Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[pacerron]

I've seen several grasshoppers in my garden and my bean leaves had holes in them until I sprayed with Sevin. This morning while watering, I saw two squash bugs and two cucumber beetles. I gave them the firm 2-finger handshake and sent them off to bug heaven. I've worked too hard to let bugs chomp on my stuff. On the bright side, my blackeyes are popping out of the ground like gangbusters. I'm gonna have an excellent stand this time around and I'm hoping hail doesn't strike twice in the same spot. I don't believe I have anymore freezing weather to worry about. I'll plant okra and my wife's herbs this next week. Her herb garden started in two flats is ready to be set out. I already have a great stand of sweet basil where I scattered seeds a few weeks ago. I'll have plenty of fresh basil to go along with my tomatoes.:licking:

Gee,
We are expecting a hard frost up here tonight. Good thing our garden is still primarily on wheels.:laughing:

 

[Western]

We "have a chance" of rain Tuesday evening through Wednesday, IF the Pressure cap gets destabilized. Why cant it rain without all the "rules":confused3:

Checked the garden today, whatever was eating my beans has stopped, but I was unable to locate any dead or dieing bugs? Haven't seen any squash bugs yet, but when I do, they will get the same welcome here that Jim gave his!!! I will try to avoid any spray type pesticides if I can, may even order some "beneficial" bugs too.

Jim, I am fixing to order a pound of NOSEMA LOCUSTAE to combat the grasshoppers, devastating stuff I understand. I had a friend tell me about it last year, he used it at double rate and said they where all but nonexistent after 1 month and he has seen very few so far this year.

Good read: Nosema Locustae bait for grasshopper control

I ordered from here: Semaspore Grasshopper Control | Planet Natural

 

[jinman]

You gotta be rich if you can afford NOLO Bait.:dollarsign: That stuff runs about $65 per lb and treats only about 1/2 acre.

Oops! That price was for 10 lb instead of 1 lb.

 

[txdon]

Western, that is what I used years back when there were millions. I treated about 30 acres (50 lbs) it worked better than the poison my dad used on his place. The grasshoppers kept on coming from surrounding fields that year and they were seen till mid winter. I remember looking at the barbed wire fence and almost every barb had a grasshopper on it. My brother just suggested getting a roller and smush them all.

 

[jinman]

Our goose flock is increasing. I suppose there have been migrating geese around here before, but having the two ponds close to my house makes them a lot more visible. Also, once they discover the corn under the deer feeder, they are hooked like an addict on drugs. Yesterday a white-fronted goose appeared. It's much smaller than the two Canadian geese and it also has a hurt right foot/leg and walks with a limp. I suspect it was injured and could not keep up with the flock or was harassed and ejected. I think I read that the white-fronted geese fly at night during their migration. That probably reduces the number of losses to predators. Anyhow, the two Canadian geese were tolerant of the whited-fronted goose as long as it did not get too close or try to eat 'their' corn. When it got too close, one of the Canadians attacked it (photo below).

The funny thing is my kitty was curious about the geese, but not extremely curious. He saw the geese and walked toward them, but veered off to his favorite sand pile to take his morning doodie. Afterwards, he nonchalantly walked over to the geese. The white-fronted goose was spooked by him and moved away, but the two Canadians just stood their ground and kept an eye on him. He is very close to them in the photo, but not threatening. He decided he was bored with them and went chasing grasshoppers.

Even though the white-fronted goose is persona non grata with the Canadians, it stays around them. They flew from our ponds to the lake and the little goose followed. I think it is staying with the Canadians for safety in numbers. We'll have to see how long they tolerate it being around or if it will just leave some night and head north to colder climates.

 

[Western]

Jim, I paid $17.89 for 1lb $25 shipped. Treats 1 acre and has residual, so I may benefit next year also. As the GH move, if infected they transport it further out from what I understand, so I will treat the yard and around the garden and see what happens.
Also Yesterday I had to C. Geese fly right over the house at tree top, shocked the he77 out of me! I will go check my dinky pond and look for "sign":laughing:

Don, thanks for sharing that!! I have only heard of one other person that has used it, so that is encouraging. The attractive part of it for me is it's a "set and forget" safe and keeps working. It appears all I have to do is broadcast it by hand into the grassy undisturbed areas.

 

[jinman]

Dennis, I read that the shelf life of Nolo Bait was only about 8 weeks. That means you need to buy it when you need to use it over a 2-month period. You also have to make sure the batch you buy is fresh. I believe I read that you can freeze or refrigerate it and keep it for 6 months or more. I have never had serious problems with grasshoppers, but will certainly buy some Nolo Bait if I do.

 

[Western]

Jim, your right, so I will put it out as soon as I get it.

Usually by mid-late summer, I have thousands of GH in the yard and surrounding area, likely attracted to the irrigated vegetation. I'll give it a shot and see what happens, if it helps the wife's flowers, then all is good! I ordered the Semaspore Grasshopper Bait, Same % as Nolo, but it was a bit cheaper.

 

[Western]

AAAh Here is summer!! Digital thermometer reads 100.1* on the back deck. NOAA says it only 90*

I got my Okra planted with 2 packets to spare (Thanks Farmgirl, may get more info from you for next years crop though)

Jim, If your going to "do Okra", might do it soon:laughing: If the temps jump like last year, things will be burning up soon

BTW: Lake Bridgeport is around 16' LOW!! According to the managing entity (Tarrant Regional Water District) they will lower it 12-16 more feet in the next couple of months:shocked: Wont be long and the mosquitoes will all have to move to Jim's ponds!!!:laughing: I know the lake is for the Ft Worth area, but dam, they will kill allot of fish the state (us) has been funding to put in......


Joke my daughter told me (to old to ground her:laughing What do you call a gay dinosaur?????? A Megasoreanus:rotfl:

 

[farmgirl19]

Western; I am glad that you had enough okra seed and it is in the ground! Now, maybe we can all get to growing things, instead of covering and replanting things!

That is a funny joke! Nothing like starting the day with a chuckle.