and soaked or replaced. If you want to try and salvage what you have, I would soak the pot (we're talking under water) until bubbles stop coming up. I would also poke the soil deep with a chopstick or something to get the water into the soil.
This is mostly house plant/container ideas. I truly think it's time to start over!
Look into the container gardening forum for better advise! Nancy

    Bookmark     May 16, 2013 at 9:15PM
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robertlovesmaters(Zone 10 Petaluma CA)

I think the one thing that needs to be zeroed in on, is what nancyjane said.. "so dried out that it repels water"
seed starting mixes and other types of soil are so fine they will repel the water.. my sons friend almost killed 10 plants.. he replanted ,, watered and walked away.. I was in the greenhouse and picked up one of the pots.. which was as light as a feather.. the water just ran through. the top looked wet bet it was bone dry underneath.. water is heavy. so a well watered container should be heavy also. it is a good way to tell how moist your soil is..

Good luck.. :)

    Bookmark     May 18, 2013 at 2:16PM
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