Monday, July 4, 2011

Hope for Harvest


Each year I look forward to the harvesting of vegetables--seeing the full yellow squash, picking firm blushing tomatoes, and checking for green beans. As I peek under the leaves for peppers and wait for those okra blossoms, I know it will not be long until I am picking harvest. It is one of the many joys of gardening, and I am giddy at the prospect of making salads and cooking dishes with my vegetables.


Every season has its challenges depending on the weather, the variety of vegetable plant, or the abundance of pests. Trying to keep the vegetables healthy using only organic methods is not always easy. Sometimes I must relinquish a hope because a particular plant or bed has been ravaged by a rabbit, raccoon, an insect pest, or some disease. I usually do not take it lightly because my hopes were high, and I had already planned meals and relished the thought of not only the taste of that vegetable but the odor of it after I picked it from its stalk or vine.


Over the years, I have learned to do a few things that help keep my harvest healthy, so I can experience the full gamut of joy at a garden well-served and well-tended.

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Green Bean Rust

To prevent it, I keep the beds clean prior to planting. Once in a while, I sprinkle sulphur or copper fungicide on the leaves. If it shows up, I remove those leaves or the entire plant so it does not spread--burying the foliage or plant. Afterwards, I wash my garden gloves to prevent the spread of the spores.

Blossom End Rot


The blemish of the blossom end rot is not as bad as having to cut most of the tomato off before eating it which seems like such a waste. Blossom end rot is caused by an imbalance of calcium which prevents the plant from balancing moisture levels. I put eggshells around the base of the plant and dig it in a bit. This works very well.

Bell Peppers Failing to Yield


I get my hopes up high when I see the blooms on the pepper plants--looking forward to stuffed peppers, fresh bell peppers in my salads, and peppers with beef and onions over rice. The smell of fresh bell peppers is intoxicating. I cannot resist taking one up to my nose and breathing in that delicate pepper odor each time I pick one. However, my hopes are dashed when soon I see small buds of peppers on the ground, fruit buds that formed but dropped. Peppers can be very sensitive to temperature and moisture levels and will not fruit if there is too much nitrogen. To help set fruit, I add Epsom salt to the soil around the base of the plants. This method seems to help the plant stay balanced to fruit.

Japanese Beetles


For several years, this insect had a feast on my flowers, trees, and vegetable plants. I tried several different methods to control it. This is the first year in about six or seven years that I do not need to vigorously keep after them. There are not that many this year, and I am hopeful that all of my work has paid off. I used the Japanese Beetle traps for many years, but this year I do not need them. I have heard the critical view of these traps--that they attract more from further away than would normally be present in my yard. All I know is each year I had fewer and fewer in the traps. I had so few last year it is not worth putting them up this year.

I also plant four o'clocks around those plants that seem to attract them the most, and they reseed themselves year after year. Four o'clocks contain a poison that is toxic to Japanese Beetles.


Each spring I sprinkle Milky Spore powder around those areas that were full of Japanese Beetles the year before. This takes a few years to work, and perhaps that is why things have improved by now.

By attracting birds to my yard with tree berries and lots of plants that offer a bug meal, as well as birdbaths, they have contributed to the control effort. I see them landing in a tree or in the garden and eating Japanese Beetle bugs.


Squash Vine Borer


Hopes can easily be dashed once this pest takes over. I often see the moth flying around the plants. One thing I have noticed is when I have used the bird netting on my plants, I have fewer of these pests. I know they are small enough to get through the netting, but they may not always try. I sprinkle Dipel (bacteria thuringiensis) on the stems every few days. If we have a heavy rain, I sprinkle again. This leaves me with loads of squash and zucchini for casseroles, sauteing, making bread, and even enough to give away to friends.

Squash Bugs

This is a tough one. I have not found the ultimate secret to controlling this pest. Every organic spray or powder or method I have tried has not really done very much. The best way I have found to control them is to alternate beds each year and get rid of them once I see them. This means scraping the eggs off the bottoms of the leaves. When I have an infestation, I take a bucket of soapy water and knock as many as I can into the bucket. If anyone has a better way of controlling them, please share. As of now, I have not seen any, but I know sometimes they show up later.

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This year seems to be a good harvest year. I am picking beans twice a week. Some tomatoes are ready for picking every day. The first okra pod reared its head yesterday. Elsewhere things seem to be doing well. I hope the harvest will be a good one--juicy, flavorful, and abundant!



I am joining Daphne's Dandelions for Harvest Monday and Sweet Bean Gardening for Hope Grows Day.
©Michelle A. Potter

45 comments:

  1. Gosh, so much info. Brilliant post.

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  2. Beautiful pictures and good observations on various methods to manage the inevitable challenges to our gardening success. Vigilence and attention to the garden are critical. So many things can be managed if caught early and attended to.

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  3. Very informative!! I also use egg shells around my tomatoes for the same reason!!

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  4. Great info...I don't know much about veg problems & what to do about them, so having the info PLUS the photos is very helpful.

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  5. Super post! I use Dipel dust and Milky spore also but unlike you I have an invasion of Japanese beetles this year. I didn't know 4o'clocks were toxic to them. I may have to plan a lot of them this fall! Your veggies crop looks scrumptious!

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  6. Great information! I also found out from the Hardy Eco Garden blog today that Garlic, Shallots, and Tansy help to keep Japanese beetles away. So I will try some of these techniques. Thank you!

