Don't be confused

I know that I have been posting a lot about veggie gardening issues but don't be alarmed.  I really do quilt, put by food by canning, sew clothing, crochet, etc.  I have even been known to change an electrical outlet or two and rebuild a carburetor.  I promise I will be posting on my quilting and sewing soon.  It just happens to be gardening season.  Don't go away, I promise to continue posting my antics.....

Not a Leaf Hopper, but related!

The small bug that I was calling a Leaf Hopper is only a relative with less harm.  A Spittle Bug or Frog Hopper is actually what it is.  It really doesn't harm your plants but,  you will wonder what in the world that icky, sticky foam is on the underside of your plant leaves.  These Spittle Bugs make a foamy liquid that helps to cool them, prevent dehydration, and protects their young.   The eggs of the bug are lain on the bottom of the leaf then covered with the spittle that allows the young to feed on the leaf while they are protected.  They only stay around a couple of weeks so its really not a big deal.  Thank goodness, because I was almost sure that this was the culprit that produced the Squash Vine Borer Worm.  I still have to be diligent though, just in case the little rusty colored grouping of eggs show up on the under side of leaves on my wonderful squash.  Then, I will carefully cut that leaf off and burn it in order to control the Borer infestation.             http://bugguide.net/node/view/409146  You can see pictures of all kinds of Leaf Hoppers, Tree Hoppers, and Frog Hoppers at this web site.

Squash Blossom End Rot

Due to my bout with "Fibromalgia" yesterday and today my update was delayed.  I checked my squash and the "Tumms" trick seems to be helping. Yea!  The blossoms on the squash are falling as they are suppose to, before the squash gets more that 2-3 inches long.  And the black rotten ends have diminished greatly.  I have to now be diligent in the amount of water they are receiving because this also will effect the quality of the squash.  Too much = rotten ends.  Too little = arrested development.   I also have to figure and effective way to rid them of leaf hoppers, you know the little burgundy bugs with red stripes that hop from leaf to leaf.  So far they haven't really hurt the squash plants except for a few holes in the leaves, and I don't think that these are the ones that lay eggs that become the worms that bore into the hollow stems of the squash vine and kill them..    I haven't seen any eggs on the undersides of the leaves. Stay tuned...... 

trouble

I intended to post pictures today but my camera fizzled. I have a beautiful square foot garden.  In all Ive 4 4x4 foot raised beds and 1 4x8 foot bed. I'll post pictures later.  The reason I mention this is that my squash has "blossom end rot".  That is when the developing squash get black soggy rotten areas on the end where the blossom started.  After doing some research and testing the soil, I found that I needed more calcium in the soil.  I couldn't eat enough eggs to provide the shells for calcium for the garden so I called the ever present mother(don't know what I'm gonna do when she is gone), to discuss the problem.  After hashing out sources of calcium, she told me that an elderly man had advised my brother to put "Tumms" around his plants to provide them calcium.  Ding-ding! being a nurse I immediately knew that "Tumms" is pure calcium carbonate.  Duh, why didn't I think of that!  I prefer doing solely organic but, needed a quick fix. I removed the blossom from the end of the newly developing squash and faintly scratched the end in order to make a "scar" then just before the Frog Strangler rain, I placed 3-4 "Tumms" around each plant.  I just hope it works.  I love squash and I can't bear the thought of not having fresh from the garden veggies.  Updates and pictures to come.  (Fingers crossed).

Pure Laziness

this is the third time I have attempted to start a blog.  For some reason I seem to not be able to carve out that little bit of time for adding information to my posts.  I am making a resolution to be more mindful of posting the information that I feel will be productive for all.  Starting now.  I hope that my following will increase exponentially in the next few weeks.  posts will not be just about gardening. It will also include other interesting things such as quilting, sewing, putting by food, and generally anything that is as the title suggests, homemade an handmade.  come by and lets see what we can get into.  enjoy!!