Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

This is gonna be Bugmageddon this year, you can bet. I can tell you what the wine grape guys do, they get
jackson's chameleons and turn em loose in the vineyards. But they can't be everywhere, and once a wasp
gets that ovipositor in your vine, that's pretty much that, I guess. haven't gardened in decades, but I know
you guys are not fighting SHADOWS. Lizards and geckos and such is what you need, my boy. Get some
coon-a$$ friend or Florida pal to send you some Anoles.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I don't know my southern wasps because I've never lived down there, but up here we have the curicallo wasp. It lays it's eggs on the stamen of a fruit tree flower petal.
To kill those bastages, I always sprayed dormant oil at petal fall. It was a very short window that had to be hit, or no fruit. (Unless you like work-riddled fruit.)
There's not a bug in the world that a proactive plan won't take care of, or at least mitigate. Being it's gonna be Bugmageddon, I already started the mega-catch. It whacks all kinds of stuff besides mosquitos, and I can put whatever I want in the water dish to draw more bugs. Anything it takes to make a dent, ya know?
If it takes dusting all the vines with Diatomaceous Earth, I'd do that, too. If I have to spray vines with dormant oil, I'd do that.
Sometimes we can't just attack one part of the bug's life cycle, we might have to attack it at adult, larvae, and egg. I do whatever it takes.
I have a whole new biosphere of bugs here in Ohio, including tomato hornworms. Last year was "learn what you're dealing with" year. This year I already have a proactive plan in place to make sure I don't get destroyed, especially being as the bugs are going to be off the map crazy.
I'm going to plant a real garden and a lot more different plants, as well. Fortunately I took time to check out the critters in everyone else's gardens last year. :)

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Here's the grow-out stand. It has 6 fixtures, four different spectrums of bulbs on each level, and can handle 12 flats. It's all ready for Weeze to plant seed this evening, I even filled the starter trays.
I'm going to grow some tobacco and get back to work on my purple sunflowers. I found some 2004 seed for my purple sunflowers, so I'll only lose a few year's work. I'm super excited about seeing them again this year. :)

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/e99a71dd.jpg

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Yah I have had it for two years now, I have almost all of it gone finally.
I laid down fabric, luckily it was in a planter bed surrounded by concrete.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Well my garden (SFG) is doing well so far. I went ahead and started the bell peppers in cups and hope to have some ready for transplant in a couple weeks.

You guys have me concerned with all the bug talk. Here in FL we have a ton of bugs. And most of them I have never seen till I started gardening. On top of the bugs, we also have the killer heat. I am already getting some leaf curl from it.

I have used the product 'Garden Safe' for a while now and it has killed everything I hit with it. Reapplication is around 2 weeks. I hope it still works this growing season.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I'll keep an eye out for this "Garden Safe" of which thou speak!!!

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I had the sprinkler guy here tonight, we moved my fertizer injector out of the basement to a vault outside. I also picked up about three months worth of liquid fertilizer that'll take care of the lawn, garden, and flower beds. I can dump sevin and fungicide in the tank and do the whole property. It's sure gonna take the work out of this stuff. :)

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

They sell it at Lowes in a small spray bottle, but you can get a similar product which has the active ingredient Pyrethrin at most pest control places or online. I didn't think such a weak organic chemical could kill some of the pests I sprayed it on, but it did. It's also harvest day safe.

http://www.gardensafe.com/Products-a...ct-Killer.aspx

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Did you guys know Pyrethrin comes from Chrysanthemums? They still derive it from the seed cases. You'd think they'd be able to synthesize it by now, but they can't.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid. It doesn't break down as rapidly. I use it in mixture with sevin or diazinon to control scale and mealy bugs in the greenhouse. I take houseplants outside, spray them down soaking and leave them out for a day to get rid of pests on them.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I've had damn near zero luck with it, I used to use it and then I'd go right to malathion (neither of which I've used for years now). The only thing I can do with scale is to suffocate it with oil or soap. Can you expand on brand, how much you use per gallon, etc., Lance?
It'd sure make my life easier if I can get it to work for me. :tu

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

My FIL has enough veggies growing for all of us. We'll be tilling our garden and probably just do some perennials. The wife wants some jasmine on our columns. If I had my druthers, I'd put in a trellis and try my hand at some berries. May do the herbs again.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Blackberries or Rasberries, Jason?

