rewebster
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that has got to be one of the nicest pictures of a bug you've posted, turbo
Thanks, rewebster! Luckily, she was busy with that tiny floret, and I got pretty close and snapped away. Then she raised her tail (possibly to gain leverage to get deeper into that bloom) for the "money shot".rewebster said:that has got to be one of the nicest pictures of a bug you've posted, turbo
Evo said:That's an awesome picture turbo!
turbo-1 said:Thanks you two. That's an ovipositor that the wasp uses to inject eggs into her prey, which unfortunately is solitary-nesting wasps and bees. I'll have to let her alone, even though she is likely to parasitize some of my solitary mason bees and other pollinators.
Don't want to knock down the bees with pressure-shock.baywax said:Why not get out the glock?!
turbo-1 said:Don't want to knock down the bees with pressure-shock.Have you ever fired a model 20? You'll need ear-plugs AND muffs - no kidding!
turbo-1 said:Don't want to knock down the bees with pressure-shock.Have you ever fired a model 20? You'll need ear-plugs AND muffs - no kidding!
I am so glad to hear that!Moonbear said:More storms here too. My "safety net" for the tomatoes didn't completely prevent them from tipping, but they rested gently against it instead of falling to the ground, and no new broken branches this time.Yay!
Evo said:What is with you getting bad storms!?
I'm just glad it's not me for a change!Moonbear said:I have no idea what's going on. This time of year, a brief late day thundershower isn't that odd, but we've been getting fairly severe storms quite often with torrential downpours (yesterday, I was home in the afternoon when it started and I couldn't even see out the window the rain was so hard...it was like someone was spraying a garden hose at the window; the ditches that drain the rain water from the roads looked like whitewater rapids there was so much water running through them afterward). It's just insane. The storms just don't seem to want to let up!
That's not good, cold weather we be upon us sooner than we realize and if they aren't finished, that's going to be a mess!It's going to be a mess in two weeks when students return to town. Most of the road construction done over the summer is far from complete with all the storms slowing down work, and the roads are only getting worse from all the heavy rain water undermining sections where the ditches along the road are turning into ravines from the force of water running through them.
Evo said:And I don't want to jinx it, but the weather has not been as severe as usual. It seems Moonbear is getting hit instead.
rewebster said:we haven't had as many tornadoes, but we've had a lot more strong straight line winds--that's what has knocked down trees the last few times
One of our problems is that when those little "disturbances" get here they are often accompanied by swirling air-flows that sweep moisture off the Atlantic and bring the flows into contact with cooler stationary fronts from Canada. The result is VERY energetic storms with torrential rains. I am losing tomatoes to rot, with stem-rot spoiling the fruit before they can ripen off. I need at least 2-3 dry hot days at a time, or I'll lose much of my garden.Moonbear said:You can have it back! I think turbo has been getting some of the same storms I have. It seems he gets hit the day after me pretty regularly, which is about how long it would take a storm system to get from here up to Maine with these slow-moving, torrential-downpour-soaking storms. Of course, I'd have thought the clouds would be wrung out by the time they got there they're dumping so much out here.
Oh no!turbo-1 said:One of our problems is that when those little "disturbances" get here they are often accompanied by swirling air-flows that sweep moisture off the Atlantic and bring the flows into contact with cooler stationary fronts from Canada. The result is VERY energetic storms with torrential rains. I am losing tomatoes to rot, with stem-rot spoiling the fruit before they can ripen off. I need at least 2-3 dry hot days at a time, or I'll lose much of my garden.
baywax said:Nice shot of the clouds rewebster. Those are some of my favourite because they change so rapidly and often emit electricity, like a wonder of nature. Thank you!
Evo said:I'm pulling off tomatoes with split skins. Too much water too suddenly. This is quite the year for gardeners.
Evo said:Oh no!
I'm pulling off tomatoes with split skins. Too much water too suddenly. This is quite the year for gardeners.
I'm going to post some "hapy" pictures of my garden in a bit. Keep taking pictures of your gardens, so at least you have some "happy" memories. I've found taking pictures has helped me to spot several garden pests I would have otherwise missed!
Thanks! They'll keep coming, and so will the Hungarian Wax chilies. We'll be getting batches of Bell peppers like this every week or sooner, as long as the weather cooperates. The jalapeno chilies are fruiting well, too, though the habaneros (my favorites!) have been suppressed by all the wet cloudy weather. Normally I don't fertilize peppers too heavily, since high nitrogen availability makes the plants leafy and suppresses flowers/fruits. This year, I planted the peppers in a richer part of the garden than previously, and it seems to have helped offset the cloudy-wet weather. The plants are bushy and have enough leaf area to make energy on sub-optimal days, and enough nutrients to develop nice fruits.Evo said:Nice batch of peppers!
The wilt is just from getting dry, they perk right back up after being watered. I think you are thinking of the disease fusarium wilt.. that's not it.rewebster said:my soil, so the experts say, should be sterilized, or the tomatoes rotated to new soil if they get this wilt.
I have some in peat mixture and some in potting soil, and the peat mixture retains more moisture.rewebster said:I was thinking--if you have room (or can take a little of the peat out without harming the roots) , you can add some regular dirt or top soil to the pot and that may help hold some more moisture for the plant
If you have access to wood-ash, you'll get a two-fer.rewebster said:I threw some 'pea gravel' into the garden for lime when I started it--but I think its sunk or something because I don't see it anymore-----I think mine needs potash to help fight that 'wilt'
Tomatoes are nutrient-depleters for sure. Some plants (beans, peas, other legumes) fix nitrogen and their rows may be a good place to plant tomatoes in the following year.Moonbear said:I would definitely consider fertilizing if the plants are dying like that and it's not a water problem. Tomatoes are notorious for depleting nutrients in their soil, which is why people are told to rotate them to new locations each year. If you've planted in the same location a few times, a hefty dose of fertilizer may be the prescription.