The spotted cucumber beetles in my yard are developing a resistance to BT and to Sulfur sprays. For three days in a row they have been sprayed. There are still a few there. They got sprayed again yesterday. Who knows if that will work? The only cucurbits left are some new cucumbers and some new yellow squash. They may make it. They may not.
Rain has been threatened all week, but the garden is dry enough that it will need watering tonight. The upside down tomatoes are the canaries in the coal mine. When they wilt, it is an indication that the soil is getting dry. Soil in pots dries fast. Soil in raised beds dries almost as fast.
The vacant raised beds are ready for the fall planting now. The official time to plant is Labor Day. Our garden may get planted this weekend. The weekend is supposed to be cool and dry. Good for the gardener.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label Sulfur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sulfur. Show all posts
Friday, August 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Mystery Solved
The “mystery bugs” are spotted cucumber beetles. During the research phase, I found striped cucumber beetles. These are the same thing with a different pattern on their uniform. Mr. Blackley at Renfrow’s Hardware identified them. They can be defeated with neem oil, pyrethrums or sulfur. Pyrethrums are considered organic because they are made from daisies. They are still a poison. This limits a true organic solution to the sulfur or the neem oil. I already have sulfur.
When sulfur is used in a garden spray one must pay careful attention to the PH of the soil. Even a little bit of sulfur will acidify the soil. The best time to spray is early in the morning to avoid damage to the foliage. If watering is required as well, that should be done first.
The first cantaloupe and the first watermelon came off this weekend. The cantaloupe was very sweet. We haven’t eaten the watermelon yet. The tomatoes and okra are coming in well. The cucumbers are looking shabby. The summer squash is done, but new patty-pan squash and yellow squash have been planted and are doing well. Most of the butternut squash and all of the spaghetti squash has been picked.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
When sulfur is used in a garden spray one must pay careful attention to the PH of the soil. Even a little bit of sulfur will acidify the soil. The best time to spray is early in the morning to avoid damage to the foliage. If watering is required as well, that should be done first.
The first cantaloupe and the first watermelon came off this weekend. The cantaloupe was very sweet. We haven’t eaten the watermelon yet. The tomatoes and okra are coming in well. The cucumbers are looking shabby. The summer squash is done, but new patty-pan squash and yellow squash have been planted and are doing well. Most of the butternut squash and all of the spaghetti squash has been picked.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Friday, July 9, 2010
Powdery Mildew
The powdery mildew has made its annual visit to the garden. It seems worse this year than it has ever been. A part to the sprayer was lost when spraying started Sunday. Today the spraying needs to be finished up. There are two good organic remedies for powdery mildew.
A sulfur spray works well and fast. Just put about 3 oz of powdered wettable sulfur in a gallon of water and go to it. A little dish soap helps it stay in solution and stick to the leaves. The good thing about the sulfur is that it does not seem to damage the leaves. It also stays visible on the plant until the next rain. The sulfur will increase the acidity of the soil.
A baking soda spray works equally well. About 4 tablespoons of baking soda in a gallon of water with a little dish soap does the trick. The baking soda spray does seem to kill the leaves on which it is sprayed. It increases the alkalinity of the soil. Because it is invisible in the solution, it is difficult to tell if it is still there. For this reason we normally use the sulfur. We add cayenne to the solution to deter the deer and rabbits at the same time.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
A sulfur spray works well and fast. Just put about 3 oz of powdered wettable sulfur in a gallon of water and go to it. A little dish soap helps it stay in solution and stick to the leaves. The good thing about the sulfur is that it does not seem to damage the leaves. It also stays visible on the plant until the next rain. The sulfur will increase the acidity of the soil.
A baking soda spray works equally well. About 4 tablespoons of baking soda in a gallon of water with a little dish soap does the trick. The baking soda spray does seem to kill the leaves on which it is sprayed. It increases the alkalinity of the soil. Because it is invisible in the solution, it is difficult to tell if it is still there. For this reason we normally use the sulfur. We add cayenne to the solution to deter the deer and rabbits at the same time.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Finally a Garden Weekend
Finally a Garden Weekend
Saturday morning I planted 4 flats of plants. Sunday morning some of them had already germinated. Sunflowers and Nasturtiums are unbelievably fast. I also laid off several rows in the garden and tested the ph. I am beginning to wonder if something is wrong with my ph meter. None of the spots I tested was less than 6.1
I have not added lime to the soil in 3 years. I add lots of leaves and compost. I was under the impression these things would make the soil more acid. I added sulfur to several rows last year. A spot from last years potato row, where I had brought the ph below 5 was the lowest ph. It was 6.1. I guess I will have to add more sulfur this year.
Next weekend I would like to plant potatoes, sugar peas, radish, carrots, onions, greens and salad greens. I am debating whether to till the soil or just plant. I tilled everything really deep at the end of the season last year. It has been heavily mulched since then. Maybe I will just pull back the mulch and plant the seeds. The potatoes will be the exception. I prefer to incorporate the leave into the potato bed. Also I need to add sulfur. The sugar peas of course will be inoculated. I may plant them without removing the mulch.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Saturday morning I planted 4 flats of plants. Sunday morning some of them had already germinated. Sunflowers and Nasturtiums are unbelievably fast. I also laid off several rows in the garden and tested the ph. I am beginning to wonder if something is wrong with my ph meter. None of the spots I tested was less than 6.1
I have not added lime to the soil in 3 years. I add lots of leaves and compost. I was under the impression these things would make the soil more acid. I added sulfur to several rows last year. A spot from last years potato row, where I had brought the ph below 5 was the lowest ph. It was 6.1. I guess I will have to add more sulfur this year.
