For the second season in a row, my hornworms have missed their 20 June arrival date. And still no Japanese Beetles.
Bob
Bob
Deluxestogie Grow Log 2023
- Thread starter deluxestogie
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Homegrowngoodnes
Well-Known Member
Perhaps one of your neighbors thoughtfully put up a trap to lure them from your yard? Ha!
A couple of years ago, my immediate neighbor to the west hung a number of traps in his front yard (where his garden is located). The prevailing wind is westerly, so my garden ended up with much of the trap lure scent. As a result, Japanese Beetles in droves discovered my yummy grape vines and blackberry brambles, before ever reaching my neighbor's traps.
Bob
Bob
My first day of summer.
58°F, raining and windy.
Bob
EDIT: I just looked back. It was warmer on December 30.
58°F, raining and windy.
Bob
EDIT: I just looked back. It was warmer on December 30.
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Brown Thumb
Well-Known Member
Smile Be HAPPY, at least your leaves ain’t yellowing Yet.
Every day above ground is a good day.My first day of summer.
58°F, raining and windy.
Bob
EDIT: I just looked back. It was warmer on December 30.
I bagged my Tofta this evening, after misting the bud head with permethrin. I would have waited another day or two, but with predicted rain for the next two days, I took advantage of a dry window, and went ahead and bagged it. The bud stalk had already elongated. This is ~7 weeks after transplant (49 days), which is close to the maturation days in Sweden (and has curiously shared Swedish weather). I plan to complete plant and leaf measurements of the Tofta next week.
Bob
Bob
My porch-corner MD-609, currently encircled by copper pennies at its base, shows no sign of further slug damage. But I have no control plant, and the number of test plants studied (N) = 1. So, the result is encouraging, but no conclusions from that.
I noticed a single slug moving along the floor of my front porch. In the first image, it is unimpeded.
I placed a penny in its path.
It turned aside. But that was not convincing. So I moved the penny to once again be in its path.
Here we see an unmistakable 'U'-turn.
Maybe they don't like copper. Maybe they don't like Abe Lincoln. But they don't seem to be willing to cross over the copper penny.
Bob
I noticed a single slug moving along the floor of my front porch. In the first image, it is unimpeded.
I placed a penny in its path.
It turned aside. But that was not convincing. So I moved the penny to once again be in its path.
Here we see an unmistakable 'U'-turn.
Maybe they don't like copper. Maybe they don't like Abe Lincoln. But they don't seem to be willing to cross over the copper penny.
Bob
ericthered
Active Member
Lucky! In SE VA I've been plucking hornworms for the last couple days, and we've had Japanese beetles for the last few weeks. They definitely prefer our peach trees and crepe myrtles. I catch what I can in a bowl of water and give them to our chickens. I'm thinking of setting up a beetle trap IN the chicken run to cut down on the legwork.
Bob
Anders A
Well-Known Member
Bob
My Tofta right now (first row). 1 of 24 plants has get flower so far. I sowed them march 15 and planted them may 21.
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My weather forecast for today was for rain. Then they canceled the rain: only ~5% chance. Then it rained for a half-hour. Still ~5% chance of rain. Then it stopped, allowing me to obtain measurements on my Tofta. These numbers are specific to my rather odd weather this season.
Then it rained again. Still ~5% chance of rain.
Bob
Then it rained again. Still ~5% chance of rain.
Bob
Above is a sunset photo of my Xanthi-Yaka 18a. They are very closely spaced. I seem to be heading toward a bounty of small-size leaves, which bring the highest prices in Turkey. I've considered a number of approaches to sun-curing them, and decided to stalk-cut them, and string 9 stalks onto each of 4 stringing wires. I will wait for them to fully blossom and mature.
For much of the late day, it was either raining or completely overcast. But about 1 hour before sunset, the clouds parted, and the sun beamed brightly in the West. Below are two demonstrations of circumnutation: the flexible portions of a plant turn toward the sunrise, then follow the sun across the sky, until sunset.
The tallest of the Tofta stalks are now too rigid to bend, but the less mature ones have tipped their heads to point directly at the setting sun. I'll obtain another photo from the same position in the morning.
Below, some of the Little Yellow have been able to slightly tip toward the sunset. Within 20 minutes, they were all perfectly upright again.
Bob
Here is the Tofta circumnutation at about 11:00 am this morning.
Things are looking up.
Bob
Things are looking up.
Bob
Early yesterday afternoon, I made the difficult decision to withdraw all life-support for my Oh Deere! lawn tractor, and move the poor Deere into hospice care. Though unseemly this soon after, I drove out today, and purchased its replacement—a 2017 model John Deere lawn tractor. I paid more for it than I did for my car (and the car doesn't even require ear plugs while operating it).
Bob
Bob
50% of my Tofta plants have at least one open blossom. So my actual Tofta maturation is 54 days post transplant this season.
Bob
Bob
Bob
Bob
When is the Oh Deere!! unveiling photo shoot?
