Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[pacerron]

As soon as the hull becomes leathery, they shell really easily. The greener ones seem to have thick hulls and the peas are small. I think once before we discussed snaps, and I said I like to go back and pick snaps after picking shelling peas. That way I know how many snaps I have compared to shelling peas. Have you ever seen canned blackeyes with snaps?

Related to gardens; is 5% Sevin Dust still available in Texas?
We tried to get a big bag this AM at a Do-it-Best Hardware and was told it has been taken off the market.
After getting home we see online that TSC has it, in stores, in 10 pd. bags but only 2% and granules instead of dust.
They advertise 5% dust but only in the little 1 pound shaker tubes at a ridiculous price. We didn't call to verify if they actually have it.
We have used Sevin on the garden, dogs, cats, etc. forever with no negative results.
What do you use to control bugs and worms in the garden?
I imagine FG19 uses hot pepper and garlic.
Ron

 

[jinman]

Ron, they still have bags here and 1-pound cans in a tri-pack. Of course, liquid Sevin is very common also. I've been using Malathion some lately to give the bugs something new and keep them from building a resistance. Spectracide Malathion sure has a strong odor. There's no hiding that you've used it. The odor is much stronger than liquid Sevin.

 

[pacerron]

Ron, they still have bags here and 1-pound cans in a tri-pack. Of course, liquid Sevin is very common also. I've been using Malathion some lately to give the bugs something new and keep them from building a resistance. Spectracide Malathion sure has a strong odor. There's no hiding that you've used it. The odor is much stronger than liquid Sevin.

Jim,
We use Spectracide Malathion spray on the fruit trees. Before they bloom and after about every 2 weeks till August. Your right about the smell. It does a great job in keeping the bugs from messing up the fruit.

Another good use for the deer fence fabric to report. We always put chicken wire around and over our blueberry bushes but birds still find there way in. This year we put a scrap piece of the plastic deer fence over the bushes and it kept every bird out.
Ron

 

[farmgirl19]

I use Spinosad, when needed. I hate to use much of anything, because I use good insects to battle bad ones. I have lots of ladybugs, green lace wings, and praying mantis. No danger of them causing health issues, that can come from the chemicals.

 

[Western]

Well, word is my garden is in "peril" even with heavy daily watering?? I was told "not to get upset since I worked on it so much" :laughing: It will be depressing, but there has to be more going on than the heat. I am wondering if the moles tunnels have caused more underground damage than I had thought?? Or it could just be the heat. I have grown many gardens over the years and have had few go "down in flames" all at once.

Have a long nasty night left in Houston, then finish up in Galveston, hopefully I have the energy to deadhead home if I can get through before rush hour!

 

[jinman]

Dennis, I've found a successful garden requires lots of attention right before it starts producing. It's like getting kids through school before they go out on their own. Once you establish deep roots, all it takes is watering and keeping the pests at bay. Proper early cultivation to build a big deep root system is key for Texas. Some soils are very loose and plants easily put down deep roots. Other soils take lots of cultivation and careful attention to watering/not overwatering when the plants are young to encourage deep rooting. Even with all that, brutal heat will turn your plants from production to pure survival. It takes a happy and healthy plant to bloom and produce. That's my theory anyhow.

 

[farmgirl19]

Western; While my zucchini plants still looked good when I got home last night, my yellow squash plants looked more wilted and battered. After today's temp, not sure what I'll have left there. Most eveything else is still looking good, so maybe the cool front will arrive tonight, before its too late.

All of that being said, I'm sure jinman could share some of his bounty, since he is always braggin' about picking by the bucketfuls! :laughing:

I do agree that having good organic matter, (i.e., compost) worked into the soil helps hold what moisture we do get, and feeds the plants and their roots, without having the "overfertilized" burn, as soon as rain/watering can't keep up with the Texas temps.

I hope you have some garden left to tend, when you get home. Losing it all would be a major bummer.

 

[jinman]

All of that being said, I'm sure jinman could share some of his bounty, since he is always braggin' about picking by the bucketfuls! :laughing:

I am picking by the buckets and also trying to give it away and spread it around as much as possible. I took my brother two huge bags of veggies on Wednesday. That same day, my neighbor came to help me pick and gave her beans, a whole bucket full of squash and zucchini and lots of tomatoes. She takes her husband to dialysis twice a week and I send lots of veggies with her to give to folks at the dialysis clinic. So yesterday, I pulled and cleaned about 40 nice onions, a gallon of cherry tomatoes, 10 really nice slicing tomatoes, and more squash and cucumbers. It seems that there are lots of needy or older folks who come to dialysis and they love to have some fresh veggies to take home. Sandy loves to take the veggies and give them out. She even buys boxes of gallon size Ziploc bags so people can take them home. My wife is taking two big bags of all kinds of stuff to her parents this morning too. They then share with her aunts and uncles. It seems my garden stuff gets around and I could not be happier. What's better than sharing good food with those who really need it? I especially like helping the elderly and folks scraping by on Social Security only.

BTW: Even with giving all this away, we still have more than we can eat. My blackeyed peas will need their first picking tomorrow morning. My okra will be producing too in another week. I'd bet I still have over 250 lb of nice tomatoes on my vines too.:thumbsup: I counted Israel melons yesterday and have about 15 big ones that will be ripe in a couple of weeks too. I don't think they will make it by the 4th of July, but one or two will probably be ready a week later.:licking:

 

[pacerron]

I am picking by the buckets and also trying to give it away and spread it around as much as possible. I took my brother two huge bags of veggies on Wednesday. That same day, my neighbor came to help me pick and gave her beans, a whole bucket full of squash and zucchini and lots of tomatoes. She takes her husband to dialysis twice a week and I send lots of veggies with her to give to folks at the dialysis clinic. So yesterday, I pulled and cleaned about 40 nice onions, a gallon of cherry tomatoes, 10 really nice slicing tomatoes, and more squash and cucumbers. It seems that there are lots of needy or older folks who come to dialysis and they love to have some fresh veggies to take home. Sandy loves to take the veggies and give them out. She even buys boxes of gallon size Ziploc bags so people can take them home. My wife is taking two big bags of all kinds of stuff to her parents this morning too. They then share with her aunts and uncles. It seems my garden stuff gets around and I could not be happier. What's better than sharing good food with those who really need it? I especially like helping the elderly and folks scraping by on Social Security only.

BTW: Even with giving all this away, we still have more than we can eat. My blackeyed peas will need their first picking tomorrow morning. My okra will be producing too in another week. I'd bet I still have over 250 lb of nice tomatoes on my vines too.:thumbsup: I counted Israel melons yesterday and have about 15 big ones that will be ripe in a couple of weeks too. I don't think they will make it by the 4th of July, but one or two will probably be ready a week later.:licking:

Jim,
That's a great way of giving. It all goes to the folks that need it rather than a majority to administrators and high paid executives. Perhaps God is blessing you with a plentiful bounty because of the way you are sharing it.
Ron

 

[Lou66]

Jim I know what you mean,, I give away just about everything I grow.. There is a youth home a few miles away and the minister will bring a few on the kids over to help pick and carry,, swear some of those kids have never seen a garden,, they do make me smile.. I enjoy growing things.. Two of my sons have garden also,, so between the three of us we keep the family in veggie,, fresh and canned,:licking:, Lou