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Post by spuds on Jun 14, 2013 12:03:08 GMT -6
This is a sad day. I found an adult squash bug and eggs on my plants. There are also a lot of lady squash beetles which I've never had before. Why would squash bugs go to the trouble of crawling up the straw bales to eat my squash? Last year I tried everything to control them and nothing worked so I'm thinking of setting these bales on fire and never growing squash again. You know,some of us just cant grow certain things,squash,cucumbers,hopeless here,just wont work.After trying several seasons I gave up too,instead this went looking for things that DO grow,and adjusting my expectations.Only tomatoes and peas were a guaranteed producer here,so it was start experimenting. BOF,try some container things,I think you and I will both like the outcomes.Mine are just crazy beautiful so far.Seemed to me it was stupid to do so when you have dirt,but doggone it,its working in some applications with radishes and carrots,both that I just cant get to grow in dirt here,go figure! |
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Post by jack on Jun 15, 2013 1:58:36 GMT -6
Gidday
I have no idea what-so-ever about your weather and growing conditions up there so can only say what I have had experience with down here.
We don't have no such thing as a squash bug, but most bugs I spot get squashed anyway.
And yes, I agree that some people and some places can only grow certain plants successfully. Like we caint grow no corn here.
But hey, don't just give up altogether, you can grow most anything in straw bails so next time try something you know will grow in your area.
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Post by BestoFour on Jun 17, 2013 8:47:51 GMT -6
For years I grew squash without bugs BUT I had my garden in a different spot SO I'm not sure if it's location, since I've moved the squash to straw bales this year, or climate. I have never had lady squash beetles before though. Never even heard of them. I thought rotating areas would be a good thing. All that said, I went out Saturday morning, cut off every leaf that looked the least bit peaked, removed every lady beetle I saw and removed 4 adult squash bugs. Today I didn't see any adults or eggs and saw only 3 lady beetles. Maybe I can keep them under control. My dad is going to build me some raised beds so next year we'll see how the squash does.
Jack, it's nice not to have these bugs. Everything I read said that even toxic pesticides won't kill them.
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Post by BestoFour on Jun 17, 2013 8:52:34 GMT -6
PS. Spuds, every single seed my grandson planted germinated and I didn't have room in the squash bales so I do have 2 squash plants in a container. There are flowers but no fruit so far. I also planted what was tagged as a patio tomato in a container which is gigantic and producing great tasting tomatoes. Guess the person in charge of plant tagging doesn't know a patio from a full sized garden.  |
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Post by spuds on Jun 17, 2013 12:34:50 GMT -6
 PS. Spuds, every single seed my grandson planted germinated and I didn't have room in the squash bales so I do have 2 squash plants in a container. There are flowers but no fruit so far. I also planted what was tagged as a patio tomato in a container which is gigantic and producing great tasting tomatoes. Guess the person in charge of plant tagging doesn't know a patio from a full sized garden.
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Post by jack on Jun 18, 2013 1:22:52 GMT -6
Gidday
BestoFour, I am wondering just what you are calling a lady beetle. If it is like we have down here that we call a ladybird, then it is a very good insect to have in the garden cos they live just to eat aphids.
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Post by BestoFour on Jun 18, 2013 11:21:14 GMT -6
It looks a lot like a ladybug only bigger and a little more yellow. At first I thought it was ladybugs but they leave a lace pattern on leaves as they eat them. I looked them up online and they don't eat aphids they eat leaves.
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Post by jack on Jun 19, 2013 2:23:50 GMT -6
Gidday
Well I just dunno.
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Post by Compost Pharmer on Jun 20, 2013 16:50:37 GMT -6
Is it possible for you to post a picture of the bug? It will make it easier to identify.
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Post by BestoFour on Jun 20, 2013 20:38:19 GMT -6
I'll take a picture but if you Google lady squash beetle you'll see a picture.
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Post by BestoFour on Jun 24, 2013 8:33:14 GMT -6
Even with the bugs we've gotten tons of squash. One of the plants gave up the ghost. I didn't see any squash bugs or eggs or signs of bores or anything on this plant but it looked withered so I got rid of it Friday and planted 2 squash seeds in it's place to see what would happen. This morning they've already broken ground. I'm going to put Diatomaceous Earth on the straw bale and see if it keeps the bugs away. All ideas are welcomed.
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Post by kansasterri on Jun 24, 2013 17:48:56 GMT -6
My carrot seeds all failed in the bales fo straw, but then I noticed that even when the rain was falling every day the top dried out very quickly. Capping it with soil did not help. Dibbling in the carrots did not help.
The only thing that DID work for me was going to large seeds! I now have many healthy cucumbers up and growing!
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Post by BestoFour on Jun 25, 2013 5:57:03 GMT -6
Interesting. I haven't had a problem keeping the bales moist. Did you put your bales out and let them sit a while before you planted?
