Gardening Thread 2021

farmerjan said:
Since I don't have a garden this year, I hadn't heard but do you think it has to do with the weather now... getting more rain?
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Not sure, it has been pretty dry out there. But my garden stays borderline wet. I have drip irrigation that turns on for 20 minutes 4 times a day which is a lot more than most people run it.

I have heard that the eggs are in the bed it's self so they shouldn't be getting a lot of differences in water. We have had a few flash floods out there lately though.
 
This is the first I'm seeing of the hornworms this year and they're kind of small like they haven't hatched to long ago. Barely could make out the white stripes on the side but that horn sure sticks out.
Funny how stuff changes. Always had potato beetles, and cabbage moth worms.
First time I saw a hornworm didn't know what it was, probably in my thirties. Now stink bugs and hornworms.
Honestly cannot remember last time I had potato bugs.
This year, since the screech owls moved in I haven't lost any tomatoes to squirrels. Last year they stole every Roma tomato I had. I even box trapped a couple didn't matter. Little owl is my new best buddy.
Squirrels had gotten so bad I don't bother with corn or pumpkins. Sunflowers I had to hide where they were planted.
 
I usually have Summer Tanagers, pretty red birds that haunt the tomatoes and eat the hornworms. I was so late with my garden this year, no hornworms and no Tanagers. Tanagers peck the tomatoes too, so I just pick them a little early.
 
Cardinals peck at mine usually when it's really hot and dry. I keep the bird bath changed and full, can't swear that it helped. The male is usually the one I see. I don't think they do me any favors but they nest close, sometimes get to see young ones.
 
R2elk said:
I wiped out my tomato hornworms by putting praying mantis egg cases in the garden. Haven't had any tomato hornworms in years. I do get an occasional grape hornworm.
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Are praying mantises good for grasshoppers? I have millions of those things. Got 2 old hens working the jungle that masquerades as a garden, to eat the grasshoppers.
 
Baymule said:
Are praying mantises good for grasshoppers? I have millions of those things. Got 2 old hens working the jungle that masquerades as a garden, to eat the grasshoppers.
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The claim is that Blister beetles eat grasshopper eggs. Turkeys (if they aren't broody) are super good for grasshopper control. The praying mantises don't do much for grasshopper control.

When there is a really bad year, I use Eco Bran. I can get it at a really reasonable price from our local County Weed & Pest. It is probably higher now but 2 years ago I got a 50 lb. sack from them for $25.
 
R2elk said:
The claim is that Blister beetles eat grasshopper eggs. Turkeys (if they aren't broody) are super good for grasshopper control. The praying mantises don't do much for grasshopper control.

When there is a really bad year, I use Eco Bran. I can get it at a really reasonable price from our local County Weed & Pest. It is probably higher but 2 years ago I got a 50 lb. sack from them for $25.
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I had thousands of blister beetles in the garden last year. This year I have had very few grasshoppers around. Of course it didn't hurt that there have been a couple of Wild Turkey hens move, one of which was never broody this year.
 
IMG_20210902_153916.jpg
Planted these in front of my compost.
My pictures don't do them justice.
Missed out on all the bad weather from Ida. There was a big tornado over in Dorchester cty. came down in a big field so nothing bad happened. Best part is after 2 months of humidity and hot the temp is in the low 70's humidity in the 50's. I have shut off the a/c and opened windows.
Now I hear the cicadas...:barnie
 
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