Gardening/Yard thread

[cannon_fodder]

I don't want this thread to be just about my comments or complaints, but since it is the time for gardening I figured we could/would/should have a thread.  And I'll start!

I plant a salsa garden every year.  A persistent tomato rot problem along with a standing water problem caused me to move my garden last year (which was then killed by city contractors, whole other story).  So this year I planted rows raised about 6", probably still not as well drained as it should be (spring in Oklahoma is damn hard to make well enough drained!) but decent. 

I planted tomatoes, garlic, peppers, onions and cilantro.  As well as other items that are shockingly non-salsa related (lettuce, greens for the bearded dragon, a token row of corn, peas . . .).  We also did one of our front flower beds as an herb garden this year, which should be nice (Cilantro, basil (bruscheta), mint (mojito), chives, rosemary, parsley, more mint (mint juleps)).

Anyway, I come home from work for lunch and some bastage topped off 4 of my 6 tomato plants.  Looks like some kind of insect I guess - there is a dog/rabbit proof fence around it and nothing else was disturbed (the omnipresence of dogs probably keeps Rabbits away anyway).  But all the other plants and the 2 Roma Tomatoes were unharmed.  There is evidence of what appears to be diced up leaves around the poor little plants and they are cut clean with the ground.

I sprayed Saturday evening with an all-purpose garden insecticide, so I thought I was good.   I Googled  it and still am not sure.  Any green thumbs out there that want to tell me who or what I need to kill?

[nathanm]

I don't want this thread to be just about my comments or complaints, but since it is the time for gardening I figured we could/would/should have a thread.  And I'll start!

I plant a salsa garden every year.  A persistent tomato rot problem along with a standing water problem caused me to move my garden last year (which was then killed by city contractors, whole other story).  So this year I planted rows raised about 6", probably still not as well drained as it should be (spring in Oklahoma is damn hard to make well enough drained!) but decent. 

I planted tomatoes, garlic, peppers, onions and cilantro.  As well as other items that are shockingly non-salsa related (lettuce, greens for the bearded dragon, a token row of corn, peas . . .).  We also did one of our front flower beds as an herb garden this year, which should be nice (Cilantro, basil (bruscheta), mint (mojito), chives, rosemary, parsley, more mint (mint juleps)).

Anyway, I come home from work for lunch and some bastage topped off 4 of my 6 tomato plants.  Looks like some kind of insect I guess - there is a dog/rabbit proof fence around it and nothing else was disturbed (the omnipresence of dogs probably keeps Rabbits away anyway).  But all the other plants and the 2 Roma Tomatoes were unharmed.  There is evidence of what appears to be diced up leaves around the poor little plants and they are cut clean with the ground.

I sprayed Saturday evening with an all-purpose garden insecticide, so I thought I was good.   I Googled  it and still am not sure.  Any green thumbs out there that want to tell me who or what I need to kill?

I can't help with your problem, but you are going to share some of your rosemary with me anyway, right?

[cannon_fodder]

If it takes root, I sure will next year.  The thing grows like a weed once established.  That along with my mint, chives and parsley.

[RecycleMichael]

I spray a light mixture of dishwater dish detergent on my plants. It washes off easily and seems to discourage most pests.

[Townsend]

I spray a light mixture of dishwater dish detergent on my plants. It washes off easily and seems to discourage most pests.

Ditto.

I've ended up with a plethora of rabbits around my home this year so I'm curious how that's going to go. 

My dogs wanna eat 'em but I can't deal with "Silence of the rabbits" man.

[nathanm]

If it takes root, I sure will next year.  The thing grows like a weed once established.  That along with my mint, chives and parsley.

Yeah, I'd garden myself but with my yard space so limited I don't want to give up any more of it.

[GG]

I don't want this thread to be just about my comments or complaints, but since it is the time for gardening I figured we could/would/should have a thread.  And I'll start!

I plant a salsa garden every year.  A persistent tomato rot problem along with a standing water problem caused me to move my garden last year (which was then killed by city contractors, whole other story).  So this year I planted rows raised about 6", probably still not as well drained as it should be (spring in Oklahoma is damn hard to make well enough drained!) but decent. 

