We haven't grown squash in years but we do grow cucumbers, zucchini and melon. They used get attacked by the squash vine borer and the thing about these pest is you can't see them until it is to late...the first thing you will notice is wilted stems and leaves.
We have had very good luck getting rid of these pests by placing pieces of heavy aluminum foil 15-18 inches square around the base of each plant. The reflection seems to keep the borers away at least for a time.
I have never tried this but I have heard that if you do see some wilting you can look along the stem to see where the borer went in...the borer may not be far behind...cut the stem lengthwise just a little bit on both sides of the hole to see if you can find the borer and take it out. You still might lose the plant?
Happy Gardening...
Lynn
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Recipe for a Great Container Garden....
I have many herbs growing in pots all around my deck...I also love flowers. I really think it makes my deck look interesting to have many pots growing many things...I have rosemary, basil and mint growing in pots along with petunias and marigolds.
I love sitting outside enjoying the smells and the blooms from my many different plants. Don't forget about hanging basket plants...My husband always grows a few tomatoes in hanging baskets every year...the tomatoes are easier to get to and it is another fun conversational piece. I think next year we are going to try to grow strawberries that way to see if we can beat the slugs.
Here is a recipe that I use every year in my container gardens and you probably have all the ingredients in you home right now!
Container Recipe
2 tablespoons black coffee
1/2 cup unflavored gelatin
1/2 teaspoon baby shampoo (or cheap shampoo)
1/2 cup of ammonia
1 gallon of water
1 heaping scoop of compost
Mix together and pour on as needed.
Happy Gardening.....
Lynn
I love sitting outside enjoying the smells and the blooms from my many different plants. Don't forget about hanging basket plants...My husband always grows a few tomatoes in hanging baskets every year...the tomatoes are easier to get to and it is another fun conversational piece. I think next year we are going to try to grow strawberries that way to see if we can beat the slugs.
Here is a recipe that I use every year in my container gardens and you probably have all the ingredients in you home right now!
Container Recipe
2 tablespoons black coffee
1/2 cup unflavored gelatin
1/2 teaspoon baby shampoo (or cheap shampoo)
1/2 cup of ammonia
1 gallon of water
1 heaping scoop of compost
Mix together and pour on as needed.
Happy Gardening.....
Lynn
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Strange but Good....
We have been able to dig up many of our onions and this is one of my favorite recipes.....I hope you enjoy it!!!
Vegetable-Stuffed Baked Onions
8-10 medium onions peeled
4 strips bacon
3/4 cups carrots
1/2 cup sweet red pepper chopped finely
1-1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
3 tablespoons butter melted
1-1/2 teaspoons salt (less if you like)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3/4 beef broth
Cut 1/2 inch off top of onion and trim bottom to be able to sit flat...scoop out center leaving 1/2 in shell of onion. (Chop up rest of middle of onion to add to your stuffing mix)
Place onion shells in a square pan and cover with water..bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 8-10 minutes.
In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp...place bacon on paper towel and save 1 teaspoon drippings
In the bacon drippings saute onion, carrots, red pepper until tender...remove from heat stir in bread crumbs, parsley , butter, salt, pepper, and bacon.
Drain onion shells and fill with mixture...place in ungreased shallow baking dish. Pour beef broth over onions. Cover and baked at 350 for 45-50 minutes
Happy Gardening.....
Lynn
Vegetable-Stuffed Baked Onions
8-10 medium onions peeled
4 strips bacon
3/4 cups carrots
1/2 cup sweet red pepper chopped finely
1-1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
3 tablespoons butter melted
1-1/2 teaspoons salt (less if you like)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3/4 beef broth
Cut 1/2 inch off top of onion and trim bottom to be able to sit flat...scoop out center leaving 1/2 in shell of onion. (Chop up rest of middle of onion to add to your stuffing mix)
Place onion shells in a square pan and cover with water..bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 8-10 minutes.
In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp...place bacon on paper towel and save 1 teaspoon drippings
In the bacon drippings saute onion, carrots, red pepper until tender...remove from heat stir in bread crumbs, parsley , butter, salt, pepper, and bacon.
Drain onion shells and fill with mixture...place in ungreased shallow baking dish. Pour beef broth over onions. Cover and baked at 350 for 45-50 minutes
Happy Gardening.....
Lynn
Friday, June 19, 2009
Mom's Clematis Recipe
My mom has the most beautiful Clematis...I have been asking her to share what she has been using on it and she has finally told me....
My mom's Clematis Recipe:
5 gallons compost
1/2 cup lime
1/2 cup bone meal
Mix all the ingredients together and spreed over base of plant. She does this early spring every year.
My mom also cuts her Clematis back hard in the early spring to encourage lots of new growth...she told me she cuts the Clematis down to around 8 inches above the ground don't be afraid to do this you will reap many new blooms. *Early Bloomers* There are a few Clematis you shouldn't prune back and they are..Alpine and Anemone if you prune back early you will be cutting off there only buds.
My mom also said she cuts all dead growth and messy vines after blooming to prevent disease's that go into the soil.
I hope your Clematis will look as good as my moms next year!
Thank you Mom!!!
Happy Gardening...
Lynn
My mom's Clematis Recipe:
5 gallons compost
1/2 cup lime
1/2 cup bone meal
Mix all the ingredients together and spreed over base of plant. She does this early spring every year.
