Herb This » Bugs

Bugs

Sheryl — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:00:21 +0000

I just wanted to take a minute and say that I’m so excited for fall, and I’m hoping we have a good winter this year, too. Although I enjoyed the early start this year getting my garden on late Feb/early March, I didn’t know what it would cost me. The bugs this year were out of control, far worse than normal, and I feel like we lost more crops to bugs this year than we have in the past. I would also like to note that our flowers seemed to do quite well (sunflowers, zinnias, and vincas mostly), though the petunias could have done without the aphid attack.

So… bring on the deep freeze and get these bugs out of here!!!!

Mexican Bean Beetles

Sheryl — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:00:23 +0000

Our string bean leaves have been eaten, thanks to the the little yellow larvae of the Mexican Bean Beetles. Luckily, they don’t seem to eat the actual beans! We were still able to harvest quite a bit. I got another 2-3 cups this weekend before I ripped the skeletons out and sent them to the compost area.

They are big enough to see, pick off and crush, so you just need to try to remove as many as you can as soon as the attack starts. Larvae look like spiny yellow globs and the adults look like orange lady bugs. When you squish them, they ooze yellow.

Look at this crazy damage! I’m going to try to plant one more batch of bush beans this upcoming weekend; not sure we’ll get another batch before the frost but we really don’t have anything to lose. Most of the Mexican Bean Beetles are now in adulthood, so the larvae shouldn’t be an issue now… right?

Mexican Bean Beetles on Bush Beans

Zinnias, Hooray!

Sheryl — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 10:00:56 +0000

The zinnias have been doing amazing in the garden… and they are so bright and beautiful I love cutting them for my table. I only planted 4 plants (granted, a few seeds per ‘spot’), so I wasn’t expecting that many flowers, but I have plenty! I’m definitely growing these every year from now on. Only 1 packet of seeds will give you a ton of zinnias! I’ve already had about 5 vases full of zinnias, and there are many, many more. I have 3 colors dark pink, orange, and peach. The bushes are about 3 feet high, and are actually very pretty to look at. You can’t keep up with cutting them, so there is always a lot of color in them. I might even try to plant some at the house next year, too. I didn’t realize until now they are deer resistant!

As you can see on the last picture, the ‘good’ bugs like to hang out there, too! Praying mantis is on the most top flower to the right. The butterfly is a bit harder to see on the bottom left in a bit from the last flower.

Zinnias on the table!

Zinnia ‘Bush’

Zinnias with Praying Mantis & Butterfly