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I just look for it in the ingredients of whatever. I use two different types of insecticide so if any buggers survive the one mechanism the other takes them out. Scale require a complete saturation of the plant and soil. Some plants seem to be more prone to attack. Those plants are invited to try to survive outside. ;)
I usually double what the instructions say for ornamentals. I only use Neem and soap on the veggies. Last year I got some weird beetles on the beets that I dusted with Sevin to make them go away. But that was a one time spot occurrence.
There are a lot of frogs and lizards and such in and around the greenhouse, so I take everything out, spray it all outside, clean the greenhouse out really well and put it all back. This is a two day job but seems to work.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I never had a scale problem in PA, but it was because I always sprayed all the fruit trees with dormant oil. I had a couple citrus trees that I grew inside, and when I took them outside they got covered. I fought with them until they ultimately succumbed.
I'll keep your instructions in mind just in case it becomes a problem here.
Thanks, brother!!! :tu

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Weeze and I got the seeds planted last night, finally. We're on our way for real!!! :tu

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Not sure yet. Have to see which grow best in warm weather. Probably raspberries.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Trying to clear out all those onions. I've been giving them away at work. About 50 more left. I can't believe how fast those radishes grow. I've got 3 more packs to stagger over the next few weeks. I've got a pound of ammonium nitrate and I'm betting it will go a long way into growing some awesome lettuce. So far so good on the garden.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I may start next weekend. We still have another round of winter storms coming this week.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I'll have to hold my breath a little next week. General cooling trend, with a possibility of frost one night. Predicted temps keep rising slightly, and frost risk lessened, but still there. And everything will be up and advanced if it happens. I'll just keep an eye on the forecast, and decide how to deal with it, if a frost seems probable.

As it is, everything is up and growing....... Except the cucumbers and squash. Zucchini hill has two plants up, but others are cubes and squash are still MIA. If nothing breaks ground by time possible frost is past, I'll go with some plant sets for these.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Well... I thought I would be alright from pests this year, but I forgot one of the bigger ones. It seems my soybeans have been taken out by a rabbit. Oh well, it only puts me 2 weeks behind schedule. But it does mean I need to put some fencing up now.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

The broccoli I started is hitting the lid in the starting tray already. I guess I need to transplant. Yay. :)

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

:tu

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I still haven't planted anything but I got out there today and worked. I pulled the latest weed crop and added compost to three of the nine boxes. The raspberries are taking over the box they are in so I will move the strawberries and let them have that box to themselves. I'm sure glad they are in a box. Potatoes are coming up in the potato box, of course. We will add more. The artichokes are starting to flower their first crop of the year. Everything in all the different areas around my house is starting to demand attention. The work is ramping up. Ow, my back.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Here's some pictures from this morning. My daughter and I picked a giant bowl of lettuce for supper. It was awesome! The radishes will be ready in another 1.5 weeks. I just planted another plot between the peppers this weekend. Everything is coming along well. The lettuce is really kicking right now. You could probably hear it growing.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...9/P1050187.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...9/P1050188.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...9/P1050191.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...9/P1050193.jpg

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Hi Jamie! Looks delicious. Is the rebar stuff new this year? I may adapt something like that.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Rebar is in my blood! My dad managed many construction sites in his career and he has stockpiles of #3 to #11 rebar all shapes and lengths. I use it in my garden and anywhere else I can. It's handy stuff and works great in the garden. It's #3 and 4 and straight, L and U-shaped. Great for securing tomato cages and trellises, too. Plus the rust gives the plants the iron they love. Other plus, it'll last a lifetime. Check around construction sites - they usually have lots of excess and scraps.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

25 days in and the lettuce comes up tomorrow, all but the Romaine. I'll keep a few heads to eat (I've already ate a truckload of leaf pickings) and I'll take the rest to work for several of my employees that I usually dump extra veggies on. I'm really impressed all 45 plants lived and matured. The radishes are maturing and the second crop is coming in. The peppers, cukes, and tomatoes are also doing fine. Trying to think about what I'll plant in place of the lettuce. Probably cherry tomatoes as my wife and kids eat them like candy. Here's a 4/1 picture and here's a few from this evening.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...9/P1050185.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...9/P1050233.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...9/P1050231.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...9/P1050232.jpg

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I'm so late. Now I'm going camping in the Sierras this weekend. I should be planting by May. Not that we've been getting any good growing weather. I'm wondering if I should even bother with tomatoes and squash.

Nice lettuce, Jamie. Do you have a Farmer's Market there? Those tomatoes look like monsters.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

We do have Farmer's Markets. I've hardly been to any. With my mom/dad's garden and my humble plot, we hardly ever want for fresh veggies. All my over-growth (and my dad's) go to friends, family, and co-workers. It's funny how a bag of lettuce or green beans puts a special smile on someone's face.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Any of you guys grow any herbs? I want to grow some basil and maybe some rosemary. Looking for some tips

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Full sun 6-8 hours, good drainage, just plant and enjoy.

