2020 gardens

[DJ54]

DJ,

All those hydraulics to drive the planter ?

Probably looks like a lot, because it's so compact in one spot. Supply line to pump. From pump to valve, valve to motor, with flow control before motor, then return. Probably should have put a filter on the return line, but to be honest, not that much room, and not like it's going to have much of a chance to get dirty, or contaminated. It was a home made woodsplitter I used for parts, and it didn't have a filter on it. I figure the damage is already done if there is any.

 

[Sonny580]

some of the froze off potatoes that are trying to regrow---NOW the colorado potato beetles are on them already!!! ---probably wont have potatoes this year either.

this is what they looked like after the big freeze.

onions were untouched by the freeze.

So far I have been transplanting tomato plants from the hotbed and a few volunteer ones that are in the potato rows. The first planting of sweetcorn is in, carrots,beets,spinach, are planted.
Strawberries are just hanging,--not doing much, did see one medium sized one turning pink. green ones are not growing--they are just hanging there doing not much so probably wont make anything this year.
No fruit of any kind this year, no grapes either.


grape vines as of a couple days ago.

I gotta visit TnAndy! LOL!!!

 

[oldballs]

Dang, Sonny,

That freeze really hurt your garden this year. So far here, just some cool temps, too much rain and lots of weeds.

But Cheers Anyway,
Mike

 

[DJ54]

I use this on potato bugs. You are being redirected... It does a good job. They do have to injest it, before it kills them though. The first time I used it, about 6yearsago, I sprayed in the morning. Went back that evening to check, and disappointed that they were still there. But, when I checked closer, they were dead, still hanging on the leaves. It's rated for organic use, so I don't feel so bad about using it. I use it on every thing. Works great on sweet corn too for borer's, if the Captan on the seed doesn't do the job. Spray it on when the silk starts to form. Borer's eat a little silk, and takes care of them.

My grape vine got burned too, but it's coming back. But, I haven't gotten any grapes for 5-6 years, since we were invaded by the Drosophila Fly. They sting the grapes when they are green, and ruins them. I never used them, but always gave to a friend who makes jelly to sell, so don't bother with spraying them. Still trey to keep it pruned, because that vine is on the last piece of property we bought that was with another parcel. That vine was started probavbly back in the 40's, so want to keep it going.

My pole beans are up about 2" tall that I planted on the 24th. I'll need to be getting T-posts driven for a trellis soon. I'll have to use the tiller for in between row cultivation, because I planted down through the leaf compost.

Cut hay for snacks for my ponies yesterday, and man is it nice stuff..!! Really pleased with the re-seeding I did this Spring in the existing stand. Not so much where I did a kill, to get rid of Foxtail last Fall. We didn't get a hard enough freeze to honeycomb the dirt to pull the Fescue seed in, so tore it up a month ago and started over. That now is coming along nice, and it about 1" tall. I hope it matures into what this is.

 

[Sonny580]

I use spinosad of a different brand but it don't work either. -- I have tried everything known to man and still loose my potatoes to beetles!

 

[CADplans]

I have tried everything known to man and still loose my potatoes to beetles!

I am trying diatomaceous earth for the first time this year,, I had beetles yesterday, applied it,, no beetles today,,

This is just stone dust, they can not get immune to it,, you gotta reapply after every rain,,,

 

[DJ54]

**I use spinosad of a different brand but it don't work either. -- I have tried everything known to man and still loose my potatoes to beetles!**

It takes a little patience using it. As mentioned, they need to injest it for it to work. Spraying the leaves underneath on the eggs is a big help too, getting those little boogers as soon as they hatch, and start to eat. I buy the small pint bottle, because I read that shelf life is like 3 years. I need to look mine over close tomorrowfor any sign of them. Got bigger fish to fry today.

An older buddy of mine has used hydrated lime for years to keep attackers from bugs to deer from eating plants in his garden. I used it last year, to keep the Deer from devouring plants. Workd well, but as CADplans mentions, needs to be re-applied after it rains. Last year, I had to do that at least 4 times a week. Finally had enough, and put up the electric fence.

I tried one of those fancy hand crank blowers, which waspretty well useless with the lime. It would bridge over, and humidity was always so high, it didn't help matters either with it packing. The light bulb finally came on to use one of those containers you sprinkle Parmesan Cheese on with. Use the side with the 3, large holes approx. 3/8" . Makes an almost perfect applicator. It does pack in there sometimes, but a quick shake loosens it up. I just shake it sideways, and start by just leaning it a bit from straight up, and tilt more as the amount gets less, to keep from plugging the holes. I'm thinking this one is an 8 oz. container, and I could do 2, 90' rows with it. I just filled a 2-1/2 gallon icing bucket from the local big box bakery about half full, and take to the garden with me, and fill the shaker out of that. Scoop it in, and away you go. A bit messy, but washes right off.

Here's a picture of my latest weed slayer, for between wide rows for the tomatoes & potatoes. Narrow sweeps in front are the OEM Sears sweeps, and are 7-1/2" wide. Rear middle one is an OEM Sears/David Bradley sweep from a DB Southern cultivator for a walk behind. The large 14" sweeps are from Agri-Supply. I could have set them wider, but I have them set as wide as the tires, and use them to gauge distance from plants. Worked great..!!

And, a short video of using the tail wheel on the Honda tiller. Man, I'm loving this thing. Got the depth set to just scratch about an inch or so deep, to turn those litle weed thread roots up. The wheel allows it to float across that leaf residue I put down, and not gob up/drag along on the drag type depth gauge. MAH00553 - YouTube

 

[herm0016]

cut worms and flea beetles are terrible this year. the worms have gotten about 4 of our little squash plants, and the beetles keep damaging our tomatoes and some of the lettuces. we are using diatamacious earth, have applied nematodes and have some green lacewings coming this week. we really try to stay away from the chemicals in the garden, but it may come to that soon.

the beetle population seems to be dropping. every time i go out there i look over each plant and get what i can manually also.

 

[Sonny580]

Around here if you dont use chems. --you dont have a crop! sad but that kinda leaves you no options for pest control. I usually try different rates and different chems to keep the bugs from getting used to any certain one. Keeps them guessing,---I hope. Anyway the first of July the jap beetles emerge in this area starting another problem to deal with.
This is one row of the froze off potatoes. I did hill them after pic. was taken.

 

[Sonny580]

Got 6 more quarts of strawberries making a total of 9 for the year so far -----might be a few more out there later. They will taste good in the middle of the winter.