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Post by datgirl on Jul 3, 2022 14:34:01 GMT -5
picked my first ripe red raspberry.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Jul 7, 2022 14:38:09 GMT -5
Tomatoes! Six Big Beef, three Cherokee Purples, and a bowlful of Sprites. All are nicely blushed, and will soon be heartily consumed. I'm using more tying than usual this year, 'cause they're getting hefty.
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Post by gardendmpls on Jul 7, 2022 15:10:08 GMT -5
Tomato hornworm in my experience. Found one while pulling off lower leaves to prevent blight. The chickens said it was delicious and wanted more.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Jul 7, 2022 19:59:41 GMT -5
gardendmpls if you ever see a hornworm with little white pill-looking things on it, leave it be. Those are beneficial parasitic wasp larvae. The worm will be dead in a day or so, and the little waspers may colonize the area and help in the future. Otherwise, pluck those things off and feed 'em to the chickens. They'll devour a tomato plant in no time, flat.
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Post by gardendmpls on Jul 8, 2022 9:18:25 GMT -5
Those are beneficial parasitic wasp larvae. That I know. Standard science teacher example of beneficial parasites. The hornworms sell for three dollars or more each in pet stores. Expensive lizard food. Maybe I should turn them into a profit instead of wasting them on the chickens.
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Post by binnylou on Jul 8, 2022 10:46:28 GMT -5
gardendmpls, might the worms from your garden be considered “organically grown” and demand a better price?
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Post by breezygardener on Jul 18, 2022 15:57:10 GMT -5
Found the first Tomato Hornworm of the season for me here in Virginia. I rarely see them at first, just their dark little poops, which then has me tracing them up from wherever the poops were. This time - for the very first time ever for me - the one I found was a tiny little thing & almost cute. Just an inch long with just a tiny little thread of a horn. Almost felt a little bad squishing it. Almost.
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Post by datgirl on Jul 20, 2022 18:56:01 GMT -5
Ate my first green beans today.
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Post by gardendmpls on Jul 20, 2022 20:44:45 GMT -5
Ate my first green beans today. Beats me. May be planting my first ones tomorrow. I am behind, but seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
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Post by datgirl on Jul 21, 2022 10:08:19 GMT -5
gardendmpls,I was late planting too, and something ate some of the first seedlings, so I have plants at various stages. The one I ate were from a bush bean plant. The pole beans aren't even flowering yet.
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Post by gardendmpls on Jul 21, 2022 22:13:40 GMT -5
Didn't get them planted, but did water their planting areas for an hour or so with the impact sprinkler, so maybe tomorrow.
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Post by datgirl on Jul 25, 2022 17:52:38 GMT -5
Found my first tomato horn worm with parasitic wasp larvae. Never saw one in real life. I just left it.
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Post by breezygardener on Jul 26, 2022 14:19:48 GMT -5
Both sad & excited to see the first Box turtles of the season for me. Sad, because we used to see dozens from Spring into early Fall, & these are the first two I've seen since 2020 (although Mr. Breezy has seen two since 2020). Regardless, habitat destruction & inconsiderate/inattentive drivers have strongly contributed to their decline.
However, this afternoon, after the rain stopped for a bit, I went out to check on my little "Walden Puddle" tadpole sanctuary, & when I parted the tall grass (which we allow to grow to offer the tadpoles some shade), lo & behold I came upon two adult Box turtles in the middle of connubial bliss!! I am thrilled that they're not only here on our property, but also mating, since the female could very well lay her eggs somewhere on our 22 acres. So long as we don't run over them (& we'll now be checking behind our vehicles before we leave), they'll be safe here.
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Post by emmsmommy on Jul 27, 2022 20:07:42 GMT -5
breezygardener, how exciting! We've been seeing one crossing the meadow path more than once this year and now kiddo is always looking out for it. Hubby is extra cautious when mowing as well.
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Post by breezygardener on Jul 28, 2022 11:15:39 GMT -5
Hubby is extra cautious when mowing as well. Yes - that's important as well. Many years ago after we first moved here, Mr. Breezy was inconsolably broken-hearted when he ran over a Box turtle with the Bush Hog. It was unavoidable - 3'-tall grass, etc. - & even though I had criss-crossed walked the field with one of our leashed dogs to scare up any hidden fawns (& there were two!!), a Box turtle is easy to miss.
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