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Squash And Other Items

Posted on June 7, 2009 at 7:08 PM

Drove over six hours today to get home and am a little weary and stiff as a result. After unpacking and checking in with my family, I did a quick walk through of the garden to see how things had fared in my absence. While many things have continued to grow and develop over the past several days, the most obviously changed were the zucchini and winter squash plants. They have really put on a lot of new growth in a very short time period.            

 

 

                 

The recently direct seeded runner beans, cucumbers, and radishes have all emerged and are looking healthy. I did see some white moths fluttering around the broccoli plants, which tells me I need to apply some Bt spray tomorrow. The broccoli is just now really starting to come on and I do not want to lose the harvest to cabbageworms. While I was out in the garden I cut some side shoots and a couple of smaller main heads of the broccoli to use for the evening meal prep.                                                

                              

The fall Territorial Seed catalog arrived while I was gone. At a minimum, I need to order some more carrot seed for the mid-summer planting as I am completely out.  In addition, they are offering a new loose-leaf cabbage variety called Beira Tronchuda that I am seriously considering trying for the fall/winter garden. Before I get ready to order anything though, I need to check my seed inventory to determine if I need some crimson clover for the fall cover cropping as well.                       

                                     

I have two more days off from work and plan to spend part of that time out in the garden. Will post a lengthier garden update shortly.

Categories: Vegetables, Plants, Pests

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8 Comments

Reply monica
08:32 PM on June 07, 2009 
Looks like you got some aphids on your winter squash plants. I just noticed them on mine too.
Reply kitsapfreedomgardener
09:20 PM on June 07, 2009 
That is a natural silvering that occurs on some varieties of zucchini. I have grown these two varieties for a couple of years now and they do that every year. The wintersquash next to them are solid green. I DO have some bugs chewing on my peppers and my green beans though. I used some soap spray that I had mixed up to do a quick spritz on them - but will need to mix up another batch of it to really do a good spray job. I like to use Dr. Bronners peppermint soap to make my soap spray with. The peppermint smell seems to act as a deterent in and of itself.
Reply Dan
09:38 PM on June 07, 2009 
Good to hear you arrived home safely. Your zuc's are looking great, the mottled leaves they have are so cool looking. I just planted my one zuc plant today and it already is getting flower buds with only 4 true leaves.
Reply kitsapfreedomgardener
11:28 PM on June 07, 2009 
Dan - That's a good sign that your plants are thriving. I have tiny immature fruits forming on my four plants already too. The first two are "Gold Rush" so the little tiny fruits are bright yellow and are visible. The other two are "Sungreen" which also have tiny immature fruits formed but are green so they blend into the foliage and are very hard to see. I hope to snap a picture of the yellow ones tomorrow.
Reply Heather
08:21 AM on June 08, 2009 
Your zucchini looks wondeful! I need to try something new next year. I've always been boring with my Black Beauty zucchini.

http://heathershomemaking.blogspot.com/
Reply kitsapfreedomgardener
09:51 AM on June 08, 2009 
Heather - I am in kind of a rut too, but honestly when you find a variety that works for you and your climate and garden size - then why do alot of tinkering? I particularly like "Gold Rush" because the zucchini is such a bright waxy yellow and it's growth habit is somewhat manageable (for a zucchini!).
Reply momto2
11:55 AM on June 08, 2009 
Glad you had a nice trip! What is Bt spray? What mixture do you use for your soap spray? Do you use the soap spray on tomatoes? I don't see bugs on my green and wax beans yet,, but we have just had so much rain! Bugs and mosquitos are everywhere! My kids used to make fun of my hat with the mosquito netting,, now they have been asking to borrow it to walk our dog! Take Care!
Reply kitsapfreedomgardener
02:10 PM on June 08, 2009 
momto2 - Bt is Bacillus Thuringiensis, a natural occuring bacteria that affects leaf eating caterpillars and worms by attacking their digestive tracts, causing them to quit eating immediately and then die. It's extremely effective, and won't harm humans, pets, wildlife or beneficial insects. I won't grow spring broccoli without it because of cabbage worms. It also works on tomato hornworms. I use the brand "Green Light" - http://www.organic-gardening-shop.com/agorganics/Product_Details.
aspx?ProductID=391 ,

On the soap spray, I use 2 Tablespoons of Dr. Bronners liquid peppermint soap to 1 quart of water and then spray it on the leaves and stems (undersides too). The peppermint seems to be a deterent for aphids and squash bugs. All soap sprays tend to work on contact with small bugs such as aphids - but the peppermint seems to provide a double benefit. A pint or quart of the soap will last you many many garden seasons. I have a galllon I purchased two years ago and you can hardly tell I have used any! It's not a cureall but it seems to help. If I am using a commercial insecticidal soap (like Safer's Organic insecticidal soap spray) - I just mix it according to the directions. I don't generally use soap spray on tomatoes because I have never had them bothered by aphids and other insects that are affected by soap spray. I DO use Bt spray on tomatoes if I am having a hornworm problem. However, they are also easily just picked off since they are so big. My tomatoes are generally never bothered by pests - rather they are more likely to have fungus and blight problems due to our cool and damper climate conditions.