Next weekend I would like to plant potatoes, sugar peas, radish, carrots, onions, greens and salad greens. I am debating whether to till the soil or just plant. I tilled everything really deep at the end of the season last year. It has been heavily mulched since then. Maybe I will just pull back the mulch and plant the seeds. The potatoes will be the exception. I prefer to incorporate the leave into the potato bed. Also I need to add sulfur. The sugar peas of course will be inoculated. I may plant them without removing the mulch.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Fall is Falling
Fall is Falling
Last week the garden structures from the summer came down and were stored away. It is sad to see the dead tomato plants. There has not even been a freeze. Some years we eat fresh picked tomatoes at Christmas. We haven’t had tomatoes for several weeks. This was the worst year ever for tomatoes in my garden. Many things will need to change next year.
The orientation of the garden is one thing. Rows were mostly running East-West this year. Next year they will run North-South. Hopefully the soil will get worked this coming week. Then there will be soil test and planning. Lime or sulfur will be added to bring each row to the proper ph for its intended crop.
Winter is the time for seed catalogs, greenhouse work and reading garden books. I have a huge new garden book called “Organic Gardening” from Rodale Press. It will be reviewed in segments rather than as a whole.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Last week the garden structures from the summer came down and were stored away. It is sad to see the dead tomato plants. There has not even been a freeze. Some years we eat fresh picked tomatoes at Christmas. We haven’t had tomatoes for several weeks. This was the worst year ever for tomatoes in my garden. Many things will need to change next year.
The orientation of the garden is one thing. Rows were mostly running East-West this year. Next year they will run North-South. Hopefully the soil will get worked this coming week. Then there will be soil test and planning. Lime or sulfur will be added to bring each row to the proper ph for its intended crop.
Winter is the time for seed catalogs, greenhouse work and reading garden books. I have a huge new garden book called “Organic Gardening” from Rodale Press. It will be reviewed in segments rather than as a whole.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sulfur
Sulfur
I was having a hard time finding sulfur at a price I was willing to pay. I finally found 4# bags at Myers Park Hardware for $5.25 each. I was a little surprised as this store is normally a little more expensive.
If you go buy sulfur take a plastic trash bag and a way to close it securely. I put the paper bags of sulfur in the trunk of my car. It makes the whole car stink. I have had to explain to everyone who rode with me that I had not given George Bush a ride.
At this point I have laid off 3 rows counting the raised bed. All of them tested between 6.5 and 7. PH. I did not put anything on the raised bed yet. I will do that when I plant the strawberries. I did put about ½ pound of sulfur in beds 2 and 3. After that I covered them with leaves to a depth of about 8”.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
I was having a hard time finding sulfur at a price I was willing to pay. I finally found 4# bags at Myers Park Hardware for $5.25 each. I was a little surprised as this store is normally a little more expensive.
If you go buy sulfur take a plastic trash bag and a way to close it securely. I put the paper bags of sulfur in the trunk of my car. It makes the whole car stink. I have had to explain to everyone who rode with me that I had not given George Bush a ride.
At this point I have laid off 3 rows counting the raised bed. All of them tested between 6.5 and 7. PH. I did not put anything on the raised bed yet. I will do that when I plant the strawberries. I did put about ½ pound of sulfur in beds 2 and 3. After that I covered them with leaves to a depth of about 8”.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Soil PH
Soil PH
A few weeks ago, I asked if anyone was reading this blog and if they knew how to reduce soil PH. No one answered. I am going to be optimistic and assume that someone was reading; but they either did not know or did not care. I found out how to reduce soil PH.
Bartlett tree service http://www.bartlett.com sent me a newsletter suggesting that soil PH could be reduced with the use of sulfur. I searched with Google and found this to be the case. Aluminum sulfate and iron sulfate will also work. The iron sulfate may actually be superior in some soils and some conditions. The aluminum sulfate sounds like it is fast; but it has some toxic side effects. The sulfur seems to be cheaper and longer lasting than the iron sulfate.
I found a couple of sources of more information that may be helpful. Clemson University http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1650.htm has some useful charts to show how much of the soil amendment to use based on area, soil type and desired effect. The Garden Helper http://www.thegardenhelper.com/soilPH.htm gives the desired PH range for different popular fruits and vegetables.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
A few weeks ago, I asked if anyone was reading this blog and if they knew how to reduce soil PH. No one answered. I am going to be optimistic and assume that someone was reading; but they either did not know or did not care. I found out how to reduce soil PH.
Bartlett tree service http://www.bartlett.com sent me a newsletter suggesting that soil PH could be reduced with the use of sulfur. I searched with Google and found this to be the case. Aluminum sulfate and iron sulfate will also work. The iron sulfate may actually be superior in some soils and some conditions. The aluminum sulfate sounds like it is fast; but it has some toxic side effects. The sulfur seems to be cheaper and longer lasting than the iron sulfate.
I found a couple of sources of more information that may be helpful. Clemson University http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1650.htm has some useful charts to show how much of the soil amendment to use based on area, soil type and desired effect. The Garden Helper http://www.thegardenhelper.com/soilPH.htm gives the desired PH range for different popular fruits and vegetables.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/.
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