What did you do in the garden today?

[CatInTheHenHouse]

It was hot today so I watered again. Also harvested a few pods of leaf lettuce seeds that were ready - I accidentally walked in on five turkeys and a groundhog in the backyard in the process. The turkeys barely noticed me but the groundhog took off running.

 

[Eagle343]

Pictures of the rain garden, also made two batches of meat loaf of which most went into the freezer for the time being.

 

[Smokerbill]

I checked out the cucumber vines, pruning off a few leaves and suckers. Three were ready to pick so I got them.

I saw a dark grayish/black beetle on a leaf and crushed it, then found these eggs on the underside of a leaf.

Does anybody know what might have laid these eggs???

 

[Nym]

Some cool vegie chopping tips!

 

[Sally PB]

Honestly, I was thinking about spinosad... A natural soil bacteria that is lethal to some insects but not others. I was wondering if there are similar bacteria which could be deadly to varroa mites but harmless to bees and their larva. Maybe this is one area where agentic AI could prove beneficial... However, from the reading I've been doing, I understand why treating for mites is so difficult. Once they are attached to a host, it's essentially too late and being able to infect the mites BEFORE they attach to a host is astronomically unlikely apparently.

I don't know why I'm so committed to trying to find a solution to this problem. I don't have bees and know very little about beekeeping but they are such a critical cog in the ecosystem of life that I can't help but try...

There are two places mites attack. One is on the honeybee itself (called "phoretic") and the other is in a cell on developing brood.

There are two main kinds of chemical treatments: Formic acid, and oxalic acid.

Formic acid kills mites in the brood cells even after the cells are capped, as well as the phoretic mites. It can be used when there are honey supers on (the vapors will fill the hive, so it's important to know if your treatment is safe to use when there is honey in it). It's easy to put on, doesn't require any special safety gear (any more than you'd wear when you're dealing with the bees), and is reasonably priced.

But. You knew there was a "but," right? There is an upper temperature limit of 85° F for at least the first week, and ideally the entire 14-21 days. Well, that ain't a'happenin' thing right about now in most of the country. If it's above that temp, you risk killing bees with the vapors and if you kill the queen, you have a new problem.

The other treatment, oxalic acid, does not kill mites inside of capped brood cells, so it only gets the phoretic mites. No temperature restrictions. But (this one has a "but" as well), you shouldn't use it with honey supers on. Or, it's ok with honey supers on. Depends on who you ask. Clear on that? Depending on how the OA is applied, it is either fairly simple and inexpensive, or expensive and you need a respirator.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yeah, she went totally skittish after the hatch for some reason and on top of this development my favorite hen that absolutely ‘loves’ me is at odds with the new peeps AND she squats for me as though she thinks I’m going to be doing some ‘roostering’ with her.

No rain here - but they are predicting some by Tuesday night.

My trees need it, I have been watering
My fruit trees, always feast or famine here. Last year too much rain, last winter record snowfalls, Spring lots of rain…. Summer ? Hot humid and no rain. And lots of wildfires and smoke.

Mother Nature has gone off the rails!

 

[Nym]

Honestly, I was thinking about spinosad... A natural soil bacteria that is lethal to some insects but not others. I was wondering if there are similar bacteria which could be deadly to varroa mites but harmless to bees and their larva. Maybe this is one area where agentic AI could prove beneficial... However, from the reading I've been doing, I understand why treating for mites is so difficult. Once they are attached to a host, it's essentially too late and being able to infect the mites BEFORE they attach to a host is astronomically unlikely apparently.

I don't know why I'm so committed to trying to find a solution to this problem. I don't have bees and know very little about beekeeping but they are such a critical cog in the ecosystem of life that I can't help but try...

 

[jxp]

I checked out the cucumber vines, pruning off a few leaves and suckers. Three were ready to pick so I got them.

I saw a dark grayish/black beetle on a leaf and crushed it, then found these eggs on the underside of a leaf.

Does anybody know what might have laid these eggs???

View attachment 4194335View attachment 4194336View attachment 4194337

Looks like squash bug eggs to me.

 

[OnlySympathy]

I ripped out the last of my black turtle beans. I mixed in some new soil and now have another a 5 gallon grow bag that I need something to do with. Maybe more peas? Or beets? Or a cucumber? Or… you get the point I am indecisive
I also watered the peppers and got some more dry beans

 

[Sally PB]

I picked some beans for dinner. I also picked some ripe tomatoes and canned 4 quarts. I picked some not-quite-ripe ones, so that the soldier beetles don't get them!