What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

I do absolutely nothing (even when it gets subzero temperature here) with my hollyhocks and they grow/multiply like weeds. I’m not even joking I had random ones start sprouting up in my yard away from the flower beds.

Here as well. They dont' care a wit that it's -32F, up they come where ever they want, each spring.

 

[Sueby]

No. But I might say something like, "Die you GD bug! Leave this zucchini and go to Hell!"

This had my dying! But it's so true. I've decided to come home every day or 2 over my vacation to hand pollinate instead of pulling the bug netting, even if I miss a couple female flowers. I vacuumed up 2 squash bugs & 1 cucumber beetle today on the uncovered squash. I can't deal with them, they gross me out. I'm only like 20 mins away, it'll be worth it.

I need a giant hoop house.

 

[Smokerbill]

What are those dark red-purplish flowers?

@fuzzi , those are poppies, var. Lauren's Grape, and they're supposed to be good for attracting pollinators. I got the seeds from Baker Creek.

 

[fuzzi]

@fuzzi , those are poppies, var. Lauren's Grape, and they're supposed to be good for attracting pollinators. I got the seeds from Baker Creek.

View attachment 3880046

Absolutely GORGEOUS.

 

[fuzzi]

The purslane attracts pollinators, too. That's a fly in the center blossom.

 

[jerryse]

@fuzzi , those are poppies, var. Lauren's Grape, and they're supposed to be good for attracting pollinators. I got the seeds from Baker Creek.

View attachment 3880046

They are opium poppies.

 

[jerryse]

I have no squash pests this year. I will not tell what I do. You would not approve, and I do not need the abuse. Do your research. I did

 

[chicken opey]

The squash bugs and vine borers are terrible here. I was told when I moved in by the neighbors that I had to either use heavy duty pesticides or forget about growing any squash. I started seedlings early indoors and over planting fully expecting some to be sacrifice plants. Last year I harvested almost 500lbs of zucchini and over 100 autumn frost squash.

The bugs were all at my house. I thought last year I could have been committed bc the insanity in numbers of them

 

[chicken opey]

I only have two squash plants left, and they're infested as well. I pulled up plant #3 and took it with me to the run. The hens clustered at my feet as I sliced open the vines and extracted the borers. After much hesitation Zack finally took a borer from my fingers!

I left the remaining leaves for the hens to pick through and find squash bug nymphs.

After harvesting more than I ever have I gave mine to the chickens to eat the bugs and it was very satisfying.

 

[Sueby]

Morning. I went out & trimmed my cucumbers like crazy. I don't normally, but the urge hit me. I was armed (lol, literally) with my new garden sleeve, that thing is awesome. I usually come in with rashes all over, not today! Tomorrow I do the spaghetti squash. That should help keep the powdery mildew at bay for a while.

I'll go back out at break & throw it all a little water.