Your 2024 Garden

[Sally PB]

My cucamelons are going gangbusters. So I thought I'd dehydrate some.

They are tough and chewy and have lost their flavor.

Ok, scratch that idea off the list. Oh well. It was worth trying, anyway.

 

[Nomadicus]

I've been trimming down what I want to plant next year based on what was worth the effort this year in terms of time, money spent, and labor. Especially bending and stooping labor. The main go to things I know on the list will be summer peas, pole beans, tomatoes, and okra. I think we will buy our sweet corn in the tubes, beets already pickled, and trade for some sweet potatoes at the farmers market with some of our pole beans. I will plant Poblano and maybe 3 jalapeno peppers, and 2 cayenne plants. I don't think the Irish potatoes are worth doing again unless I know the fire ants are gone. I had to trim a third of my sweet potato on my plate tonight off because of fire ants.

 

[NanaK]

Moved these outside to start hardening off then they will be planted in the garden.

Broccoli, Cabbage and Collards

 

[NanaK]

I had to trim a third of my sweet potato on my plate tonight off because of fire ants.

Fire ants! Ouch! I do hate them!

Target practice, maybe?

 

[Nomadicus]

Fire ants! Ouch! I do hate them!

Target practice, maybe?

I wonder if the shock waves from firing a high powered rifle right into the mound would decimate a few hundred thousand ants. Hopefully the queen.

 

[Sally PB]

I wonder if the shock waves from firing a high powered rifle right into the mound would decimate a few hundred thousand ants. Hopefully the queen.

I want to know if this works....

I don't have a high powered rifle. Would a .357 with a hunting load work?

 

[NanaK]

I wonder if the shock waves from firing a high powered rifle right into the mound would decimate a few hundred thousand ants. Hopefully the queen.

I want to know if this works....

I don't have a high powered rifle. Would a .357 with a hunting load work?

I was thinking shot gun.
Pellets go where they may.

 

[Nomadicus]

What would matter is the energy released when the bullet mushrooms out. The speed and weight and design of the bullet determines the energy released and that would be what would kill the ants. Years ago in my watermelon garden at the end of the season when they wouldn't sell I took three deer rifles down to the patch for target practice with them. At 20' the Win 243 left a little meat and a few chunks of rind. My 270 left not much and the 338 win mag left no trace. Wish now I still had that 338 win mag for garden fire ant destruction. I have a gut feeling it would leave an open crater and any and left alive would have severe brain damage and crawl off and hide.

 

[NanaK]

What would matter is the energy released when the bullet mushrooms out. The speed and weight and design of the bullet determines the energy released and that would be what would kill the ants. Years ago in my watermelon garden at the end of the season when they wouldn't sell I took three deer rifles down to the patch for target practice with them. At 20' the Win 243 left a little meat and a few chunks of rind. My 270 left not much and the 338 win mag left no trace. Wish now I still had that 338 win mag for garden fire ant destruction. I have a gut feeling it would leave an open crater and any and left alive would have severe brain damage and crawl off and hide.

I bet you planted lots of watermelon seed that day.

 

[Nomadicus]

I bet you planted lots of watermelon seed that day.

I can guarantee that they were not in neat rows and covered at the right depth.