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  7. I've often thought about having a vegie garden, but haven't solved the problem of where to set it up yet. For those who do have their own vegie patch though, your advice will be most welcome. Great information from personal experience is always appreciated.

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  8. Good post on hope for the vegetables. You have a good harvest as shown in your very nice images. I just got my first beans, but have not enough to pick yet, but they are coming. The peppers are really tiny but on their way. Tomatoes should ripen next week. I just HOPE the insects stay at bay. No use of powders or sprays here because I am looking to have butterflies, which I want more than perfect veggies. So I am keeping my fingers crossed on both counts.

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  9. Great tips! Thanks for sharing.

    I had trouble with BER with my tomatoes a couple of years ago, and it also suggested just to keep them watered more regularly. Since mine are in a raised bed, which dries out very quickly, this did the trick for me.

    Very interested to try the four-o-clocks!
    Thanks!!

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  10. Great tips. I'm trying peppers for the first time this year and will be adding salts to them now that I know. Now if only you had a trick to make sure all the seeds germinate!

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  11. Great timely post! Really enjoyed your advice...some was new to me.

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  12. @Bridget Thanks, Bridget! I am glad you had a chance to stop by for a visit.

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  13. @kitsapFG Indeed...it is a vigil I enjoy performing. Thanks for visiting.

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  14. @Shirley @ The Gardening LIfe Isn't it amazing how the eggshells work so well? I find it one of the easiest and quickest ways to tackle BER.

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  15. @Karin / Southern Meadows Thanks, Karin. I was so glad the four o'clocks reseed themselves...makes it easier on me. :)

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  16. @PlantPostings I am so glad you found it helpful. I try companion planting as well which I am sure helps to keep them at bay.

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  17. @Bernie I am so glad you found it helpful, Bernie. It took me a while to find the right spot for the veggie garden as well.

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  18. @gardenwalkgardentalk.com I am glad you are getting some veggies to harvest...it is always exciting. I use very little sprays and powders and always organic ones...just to keep the most threatening insects away. Happy Harvest!

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  19. @Wife, Mother, Gardener I am glad you got something out of the post. Happy harvest!

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  20. @Marguerite I wish I had that trick as well. I suppose something has to be left to the garden fairies... :).

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  21. @Lynda Thanks, Lynda. I am glad you enjoyed the post.

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  22. That's a very interesting post. You know so much about vegetable growing!

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  23. At my last house I tried to attract birds as they didn't destroy the garden there. Here the birds seem to be vegetarians and if I don't net them will eat my greens down to the ground. City birds can be mean.

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  24. Your veggies are farther along than mine so I've enjoyed your photos as a wishful tease.

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  25. A very informative and insightful post. I got hungry seeing the pictures of your haul.

    Sky

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  26. thank you for the tip of the 4 o'clock plants and japanese beetle. However I found this flower plant will make my tomato plants very sad. So I must plant them away from our tomatoes. All your plants look very healthy.

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  27. OH I love your blog...thanks for following...following back....I love gardening.....

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  28. So far, your garden looks like it's winning the battle with pests. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

    I really like the idea of planting berry producing trees and shrubs to keep the birds in your yard. I'll still net the cherries and blueberries, but, like you, I notice less pest insects when there are lots of birds in the garden. Thanks for the reminder.

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  29. @Masha You are very kind. I have been growing vegetables for over 25 years, and I have been experimenting to try what works best in the garden. Thanks for stopping by...

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  30. @Daphne That sounds awful! I guess the birds here have a lot of wooded areas to move about and also find food. Good luck with your garden!

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  31. @joene I look forward to seeing your crop...hope your yields come soon!

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  32. @Malay-Kadazan girl I don't really have problems with Japanese Beetles on my tomatoes...good luck!

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  33. @Marie Iannotti I did not realize how much they help until I watched them one day go after the JB's...I guess it is a treat for them!

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  34. Thanks so much for the tips... I have had a few of these problems too over the years. However, right now all is o.k. and I am just jealous about how far along your veggies are! You will be harvesting warm season produce long before me. Your information will surely come in handy as my season continues to evolve. Keep the hope!

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  35. Thanks so much for the tips... I have had a few of these problems too over the years. However, right now all is o.k. and I am just jealous about how far along your veggies are! You will be harvesting warm season produce long before me. Your information will surely come in handy as my season continues to evolve. Keep the hope!

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  36. Excellent tips! It is so frustrating to lose something to pests or disease, and I'm always looking for a pesticide-free way to deal with it. Right now I'm picking Japanese beetles off my roses every morning and evening--grrr. I'll have to try planting some four o'clocks next year.

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  37. @igardendaily.com Thanks! I hope your veggies grow quickly and healthily!

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  38. @Rose Japanese Beetles have been a problem for me as well. This is the first year, I am not stressing over them. Good luck with your garden!

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  39. Oh wow, wonderful post! So much information, I am tucking this one away for future reference!! Also, your veg are looking so yummers, those little cherry tom's...mmmm! Cheers julia =)

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  40. @Julia@PolkaDotGaloshes Thanks, Julia! I am getting more of the Roma's than anything else. I like the cherry tom's in salads.

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  41. Informative! The harvest does seem juicy, flavorful, and abundant. :D

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  42. @Asha Ram I love my homegrown veggies! Thanks for your visit!

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'I see trees of green, red roses, too
I see 'em bloom for me and for you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world'
--What a Wonderful World

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