Squash bugs— caught!

The eggs were so interesting. Almost pretty. I found several patches on my vigorously growing squash leaves. Little brown eggs all laid in nice rows and patches. I brought some inside for us to marvel at under the binocular microscope (easily the best gift my Dad ever got my family— well, except the big telescope).

Eggs on squash leaf

I placed one leaf into an old wine bottle and retired the rest to the compost pile on the off chance they were not beneficial bugs.

bugs in a bottle

Then we waited about a week before they hatched. The girls and I were very excited and interested to learn what these little guys with the pretty green abdomens were.

Hatched bugs

 

Good thing these had been removed from my squash patch because, according to one well illustrated ag. extension site, they are the dreaded squash bug nymphs I’d hoped would not return to my garden again this year.

Squash bug nymphs in a bottle

 

 I’ve been going out every-other morning to remove more batches of eggs.  The bad news is there appears to be little that can be done at this stage to keep the boring adults from getting into the patch and delivering the same wilt disease we had last year. Last year we still had several good zucchinis, in spite of the wilt, but this year, we have melon growing right beside the zucchini squash. I am concerned the beetles might bore into them as well. We’ll keep an eye out.

Peas ‘n such

What fun we can have in the garden in just one morning.

The morning of June 14, 2009

I have to admit I am enjoying the peas.

They look pretty cool growing vertically with those leaves ringing the lanky stems. They look skinny and bedraggled at ground level, then get more plum and sturdy the higher you look. The pods are already fattening up.

Jim tells me you pick them when they are “poofy” looking. You break open the shorter side and pop the peas into a container with a strafe of your thumb across the inside.

We’ll try that later this weekend.

Sweet peas

 Grace nabbed an early pod and ate the peas before we even knew it. I munched on the pod and was surprised how palatable that is. Later I found some blogs that talk about picking peas before the “poofy” stage and eating the whole pod— like snow peas. Gloria Ballard, our local paper’s gardening guru wrote a nice post. Just now I saw this wonderful post, indicating we could have started even earlier planting the peas, and that the plant fix nitrogen. I think that means that after they are done, we could till the vines back into the ground to fertilize for next year. I’ll see if I can confirm that’s what we do.

I’m reiterating what I learned and wrote about earlier, The trellis observation was that we wound the string for the peas to climb on beginning too high off the ground. I would add: the peas could have used a string about every 6 inches, rather than the 12 inches or so we spaced the notches for the twine.

Jim and I have already decided to do a much larger pea crop next year. I will be looking for advice about keeping some little furry garden pest from digging them up before they “hatch.” I’m guessing it might be prudent to start them indoors next time. Hmmmmm… can I start some more inside now? or don’t they do well later in the season. Anyone know?

The garden is kept safe from squirrels most of the time by our faithful backyard warrior.

Samantha, yard warrior

 

The warrior spies her foe through our kitchen bay window, which looks out over our bird-feeding station. The furry foes visit this station with abandon. They know that 80 percent of the time, the yard warrior is trapped inside the house while we are at work. The only times everybody gets a good run– are evenings and weekends. I wonder how often the squirrels come and dance all over the feeders in a seed and feed frenzy during the weekday? I’ll bet its a lot.

Poor Sam.

Sam on patrol

 

 

Cousins and wormies and peas, oh my

Our niece and nephew, Elyse and James, are in for a visit while their dad– Jim’s brother– is off to a wedding and their mom is visiting friends. James is goin’ on 2 and Elyse is nearly 4. They got up Reeeaaaal early this morning and were helping in the garden.

Worms on Kale

 

Elyse and James help

 

A worm!

 

Fetchin' water

 

Big smile, James

 

Grace slep thru' it all

Emma and I caught a few more pretty flowers with the camera. You can see our sweet pea blooms! I have just a handful of peas in a pod. Now if I can keep the kids from picking them too early… 

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