Rosemary is a perennial. Plant it somewhere it can grow big, as it will with care.

http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/herbs/ne208hrb.htm

http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/herbs.html

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Jamie is right on the ball, Chip. I've grown my herbs where nothing else will grow because the drainage was so poor. They didn't care.
Take that with a grain of salt, though. Some herbaceous material can tolerate just about anything, others need good husbandry. I can think of a lot that can grow in a mud puddle, though. :)

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I got Lisa's flower bed planted full of wildflowers a couple weeks ago and they're all coming up great. It should be quite a display once I work in the osteospermum and impatiens and cosmos and tobacco and whatever else we started downstairs. It'll look like a unicorn threw up a rainbow. I usually don't like that kind of thing, but I'm looking forward to it :)
Our plants in the plant starting stand are in dire need of transplanting. I have the flats full of dirt and ready for transplanting, I just need to drag the woman down there and get it done.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Good luck with that.

http://assets2.wordansassets.com/wor...jpg?1329191550

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I had to break out sprinklers today for first time. All that early rain I had last year is MIA this year (so far).

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/...d/eba485ae.jpg

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/...d/cb6f22cf.jpg

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Third night in a row it's down to 22 here, and everything has started growing already. Christmas tree lights and trash bags over the Peonies, some of which already have buds. Hopefully everything else will be hardy enough. A few daffodils might not be too lucky.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

We bought one of those half whiskey barrels and planted them in there. Partial sun. Did well.

DO NOT plant cilantro with them. It will take over quick.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

We used to have cilantro come up yearly but it has been MIA since I went to boxes. Fresh parsley is garden candy.
I have to get a picture of my raspberries. It was one little plant last year and now it's a whole 4x6 box.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

http://blog.locustfork.net/wp-conten...oison_ivy3.jpg

Nope, I didn't plant it. And nope, I can't be around it. The bane of us highly sensitive gardeners. Poison Ivy. This sh$t has pestered me since I can remember being on this planet. I'm weed eating Saturday under a large palmetto with leaves drooped to the ground, just slinging weed debris everywhere. Then I see it...two feet high growing next to the trunk, so I backed out. Didn't want any part of it. I figured I'd spray it on the next lap around the property with Round Up. By yesterday afternoon, I have several patches coming to life, with a big patch under my bicep on my right arm. That means I have about another week of "guess where the next patch comes out." I truly despise this plant, above all others, in the flora kingdom. To boot, it's under my watch band.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Before I moved to PA, I had never really seen any poison. I was weed wacking once with shorts on and I must have really done a number on some poison, my legs prolly got sprayed with the juice as I chopped them. Felt like I was gonna loose my legs. It was soo gross after a day or two.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I've not worn shorts yet this summer and yet I have a large patch on the back of my thigh already. The stuff is the bane of my summer existence. I have to think April is the earliest I've gotten it though...

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Definitely sounds like you need a good day of Round-up spraying! I read somewhere that they now have a vaccine for Poison Oak/Ivy. Have you tried that?

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Cliff, I was reading about that. It still seems pretty new. Most write ups were from early April of this year. If it's real, I say give the inventor his billion and early retirement. I'll line up for the crazy kool aid. I was reading were people self-vaccinate by eating young leaves. Are the f'in crazy?? It would surely kill me. Also read where Round Up is only moderately effective. Thinking about painting the 36% concentrate on the leaves with a brush. I found several patches of it this afternoon when I got home.
I've swabbed down with vinegar twice since supper. It works a little better than nothing. There's also a new spot on my knee and on my ankle. I have some prescription triamcinolone from a few years ago and it slows down the itch. Hopefully I can stay on top of it and keep it manageable.
Eat it, my azz!!

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

I know personally that you can get immunity from it! My immunity (98%) comes from rolling around in a patch while fighting when I was in the 6th grade. I had it so bad I was outta school for a week and half, and had to take baths in medicine every night! After that episode, I (apparently) developed immunity. For 30 years, I could rub it all over me, and never get a bump. Now, I get into it, I get one or two bumps in one or two places. Maybe every 5 years, I get twice that much. Since immunity is apparently possible naturally, I have to assume it works on the vaccine. Everything I've seen indicates it works for most people! Maybe it would work for you. However, if I was you, and had your level of allergy to it, I'd be leery of any vaccine without strong research!!! Hope you get over your current bout quickly!

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Some people get MORE sensitive with each exposure.
I'm like you, I pick it by hand. As long as I wash up well after and I'm careful where I touch.
Bleach was what I used on the rash when I got it. Benadryl internally and cortisone topically works great. I think there is a cream ointment of those two drugs. Cortadryl or Bensidrone or something.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Fortunately, I'm completely immune to it. 2 years ago when we were camping, I figured I would test it. I rubbed the leaves all over my arms, even mushing it up and getting the juice on me. Nothing.

I'm pretty fortunate, I guess. Some people get crazy breakouts

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

No doubt about that. My dad could get 20 feet away and get the rash! Most of my brothers and sisters are somewhere between him and me.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

ok, so how well do herbs tolerate the heat? It gets hot here will be 90+ for the next 3 or 4 months. Not really a way to get full sunlight inside.

Re: Gardeners in the Asylum
 

Rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage and a bunch others are from hot climates.
Basil will bolt, bloom and die back, but you can keep it pinched.
Most love the heat.