What did you do in the garden today?

[Acre4Me]

You can come visit us, we’ll be 102 today

I LOVE a dry heat. I did visit Vegas in June 2017 when they were breaking heat records , and it was HOT!! I had prepped with light/white clothing for regular things and had UV clothing (pants and long sleeves and light straw hat) for the outdoor tours. I’ve lived in E WA too -high dry dessert, and loved it. However, months on end of intense sun and heat is another thing altogether! 102 sounds good for a day or two.

 

[igorsMistress]

I wonder.... all of us with seasonal allergies ~ Has anyone tried local, raw honey? I've heard it can help.

I have and no it hasn’t worked for me. I imagine it could be hit or miss, depends on what they gather pollen from and whether or not you’re allergic to that particular thing.

 

[igorsMistress]

I LOVE a dry heat. I did visit Vegas in June 2017 when they were breaking heat records , and it was HOT!! I had prepped with light/white clothing for regular things and had UV clothing (pants and long sleeves and light straw hat) for the outdoor tours. I’ve lived in E WA too -high dry dessert, and loved it. However, months on end of intense sun and heat is another thing altogether! 102 sounds good for a day or two.

You did great prep work for the heat, glad you took the precautions!

I agree it’s not horrific for a few days but when it lasts for months it’s brutal and makes us all grumpy.

 

[LifeSimpleAndSweet]

So, since I've not had any trouble so far, prevention is where I'm focusing.

1. Set out SVB traps. Bright yellow with a little soapy water to drown the boogers.
2. Have some BT ready to go. I had to do some study on this. "Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a strain of bacteria that is used to harm squash vine borers and other pests. This can be applied as a spray on the exterior. Injecting Bt directly into a squash plant's vine is the fastest way to control the problem."
3. Wood ash seems to help, but my soil is already on the high ph side.


Here are some intercropping ideas

https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/vegetables/companion-planting-for-squash

Oh, my word. I haven't got time today for rabbit trails like this!

 

[igorsMistress]

I had really good luck with toothpicks. They do less damage to the plant. I would just stick the toothpick through the stem and worm, leave in place, and walk away. I used a flashlight to see where it was inside the stem without cutting anything.

Last year I didn't do anything to try to stop them, same with the regular squash bugs...I just enjoyed my harvest until they won. I still had the resistant plants in the end.
This year I planted a big assortment and plan to just see what happens again without aggressively trying to stop them. I may make a video showing how to use the toothpick method first though.

It's simple to do as long as you don't mind a bunch of toothpicks in your garden, lol.

I can picture you laying on the ground, fierce concentration in your eyes as you do that like you’re threading a sewing needle lol. Would love a video though so we know what we’re looking for!

 

[Acre4Me]

So, since I've not had any trouble so far, prevention is where I'm focusing.

1. Set out SVB traps. Bright yellow with a little soapy water to drown the boogers.
2. Have some BT ready to go. I had to do some study on this. "Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a strain of bacteria that is used to harm squash vine borers and other pests. This can be applied as a spray on the exterior. Injecting Bt directly into a squash plant's vine is the fastest way to control the problem."
3. Wood ash seems to help, but my soil is already on the high ph side.


Here are some intercropping ideas

https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/vegetables/companion-planting-for-squash

Oh, my word. I haven't got time today for rabbit trails like this!

Bt is GREAT on caterpillars -we use it on the green cabbage looper caterpillars. We have so many of those irritating white moths flying around all season (the egg laying adults). But, Bt does work well on caterpillars, however, they have to ingest the Bt for it to work - it keeps them from eating I think.

 

[Acre4Me]

You did great prep work for the heat, glad you took the precautions!

I agree it’s not horrific for a few days but when it lasts for months it’s brutal and makes us all grumpy.

Thanks! I’ll admit that the purchase of the straw hat occurred at the gift shop on the AZ side of Hoover dam. It was soooo hot and sunny it was imperative to have a hat and I was the only one without a hat (packed one for everyone else, but me).

 

[Jenbirdee]

so yesterday there was no lettuce at grocery stores, none at all. Therefore today I planted lots of lettuce seeds, in pots ~ because my garden still isnt ready for them

 

[Jenbirdee]

Bt is GREAT on caterpillars -we use it on the green cabbage looper caterpillars. We have so many of those irritating white moths flying around all season (the egg laying adults). But, Bt does work well on caterpillars, however, they have to ingest the Bt for it to work - it keeps them from eating I think.

what are the svb traps? (squash vine borer i assume but what do the traps look like?)

 

[fuzzi]

Thanks.

Yes, I’ve tried everything in the article, I think…well, except wrapping the stems.

The SVB are rather late here-late July when we begin to see them, and into Aug. the yellow bowls with soapy water are really effective at catching bugs-even some SVB. But…they were catching bees too beginning in mid-July. I’ll still use the bowls this year, but will remove them when bees start to die in greater numbers.

Trap crop: I specifically bought Hubbard seeds for this purpose. I was amazed that the butterCUP squash was the only thing hit by SVB until I removed them bc they were dead. Then they were hitting the patty pan. We had summer squash and pumpkins covered with insect netting, so they were not impacted.

I think I’ll try using pantyhose and foil as recommended for the pumpkins though. Might still cover the summer squash…or I’ll try the pantyhose/foil on them too.

I'm going to try this: