70 Tomato Plant Set Yesterday -pix
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jinman
Rest in Peace
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- Texas - Wise County - Sunset
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Speakin' of bugs . . .
Yesterday, we were in the garden picking beans and I heard something that first sounded like a loud electric motor, similar to my AC compressor. However, it really didn't have the same tone and it was getting louder. I said to my wife, "Hey! Do you hear that sound? It sounds like a bee swarm." About that time we looked up to see a "cloud" of bees moving overhead and into the woods. They were going too fast to really follow them, but we went to check our hive in the big hollow tree by our house. It turns out that the hive is still there, but with many fewer bees. I think our wet spring and tremendous amount of wildflowers has given our hive a growth spurt that caused them to split. I'm hoping they produced another queen and now we have two hives in the area. My garden sure loves having local bees to pollenate.
Yesterday, we were in the garden picking beans and I heard something that first sounded like a loud electric motor, similar to my AC compressor. However, it really didn't have the same tone and it was getting louder. I said to my wife, "Hey! Do you hear that sound? It sounds like a bee swarm." About that time we looked up to see a "cloud" of bees moving overhead and into the woods. They were going too fast to really follow them, but we went to check our hive in the big hollow tree by our house. It turns out that the hive is still there, but with many fewer bees. I think our wet spring and tremendous amount of wildflowers has given our hive a growth spurt that caused them to split. I'm hoping they produced another queen and now we have two hives in the area. My garden sure loves having local bees to pollenate.
dcyrilc
Elite Member
The hive won't split without raising a new queen. The origional queen goes with the swarm.
Chuck52
Veteran Member
Good luck with your bees! I helped a friend capture a swarm a few weeks ago. It had settled on a small tree outside a dorm and the kiddies were scared. The police cordoned off the area with tape, and when my friend and I showed up to gather the swarm we had a nice audience.
Chuck
Chuck
Just hope you don't have these babies. A look only their mother could love.
What the heck is that? Looks nasty.
OP
bp fick
Super Member
It's been awhile since I gave a visual update. It's the end of June here at 45th parallel and the days are loooooooong. Our growing season is very short, but we have 1/2 of the midnight sun effect, since we are 1/2 way to the North Pole, of course. Sun rises at 5:30 am and it doesn't get dark-dark until almost 11 pm. Those long days make up, a bit, for our rather short growing season.
What began in little trays in our kitchen in mid-March, and then to the ground under milk jugs in the Original Post, now look like this.
They are loaded with 1" green tomatoes. I walked the rows with the tiller for the last time tonight. Only had room for the inner two tines. That's it. Nothing to do now but wait for the pickings. Could be by Aug 1, an all new record.
What began in little trays in our kitchen in mid-March, and then to the ground under milk jugs in the Original Post, now look like this.
They are loaded with 1" green tomatoes. I walked the rows with the tiller for the last time tonight. Only had room for the inner two tines. That's it. Nothing to do now but wait for the pickings. Could be by Aug 1, an all new record.
NSBound
Platinum Member
Duffster, that's our friendly (NOT) potato beetle. If your crop gets infested, the best way to deal is hand-pick them and drop in a pail of soapy water. I'll tell you one thing, if I have to pick any of these, I'll be wearing gloves! :confused2:
Last edited:
jinman
Rest in Peace
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- Texas - Wise County - Sunset
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- NHTC45D, NH LB75B, Ford Jubilee
BP, that's a beautiful sight. Are you going to cage them? I'm getting lots of baseball sized tomatoes off my 444s and Early Girls. The EGs are actually producing the largest tomatoes with some approaching softball size. I have two plants that are collapsing inside my cage because of the weight of the tomatoes. I would try to staighten them up, but I'm afraid I'll break the vines. I just set out three yellow cherries, two sweet 100s, and one Better Boy for a late summer crop. Walmart put the plants on sale and I couldn't resist. We have a very long season here from late March until mid-November.
I just set out three yellow cherries, two sweet 100s, and one Better Boy for a late summer crop. Walmart put the plants on sale and I couldn't resist. We have a very long season here from late March until mid-November.
lakngulf
Veteran Member
That is one pretty site bp (hey you are not related to those gulf oil spill folks, are you?). I am amazed at how clean your rows are. I am always afraid of getting into some roots when I run my little tiller around plants that large.
Interesting about your growing season as well.
clemsonfor
Super Member
Update on Tomatoes, (the basis of this thread.)
June 8. Threat of cutworms is pretty much past. Only had to replace 5 plants. Manageable. So, ended up with a dozen plants "in reserve" that I didn't end up needing. Early planting up here can lead to 30%-50% losses due to cut worms. Other people report they were very, very bad in their gardens this year.
Plants are 12-14" tall, and blossoming. For those who don't live in Zone 4-5, you may not have an appreciation of how terrific this is!! Off to a very great start. Very pleased.
BP, i just forund this thread. Why dont you put plastic cups on your fresh planted seedlings, it stops the cut worms, or at least this is a wives tale that seems to have worked out for me, maybe just something that law of averages was on my side. I lost one or two plants totally and saved one, i have found that if you find it before its dried out you can mound dirt above the cut and the plant will send new roots out and live.
-Nate