I planted tomatoes, garlic, peppers, onions and cilantro.  As well as other items that are shockingly non-salsa related (lettuce, greens for the bearded dragon, a token row of corn, peas . . .).  We also did one of our front flower beds as an herb garden this year, which should be nice (Cilantro, basil (bruscheta), mint (mojito), chives, rosemary, parsley, more mint (mint juleps)).

Anyway, I come home from work for lunch and some bastage topped off 4 of my 6 tomato plants.  Looks like some kind of insect I guess - there is a dog/rabbit proof fence around it and nothing else was disturbed (the omnipresence of dogs probably keeps Rabbits away anyway).  But all the other plants and the 2 Roma Tomatoes were unharmed.  There is evidence of what appears to be diced up leaves around the poor little plants and they are cut clean with the ground.

I sprayed Saturday evening with an all-purpose garden insecticide, so I thought I was good.   I Googled  it and still am not sure.  Any green thumbs out there that want to tell me who or what I need to kill?

Sounds like a nice garden you've got started there.   Were the tomatoes cut off at the ground?   If so it was tomato cut worms. 

http://www.essortment.com/all/cutworms_rcit.htm

[GG]

I dabble a bit in gardening.  I have two greenhouses, a water garden and garden space along the south and east sides of my back yard.  Do a lot of container gardening on the deck and patio, it is the container plants that I over winter in the greenhouses.   

Here is a nice garden forum to get questions answered. 

http://pharmerphil.proboards.com/index.cgi?

[pmcalk]

Sounds like a nice garden you've got started there.   Were the tomatoes cut off at the ground?   If so it was tomato cut worms. 

http://www.essortment.com/all/cutworms_rcit.htm

I was going to say cutworms, as well.  I always wrap my tomato plants in aluminum foil (just 2" below ground) and never have had any problems.  The tin cans also work well.  I hate to spray poisons on anything I am going to eat, and the dishwashing soap won't work for cutworms. 

I should add a disclaimer that I am really not a great gardner, though I waste plenty of money every year trying to convince myself that I can grow things.  I do ok until around August, then everything dies.  I hate the heat.

[waterboy]

Yeah, sounds like cut worms. Simple fix (next time) is to use a milk carton with the top and bottom cut off or a collar of some sort of carboard material sunk about an inch into the ground and sticking up about an inch or two above ground. Some plants come with an organic collar that dissolves. The worms are unable to climb the barrier. As the plant grows you can remove it if it doesn't dissolve. 

Plant three tomatoe plants. One for the birds/squirrels, one for the bugs and one for yourself.

[rwarn17588]

For cutworms, push a popsicle stick down into the soil right next to the stem. It keeps the cutworms from wrapping around the roots of the plant.

[Gaspar]

I have cutworm problems too. I use the aluminum foil approach every year.  Works very well, also keeps snails from climbing up bean plants.

[cannon_fodder]

I planted some new plants yesterday and took a closer look.

Some plants had leaves sheared off, others had all the leaves sheared off and whatever it was kept going right down to the dirt.  But mostly in nickel sized pieces.   I was unable to observe any kind of worm or bug on the plants, the fence is 95% rabbit proof and no other plants were disturbed (including the lettuce).  So it has to be some kind of worm.  This AM all plants were still in tact!

So I guess I'll foil the base of the plant.  My grandfather always planted tomatoes in old paint cans or milk jugs - guess I know why now.  I used to think he was crazy (and in some ways, well, yeah he was), but damn if that old saying about old people knowing what they are doing is sometimes right!

[DolfanBob]

Alright I am almost ashamed to admit this but here goes.
The wife at the end of last growing season ordered the Topsy Turvy Tomato planter. Now I am not a big as seen on TV guy but she spent some pretty good money for these green plastic hanging bags.
I will be planting some Tomato's this weekend and I will let everyone know how it turns out in a few months.

[Gaspar]

Alright I am almost ashamed to admit this but here goes.
The wife at the end of last growing season ordered the Topsy Turvy Tomato planter. Now I am not a big as seen on TV guy but she spent some pretty good money for these green plastic hanging bags.
I will be planting some Tomato's this weekend and I will let everyone know how it turns out in a few months.

I used to do that with 5 gallon Home Depot buckets.  cut a 2" hole in the bottom and you're good to go.  Works great, just make sure whatever you hang em from can hold about 70 lbs, or you'll be disappointed after a big rain.