What did you do in the garden today?

[lazy gardener]

I set out a couple of traps every year. Can dump lots of beetles for the chickens to "dunk for beetles". Gives them a nice protein boost. I know "they say" that putting out traps makes the problem worse. But, I don't think so. Add chickens to the mix, and all those beetles you trap, that get eaten don't live to lay a single egg. Over time, it has to have an effect, and I've found it to be true in my yard. I also allow trap plants to grow around the periphery of my yard. They LOVE wild primrose. I then use an ammonia bottle (cut off to make a scoop) with a plastic bag attached to the mouth of the bottle and scoop/knock the beetles off the trap plants. They fall into the bag before they get a chance to react. Can collect about a pint several times/day, if I have the time to do it. Again, every single one of those beetles collected and fed to the chickens will not produce a next generation of grubs/beetles. They are easiest to catch in late afternoon, early morning, and on rainy days.

 

[GardenNut]

I set out a couple of traps every year.  Can dump lots of beetles for the chickens to "dunk for beetles".  Gives them a nice protein boost.  I know "they say" that putting out traps makes the problem worse.  But, I don't think so.  Add chickens to the mix, and all those beetles you trap, that get eaten don't live to lay a single egg.  Over time, it has to have an effect, and I've found it to be true in my yard.  I also allow trap plants to grow around the periphery of my yard.  They LOVE wild primrose.  I then use an ammonia bottle (cut off to make a scoop) with a plastic bag attached to the mouth of the bottle and scoop/knock the beetles off the trap plants.  They fall into the bag before they get a chance to react.  Can collect about a pint several times/day, if I have the time to do it.  Again, every single one of those beetles collected and fed to the chickens will not produce a next generation of grubs/beetles.  They are easiest to catch in late afternoon, early morning, and on rainy days.

Well I may have to try those suggestions. Yeah stopped using the traps years ago, but this year I have chickens! Hopefully they'll eat them. Picky girls won't eat worms!

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: With out a winter cold enough to kill any of the bugs off here we are over run with everything! I sure wish I could turn my chickens loose to eat them all.
If I still had my turkey I could. My dogs would get the chickens but they were leery of my turkey. lol

 

[lazy gardener]

We didn't get a lot of snow cover this year. So, while the weather was milder, the open ground may have been harder on the insects. Haven't seen as many as usual. I'm tempted to hang a trap in my run. The only thing that keeps me from doing so is fear that somehow the trap will fall, or the pheromone bait will fall and get eaten. But, I bet the chickens would hang out under it all day. An other good thing to do, is put a bucket of water, or even a larger container under an outside light. Lots of bugs end up going swimming every night, and can then be dumped for chicken snacks. I have a little green tree frog who likes to hang out on the screen by my computer. It's fun to watch him scaling up and down the screen at night, snagging moths.

 

[chickadoodles]

Frogs can be fun to watch.
I will try a bucket of water under the the light. Thanks.
I was spraying around the base of the house for bugs and fleas. But I stopped in fear that it might get my bees. So I have not sprayed in about 3 years.
So now we have tons bugs everywhere. I might have to spray this year. Ugh

 

[herfrds]

Lost all of my green beans I planted to cut worms.

Going to get more seed and start over. Going top dust for them first.
DD and I spent most of the day pulling weeds out of the garden. So nice here right now not too hot and not too cold.
All the hail storms have either gone north or south of us; knocking on wood!

 

[chickadoodles]

Lost all of my green beans I planted to cut worms.

Going to get more seed and start over. Going top dust for them first.
DD and I spent most of the day pulling weeds out of the garden. So nice here right now not too hot and not too cold.
All the hail storms have either gone north or south of us; knocking on wood!

Sorry about your beans.

I have been having lot's of problems with pest's also.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Here too i figured out they are bean leaf beetles here. I lost my first planting, trying to save my second.

 

[country girl44]

In my garden I have tomatoes that are finally flowering, since it's been pretty cold up by me, it's taken everything a little longer to start growing. I have corn, two rows, that are there finally getting tall. I have green sweet peppers, and watermelons and strawberries. I'm new here, so still working on how to post pictures but when I find out how I will. I have cucumbers for the second year, as I did great last year, but I'm keeping them in my greenhouse cause they love the heat. They are also flowering. Every Saturday I pull weeds if need be, and then I water if needed. it's a lot of work, but also great to have.

 

[chickadoodles]

In my garden I have tomatoes that are finally flowering, since it's been pretty cold up by me, it's taken everything a little longer to start growing. I have corn, two rows, that are there finally getting tall. I have green sweet peppers, and watermelons and strawberries. I'm new here, so still working on how to post pictures but when I find out how I will. I have cucumbers for the second year, as I did great last year, but I'm keeping them in my greenhouse cause they love the heat. They are also flowering. Every Saturday I pull weeds if need be, and then I water if needed. it's a lot of work, but also great to have.

It sounds like you have a nice variety.
Love growing fresh food.