Maine

[Hiltonizer]

I spoke too soon when I said I didn't have cucumber beetles, plants are now taking a beating.

What's an effective but non-nuclear spray? Doesn't need to be certified organic but preferably organicish. I feel like DE will wash away too quickly.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

For cucumber beetles, get the yellow sticky traps.

Somewhat effective, definitely non nuclear (unless you physically run into the trap, then you'll hate yourself).

 

[buckabucka]

Welcome to Mike!

I still haven't tried those sticky traps yet, but right now, my infestation isn't too bad. If I go out in the early evening, I can usually find a bunch of mating pairs and crush them.
I've killed two of those big ugly gray squash bugs. I hope I don't get an infestation of those!
And despite the shortage of field mice this year, I've found mouse droppings under the melon vines (on black plastic). They are patiently waiting for the melon to grow, so they can devour it when I am not looking.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

I spoke too soon when I said I didn't have cucumber beetles, plants are now taking a beating.

What's an effective but non-nuclear spray? Doesn't need to be certified organic but preferably organicish. I feel like DE will wash away too quickly.

Foliage Pesticide Spray

1. Mix equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and distilled water.
2. Use a spray bottle to thoroughly soak the infected plants. Make sure to get the undersides of the leaves.
3. Spray once a week or after it rains. Hydrogen peroxide both treats and further prevents pest infestation.

**though i think the person that told me about this uses more peroxide than this states
i personally have not tried it

 

[DwayneNLiz]

@Hiltonizer and @buckabucka


i have also heard that baking soda is very effective (from organic farmers at my farmers market) this is obviously copied from the internet:

7 Natural Uses For Baking Soda In The Garden
Baking soda is a vital part of green cleaning and has so many uses in the house, but what about the garden. Here are 7 uses for baking soda in the garden.

1. Make a Non-Toxic Fungicide
Mix 4 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 gallon of water. Use on roses for black spot fungus and also on grapes and vines when fruit first begins to appear.

2. Spray to Treat and Prevent Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is causing major problems with impatiens this year, but also can be a problem for other plants, like lilacs, cucumbers, squash and zinnias.

Spray Recipe: 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 gallon of water, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid

Mix all the ingredients together and spray plants weekly. Apply on overcast days to prevent any potential foliage from burning.

3. Discourage Gnats In Soil & Fungus on Leaves
Mix in 1 gallon of water, 4 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon biodegradable soap. Mix well, spray infected foliage or soil as needed.


4. Discourage Weeds
Pour or sweep baking soda in a thick layer into cracks on a sidewalk or patios. The baking soda should kill any small weeds already sprouted and prevent new ones from coming up.

5. Kill Cabbage Worms
Mix equals parts flour and baking soda and dust plants (cabbage, broccoli, kale) being eaten by cabbage worms. They much on the leaves and die usually in a day or two. Repeat as needed.

6. Kill Crabgrass
Simply wet the crabgrass, pour a heavy dusting of baking soda on the weed. The crabgrass should start dying back in 2 or 3 days. CAUTION: When applying baking try NOT to get it on your grass as too much baking soda can burn and kill it.

7. Clean Your Hands
After a day in the garden and dirt, clean your hands by rubbing and scrubbing wet hands with baking soda. Rinse.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

About 1/3 of my garlic is harvested, the rest need a few more days.

And I put up the sticky traps with the pheromone lure, and I got 9 bugs within an hour.

 

[Hiltonizer]

Just seeing these replies and I just came in a bit ago... from spraying.

I was in Waterville and near the Despot so I took a look and they had a Pyrethrin with Sulfer concentrate that should nip both the bugs and the mildew that seems to be starting. Organicish enough.

$20 and it makes 6 gallons which should last me a while, we'll see how it goes. I don't think my mini blue hubbards are going to make it, pests have wreaked havoc on them.

 

[buckabucka]

Has anyone had any experience with fixing leg problems for a hen? This hen has always had kind of a wide stance, but it seems to be getting wider, like a splayed leg, and she is pigeon toed. She gets around okay, but if this keeps progressing, that won't be the case. I'm not really sure what to do for her. If it was a chick, I'd put her legs closer together with bandaids. It's like her legs aren't connected to her hip properly. Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I have one with terrible arthritis. Toes are all bent, and keep getting worse. She majorly hobbles, but she's happy. It got worse last winter, to the point where I contemplated a few times just putting her down. When I came for her, she was spry enough to tell me she wasn't ready, yet. This summer has been pretty good to her, she's not as stiff and I'm glad I didn't cull her, yet. She's 8ish, so not sure how much longer she'll make it.
I know it's not the same situation, but for me, short of culling, there's not much I can do.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I just harvested 99 heads of garlic. They're on my official podunk drying rack (an old screen from a porch door) in the basement for the next 2 weeks.



Anyone who got garlic from me last year, how did it do?