FYI.
Mark
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [MordecaiCAC] Free Gardening Lecture by Frank Hyman
Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 06:41:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: Neal <neal126(a)yahoo.com>
Reply-To: neal126(a)YAHOO.COM
To: mordecai(a)googlegroups.com
The Herb Society of Wake County will have nationally known
garden columnist Frank Hyman speaking at this month's
meeting on Thursday, May 31. His topic is titled "Not Under
the Tuscan Sun: Growing Mediterranean Herbs in the
South."
The meeting is in the Commons Building at Wake County
Office Park (off Poole Road) and begins at 7 p.m.
Frank is a columnist for Urban Farm magazine and a
contributing editor for Horticulture magazine, in addition
to writing articles for the N&O, Independent, and other
publications. He also runs a landscape design business.
Neal O'Briant
1422 Mordecai Dr.
-
What a bore the last week has been! I had been on the look out for these
squash bugs that folks had discussed earlier, but didn't see any. Earlier
this week a few of my plants started looking really droopy so I investigated
and found frass near the base of the plants... Two plants are totally dead
and gone--removed from the garden. Two more aren't looking so good.
Anyway, I did some research online and found this great article about
organic control of squash bugs and vine borers (they're different but
control methods are similar). http://bit.ly/ju4fUH It isn't NC-specific, but
the one article I found from NC extension basically said to put some poison
on it. It's not promising that this will lead to some half-dead plans
surviving, but I may try cutting into the stem of one to kill the borer...a
last resort.
Thought I'd share some things I learned about squash pests that may be
helpful:
1) You probably will have them--either the bugs or the borers so start your
system of control now for next year (see link above). I thought I was
immune--big mistake! Also I learned the bugs can fly up to 1/2 mile so with
all us gardeners around here, they'll be back!
2) They come out sometime in early May to Mid-June, so be on the look out
right about then... And by "look out" I mean not just the bugs on the
leaves, but the borers in the stems too! I found a Minnesota-based website
that said late June, but I'd back that up earlier for us. Anyone have more
info on the timing?
3) The bugs and borers usually have one life cycle, but perhaps two in some
southern climates. So, possibly, you can replant your squash in July and
they'll be safe for the season...or maybe not... Any advice?
4) Plant resistant varieties that were listed in a post earlier this year on
this forum.
At least I got two giant marrows out of the dead plants before they were
taken down by the bores. This was of much interest to my fiance who is an
Agatha Christie fan. Apparently Agatha writes about a Belgian man who
retires to grow marrow and there is much discussion among her fan base about
exactly what a marrow is. We ate one for lunch on Wednesday. Delicious!
Bored on Penn Rd,
Jennifer
Any advice for Emily?
Mark
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [East-CAC] insecticidal soap?
Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 11:05:09 -0400
From: Emily Orr <emily.g.orr(a)gmail.com>
To: Stevens rd <stevens-road-raleigh-nc(a)googlegroups.com>, East CAC
Discussion <east-cac(a)eastraleigh.org>
Dear all,
Today is the day that we plant neato stuff in our vegetable garden. We
have a plan to keep the squirrels out of the tomatoes, and now I am looking
for something to repel squash borers.
Squash borers ate our first two gardens. We have followed the "no squash
planting for one year" rule and we would like to try again. I am leery of
commercial insectisidal soaps, as they contain bifenthrin (roach and
termite killer.) I'm sure the amount is small, but still, I don't like the
idea of it getting in my food.
We thought we'd try an organic insectisidal soap (basically Dr. Bronner's,
water, and a few stinky things.) Does anyone have any experience with this
method?
Thank you!
For the past several years, I have been overwintering a few hot peppers
plants indoors. (They are productive for several years in their native
range.) I either grow one or two in pots all summer or dig out choice
plants from the garden and pot them for the winter. Replanting them in
the ground in July gives you a jump on fruit production because not as
much energy has to go to vegetative growth, and a larger plant produced
more pods.
I've been most successful with Fatalii and Tobasco peppers. I've never
been lucky with habanero for some reason.
I got tons of crazy peppers ready for pickling, hot sauce, and drying
for flakes/powder.
I encourage you to try this if you are a pepper head. Yesterday I dug
up the plants I'll overwinter because of the fear of the coming frost.
Today is a great day to do it too! Remember to water liberally if you
are digging out a plant and re-potting it. Especially if your trimming
roots or replanting after removing all soil, as this reduces overall
root-soil contact. A little dash of fertilizer in the pot is also a
good idea.
Cheers.
-Damian
219 Lafayette Rd.
I've been wanting to dig up the backyard for vegetable gardening but have been put off by the amount of work allegedly required for vole combat (and my yard is definitely Vole City): online research recommends digging down a foot or so and lining sides of the bed with hardware cloth, etc. It's not clear, however, whether that's required for raised beds as well as ground-level gardening.
Does anybody have experience in this regard? I'd certainly welcome any advice.
Thanks,
Judy
FYI,
Mark
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Historic Oakwood] - Free plants
Date: Fri, 11 May 2012 16:53:07 -0400
From: Ellen Hipp Nightingale <emhipp(a)yahoo.com>
To: historicoakwood <historicoakwood(a)yahoogroups.com>
The garden club was lucky recipients of 10 extra tomato plants and 15
Lenten rose/hellebores off shoots.
Tomatoes are all different heirloom varieties. Hellebores are lime
variety, I believe ,and are shade loving.
On the side walk in front of 407 east jones.
Thanks,
Ellen
