Do they ever stop? Harlequin Bug The Lowdown: Why are the beautiful ones the most evil? These tiny Picasso paintings will lay waste to all cruciferous vegetables. If these types of veggies are scarce, the Harlequin will turn to valuable edibles like asparagus, corn, beans, squash, and tomatoes. Young plants will die with a heavy infestation, and older plants will become stunted and less productive. According to NC State's Ag extension, female adults will lay approximately … [Read more...] about Bugging Out: Part Four
marigolds
Bugging Out: Part 2
The tirade on bad bugs continues... Mites The Lowdown: Mite's microscopic size cause consternation with the naked eye. More frustrating is the fact that if mites go unchecked, they can produce 16 generations in a season! The most common interloper in indoor and outdoor gardens are spider mites. They cause damage by piercing plant cells to feed. The adults spin webs to protect from prey (thus the name). Broad mites can cause more hair pulling thanks to even being invisible with a … [Read more...] about Bugging Out: Part 2
Bugging Out: Part 1
The advent of summer brings many positives: vacations, warm weather, and a new found appreciation of karaoke bars. It also brings negatives: Hangovers, sunburns, long car rides, and most of all, bugs. These summer delights infiltrate every aspect of human life. Ants create colonies in sink drains, roaches wait for the lights to dampen, and aphids suck the life out of that prized heirloom tomato that would have won first prize at the state fair. Gardeners, more than any breed of hobbyist, … [Read more...] about Bugging Out: Part 1
The Tomato: A Fruity Impersonator in the Vegetable Patch
The attraction to the tomato is irresistible. Hobbyists, professionals, and even the heartburn-laden can't resist this fruit disguised as a vegetable. The colors and tastes are fathomless--purples, yellows, stripes, acidic, mild, sugary, and even peppery are used to categorize tomatoes. The challenges in growing the perfect tomato are almost as numerous. Diseases, bugs, and gophers of ill repute flock to it like paparazzi in search of juicy weak spots. Perfection is never obtainable, but … [Read more...] about The Tomato: A Fruity Impersonator in the Vegetable Patch