My mom also cuts her Clematis back hard in the early spring to encourage lots of new growth...she told me she cuts the Clematis down to around 8 inches above the ground don't be afraid to do this you will reap many new blooms. *Early Bloomers* There are a few Clematis you shouldn't prune back and they are..Alpine and Anemone if you prune back early you will be cutting off there only buds.
My mom also said she cuts all dead growth and messy vines after blooming to prevent disease's that go into the soil.
I hope your Clematis will look as good as my moms next year!
Thank you Mom!!!
Happy Gardening...
Lynn
Thursday, June 18, 2009
My Small List of Helpful Hints............
A small list of helpful hints......
1. Make sure onion necks are exposed to the sun and not covered by dirt...by harvest time they will be already be partly dried and ready for your root cellar.
2. Do you have trouble starting lettuce in the heat of summer try placing lettuce seeds in the refrigerator for a few days then plant. Place a little mulch, straw or hay over this and keep watered.
3. Do you have a shaded location in your garden bed? You can plant lettuce,spinach and mustard greens there.
4. When planting carrots add a little coffee to their soil this helps prevent root maggots
5. Are birds pulling out your corn plants? Save those milk and juice jugs cover seedlings until plants are big enough that the birds can't pull them out. I placed a small hole at the top about the size of a dime to vent it..I didn't want my corn to get to hot.
6. When I tie back my tomatoes I always use a piece of nylon stocking never an old rag remember the plant is going to grow and it will need something to be stretchy.
7. I try to plant my corn when my apple blossoms begin to fall (I haven't had time to do this... this year)
8. Cutworms: Protect your plants by adding a ring of cardboard, a tin can that has the top and bottom removed ( be careful doing this) My favorite and cheap way is a bathroom Dixie cup with the bottom removed.
9. Think about building a cold frame we use ours to harden off our plants and to keep lettuce a little longer (through the end of fall)
10. We have added chickens to our homestead this year we use the droppings in our compost bin and we enjoy eggs all year round. We only have 6 chickens on a 1 acre lot....so I think they are a perfect addition for a small gardener.
Happy Gardening.....
Lynn
1. Make sure onion necks are exposed to the sun and not covered by dirt...by harvest time they will be already be partly dried and ready for your root cellar.
2. Do you have trouble starting lettuce in the heat of summer try placing lettuce seeds in the refrigerator for a few days then plant. Place a little mulch, straw or hay over this and keep watered.
3. Do you have a shaded location in your garden bed? You can plant lettuce,spinach and mustard greens there.
4. When planting carrots add a little coffee to their soil this helps prevent root maggots
5. Are birds pulling out your corn plants? Save those milk and juice jugs cover seedlings until plants are big enough that the birds can't pull them out. I placed a small hole at the top about the size of a dime to vent it..I didn't want my corn to get to hot.
6. When I tie back my tomatoes I always use a piece of nylon stocking never an old rag remember the plant is going to grow and it will need something to be stretchy.
7. I try to plant my corn when my apple blossoms begin to fall (I haven't had time to do this... this year)
8. Cutworms: Protect your plants by adding a ring of cardboard, a tin can that has the top and bottom removed ( be careful doing this) My favorite and cheap way is a bathroom Dixie cup with the bottom removed.
9. Think about building a cold frame we use ours to harden off our plants and to keep lettuce a little longer (through the end of fall)
10. We have added chickens to our homestead this year we use the droppings in our compost bin and we enjoy eggs all year round. We only have 6 chickens on a 1 acre lot....so I think they are a perfect addition for a small gardener.
Happy Gardening.....
Lynn
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A Friends Recipe to Keep Bugs Away.....
I have a dear friend that reads my blog and she gave me her recipe to get rid of bugs...I have never tried this but by looking at the ingredients it just might work.
Bug Spray:
1 Cup Murphy's Oil
1 Cup of Antiseptic mouthwash
1 cup of Tobacco tea
Mix together place in a hose-end sprayer..... soak plants to the point of run-off.
what is tobacco tea?
Place a handful of chewing tobacco in a gallon of water place in sun...after water turns dark brown strain with old screen window.
* My friend said this gets rid of all bugs and I say why wouldn't it.......
Happy Gardening...
Lynn
Bug Spray:
1 Cup Murphy's Oil
1 Cup of Antiseptic mouthwash
1 cup of Tobacco tea
Mix together place in a hose-end sprayer..... soak plants to the point of run-off.
what is tobacco tea?
Place a handful of chewing tobacco in a gallon of water place in sun...after water turns dark brown strain with old screen window.
* My friend said this gets rid of all bugs and I say why wouldn't it.......
Happy Gardening...
Lynn
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Garlic Spray
We planted our garlic in the fall and it is almost ready for us to pull up...and I will be glad because I really need to make a batch of bug spray. I still have been battling bugs on my herbs...I make this solution and it really seems to work.
Bug Spray:
6 large cloves of garlic chopped fine
1 small onion
1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dish soap (cheap)
1 quart of water.
I mix this all together and let it sit over night. I strain with some cheese cloth...I then put the solution in a spray bottle.
This will work on many plants just don't let the solution sit on your plants for many days...I always test it on one plant to even see if it will kill the bugs and it usually does!
Happy Gardening...
Lynn
Bug Spray:
6 large cloves of garlic chopped fine
1 small onion
1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dish soap (cheap)
1 quart of water.
I mix this all together and let it sit over night. I strain with some cheese cloth...I then put the solution in a spray bottle.
This will work on many plants just don't let the solution sit on your plants for many days...I always test it on one plant to even see if it will kill the bugs and it usually does!
Happy Gardening...
Lynn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)