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Post by jack on Jun 26, 2013 3:35:37 GMT -6
Gidday
I had really great success with carrots. Some of the best carrots I have ever grown.
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Post by BestoFour on Jul 2, 2013 13:17:44 GMT -6
My friend tried straw bales one year and had terrible luck. She planted several different things, not just one vegetable like I've done, and she said nothing did well.
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Post by kansasterri on Jul 21, 2013 15:47:39 GMT -6
The cucumbers are still doing well. I really think it is a problem with dryness. The larger seeds can be planted more deeply than the small seeds can.
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Post by BestoFour on Jul 21, 2013 21:35:56 GMT -6
We've had lots of rain so I've been fortunate. Do the cukes taste great because the squash sure does.
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Post by jack on Jul 22, 2013 1:40:20 GMT -6
Gidday
And after all why do you grow your own veges? To get great taste Eh!
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Post by BestoFour on Aug 10, 2013 20:20:15 GMT -6
I pulled up 2 more squash plants the other day. They looked pitiful and had not had any blooms for a while so I planted cucumbers seeds in one bale and squash again in the other. We'll see what happens this late in the planting season. The 2nd batch of squash I planted is going strong.
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Post by Compost Pharmer on Aug 15, 2013 19:49:48 GMT -6
My squash plants are starting to die as well. Think it is from the heat and lack of rain.  |
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Post by BestoFour on Aug 16, 2013 9:36:54 GMT -6
I certainly haven't had a lack of rain. Do vegetable plants just run their course and then stop producing? I haven't had a cucumber bloom in a while now even though we've had sun and rain.
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Aug 17, 2013 4:33:57 GMT -6
I certainly haven't had a lack of rain. Do vegetable plants just run their course and then stop producing? I haven't had a cucumber bloom in a while now even though we've had sun and rain. depends on the type of cucumber planted...Vining will produce till frost.. If, harvested frequently ...Any cucumbers left on the vine too long will plant slow or stop productivity. so, if for any reason you missed one..and now have a Zeppelin hidden out der somewhere..it's producing seed..signaling the plant to send all it's energy into that maturing cuke..or the plant has completed it's purpose.. Bush cucumber plants produce their fruit all at once. so although you have a vine..you have no, or few flowers...it's done when the vine starts withering Most vegetable plants, including beans, cucumbers, squash, peppers and eggplant, will stop producing if not harvested frequently. Too little rain/moisture will cause vegetables to stop producing.. erratic weather can do the same.. Now, You say you have had LOTS of rain... Too much water can actually rot the roots from drowning them..and can leach the nutrients/fertilizers from the soil (depending on your soil type..Sandy soil...you may need a BOOST clay or heavy soils..still..depends on the amount and frequency of rains. other factors can be the cause too Sheri...give Us more info and we will try to "POP" some blooms on your veggies  |
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Post by BestoFour on Aug 17, 2013 20:18:12 GMT -6
It has rained the last 3 days so I haven't even been to the garden. I had blooms and fruit on everything but the cucumbers last time I checked. I harvest daily or every other day usually. Fruit isn't usually left on the vine. I don't think mine were bush cukes but how can I tell since they grown on a vine.
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Post by jack on Aug 17, 2013 22:31:55 GMT -6
Gidday
Hey Fil, that was an excellent post.
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Post by Compost Pharmer on Aug 19, 2013 16:20:32 GMT -6
Hay, If you have any extra rain, please send it my way. I have had a grand total of 1 inch, since some time in July. Wonder if this drought will ever end? The lake is down to 52%, and dropping more every day. Need some of these rain...  's |
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Post by BestoFour on Aug 19, 2013 20:51:51 GMT -6
Sorry about that Compost Pharmer. It's rained here since Friday and is supposed to rain again tomorrow.
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Post by kansasterri on Aug 20, 2013 8:26:24 GMT -6
It was finally my turn to use the library book on straw bale gardening, and I see right off one mistake that o made! When I piled dirt on top I did not make it NEARLY thick enough!
This might be why the soil cap dried out so quickly, and why the small seeds failed.
The larger seeds that I used (cucumbers) are doing very well. The plants have started to yield and the vines are starting to run on the fence.
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Post by BestoFour on Aug 20, 2013 17:46:51 GMT -6
Interesting kansasterri because I didn't use much dirt either. I dug a little hole, put in some potting soil and added the seed. Less than 1/2 cup I'd say.
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Post by jack on Aug 21, 2013 2:11:59 GMT -6
Gidday
Like I said in my original post, " the only care after planting is keeping it watered."
Don't just rely on rainfall because the straw bales are up off the ground so they are more exposed to drying out and that will kill off any plants because life needs water.
Even in Texas Eh Compost Farmer.
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Post by Compost Pharmer on Aug 21, 2013 14:47:25 GMT -6
That is correct Jack. Probably more so here in Texas, with the lack of rain.
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