Fishing Line Deer Fence Installed

At a Sunday garden party, we installed a new fishing line fence that we hope will keep those pesky critters out and let our vegetables grow.

We used 8 foot steel posts from Tractor Supply and 20 lb test fishing line.

Pollinator and Pest Research in our Garden This Summer

I met two women lurking (in the nicest way) around our garden last week and struck up a conversation. Turns out they are doing an insect study in project grow gardens this summer in order to learn more about pests and pollinators.

As we talked about the various pests we've experienced in our garden over the last 5 (could it be 5?) years, I mentioned the squash beetles, cutworms, potato beetles, Japanese beetles and more - some of which i've documented in this blog.

I've given them enthusiastic permission to study my plot. Are any of the rest of you interested in doing the same? I think it would be fascinating to have a more scientific read on what we've got living in our garden and perhaps to see if there is variation between our plots.

Here's a flyer describing the project.

Squash Bugs and their Eggs

I noticed squash bugs on our pumpkins and yellow squash this week. They appear to be mating and laying eggs. Word on the web is that these critters are hard to battle.

The squash bugs really did a number - especially late season - on our squash and pumpkins last year.

I read that beneficial nematodes could help, so this year we got a can of them and spread them around with dirt, mulch and water hoping that they'd do the trick. So far, not.

This week they seem to be mating and laying eggs, so we're going with the thought that we can slow them down by catching them and sending them down the toilet. We're also peeling their eggs off of the leaves. Last night we got about 20 of the critters. Tonight the count was 7.

Here's what they look like (notice the eggs in the top right on a leaf):

Beetles are Turning Beans to Swiss Cheese

I found about 5 beetles of two types on my pole bean plants this evening. A long standing mystery solved tonight with a headlamp and a little patience. I brought them home in a milk jug for further inspection and a soapy bath.

I'm not sure how to repel them. Diatomaceous earth doesn't bother these hard shell guys. It could be that pulling them off and letting the beans grow faster will do the trick. Rob from Garden Works was telling me that usually the bean plants grow fast enough to outrun the damage, but this spring has seen some cool nights which slows growth. I've also read some about planting companion plants to repel or confuse beetles, but will have to read more - or hear comments.

Didn't Neil Young sing "I've seen the beetle and the damage done..."

All the beetles...

A small one...

A big one..

Bean leaf damage..

Evening Pest Patrol

Last night I found no cutworms, but a new hungry creature that likes to munch on the cabbage family of plants. I found 11 and removed them. They are likely May beetles, also called June bugs or June beetles. Reading up on them, I suspect that the flashlight may actually have attracted them as they often go to lights at night. However, I think given their size and the kind of eating they do, they have been enjoying our plants on other nights as well. Next time I go on night patrol, I will use the flashlight very sparingly and check for these before I leave. For more info, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllophaga_(genus)

Jeannine

Bluebirds, Cutworms and Frogs

The gardens are looking great! The transplants are recovered from the shock and the seeds are sprouting. Rain is wonderful!

Just a few other observations/notes:

Bluebirds! Often I hear them when I up at the garden. Sunday evening while Dale and I had a picnic dinner up there, a flash of blue arrived... a brilliant male bluebird. For 10-15 minutes it hunted insects from the it's perch on the fence along the west side of the garden, sometimes swooping to gradb one on the inside of the garden and sometimes on the outside.

Other insect pest control: I have set up a birdbath in our garden to attract birds. A toad about the size of a small adult fist showed up in our garden. I made a shelter and a provide a small bowl of water for it. Hopefully it will stay and patrol the entire garden.

Cutworms: Yes, they are here and the damage shows they are an equal opportunity cutter!! They like both tillied and non-tilled areas. I saw evidence of them in Maria's, Basantas', Brushs' and our garden. Here is a helpful website with ideas. I did dig around our cut plant and found the culprit. I am heading up to the garden to put toothpicks next to each of our bean stems sine I was not able to find the culprit there. If you say it is OK, I would check in anyone's garden around a damaged plant.
http://www.weekendgardener.net/garden-pests/cutworm-050805.htm

Happy gardening!
Jeannine

Fence, Gate and the Start of the Season

A hearty crew came out this evening after a one day rain delay on installing the fence. It was much easier this year after all the cyphering last year in figuring out what to get. This year we just put it in.

A few gardeners have also started their plots, despite the cold temperatures.