| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 06 2010 : 9:55:26 PM
Hi everyone! I'm a new farmgirl in desperate need of your help! My husband has always lovingly joked that I am the "Al Capone of Green Thumbs." Determined to make him literally eat his words, this year I did a lot of research and decided to give it my all! With his assistance, of course (despite his taunting, he really is a sweetheart), I turned our tiny backyard in a huge (to me) organic garden. It was beautiful and absolutely flourishing until powdery mildew hit a couple of weeks ago. After consulting my five gardening "Bibles," I only found one with a suggestion: spray the leaves with a mixture of 1/10 milk to 9/10 water. I have been faithful in so doing, but have had to pull many leaves and stems, and it is painfully evident that this is simply not working. I could cry! The plants are still alive, new growth continues and we do have flowers, but they look pretty sick. Please help! I don't want to be "Al Capone of Green Thumbs" anymore! I want to be more like "Mother Earth!" LOL! Thank you so much for you help! - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| csmartyonline |
Posted - Sep 01 2010 : 05:39:24 AM
Hey Nini --
Yes, if you garden or farm you've got to appreciate and accept all that nature has and gives. The wonderful thing is that the cycle starts all over fresh the next year. Nothing is written in stone (thankfully). No matter what they say about an "average" year, it never seems to be the same thing twice ... or maybe that's just my experience. Only when we lived in coastal California could we really count on weather conditions being very similar from year to year.
Ah, winter planning. Makes the cold days inside worth it and winter has a beauty all her own. And, of course, winter is a "She". ;-)
Happy Day to all,
Carole |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 31 2010 : 8:35:26 PM
Oh! Carole! That's awful! It seems every year there is some new challenge to contend with - but this year, I'd say you've paid it forward, girl! :) I agree - we'll all just really be looking forward to next spring. Half the fun is planning and plotting during the winter months, anyway! I just feel a little down because I had planned to can and freeze and store up for the winter - I had a BIG plan - and I really didn't get enough produce to do any of that. We all gave it our best, though, huh? And it really IS quite a compliment from nature when the critters and bugs and birds enjoy our beautiful gardens, too. :) - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| csmartyonline |
Posted - Aug 31 2010 : 12:28:36 PM
Hi girls --
It has been a rough year for gardening here in Tennessee too. First there was the late frosts, then hail, then way too much rain and the flood, then it got very hot and humid for a very long time, now a big shortage of rain (my grass is getting crispy). But it was a dandy year for bugs: Japanese Beetles up the wahzoo, squash vine borers, aphids, mites. The only thing I didn't see is a lot of grasshoppers and I think that's because we have so many birds that eat them. Well, that's something good, at least. We've had black spot, blight, and all kinds of fungi. But in spite of it all, did get some nice tomatoes, peppers and flowers in the perennial garden. Will be glad when everything dies down and we can start again next year. Sometimes you just have one of those years when the weather never cooperates. ;-) |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 31 2010 : 11:15:43 AM
I know how you feel, Laurie - that's the pits. We decided to keep only the plants that actually had veggies on them and pull up the rest. For the ones that were producing, we just kept spraying and pulling up any leaves that rotted. I'm sick over the whole thing. I wonder if there is any way to prevent it even earlier for next year? I had such BEAUTIFUL plants at the beginning of the season, and now - nada. Maybe two zucchini, maybe 7 or 8 yellow squash. And it eventually moved on to my cantaloupe, too. I was heartsick. I noticed recently that one of our neighbors has pumpkins so huge that you can barely put both arms around them... I didn't even get one. :( Oh, well.. thank goodness for the pumpkin patch! I'm going to take Teresa's advice and use black plastic over the winter to kill anything bad in the soil, and then we'll just have to see what happens next spring. It's just such a shame, but I'm chalking it up to a learning experience. I wanted to do a fall garden with some winter squash and other things, but I'm extremely hesitant to go to all that work to have it all die. I figure the garden just needs a good rest like a patient in the hospital. Hang in there - it won't be like this every year! - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| Montrose Girl |
Posted - Aug 31 2010 : 07:20:41 AM
My turn, ugh. The problem is that we didn't figure out what the trouble was until too late. I hadn't been to the BF's for a week and he wasn't sure. Then I figured out it was P.M., but we have one squash that looks like it is Oct and cold. We sprayed twice with the baking soda, milk, water combo so far, but I'm wondering if we should pull the plant that looks like it is dying/dead.
Of course it is my spaghetti squash plant and I hate to loose them all, but what ever it takes to protect the rest.
thanks, Laurie
Best Growing |
| RIgardengirl |
Posted - Aug 11 2010 : 11:31:30 AM
I found this recipe for powdery mildew:
4 TBSP baking soda
2 TBSP Murphy's Oil Soap
1 gal water
Mix together. Pour into a hand sprayer, and apply liberally when you see the
telltale white spots.
RIGardenGirl Farmgirl #1838
The way of cultivation is not easy.
He who plants a garden plants happiness.
- Author Unknown |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 09 2010 : 10:07:12 AM
I am trying... I am having trouble getting to everything without stepping on the plants, but I think I've got them covered. This stuff is even on the stems! It reminds me of little children with horrible cases of chicken pox - you know, when they're inside AND out! Poor plants... But this stuff is working! It's amazing! Thanks, Merry! :)
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| Merry |
Posted - Aug 09 2010 : 09:40:25 AM
Don't forget to spray underside of leaves also!
Merry
Farmgirl #536
http://afarminmyheart.blogspot.com/
Your life is an occasion, rise to it. Mr. Magorium |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 09 2010 : 08:25:07 AM
I definitelyl will look for it, thanks Cindy! I had looked there for it before, but didn't see it. Now that I have a name, maybe they'll be able to help me. Yay!
Also - quick report: Powdery mildew seems to be dying. It's definitely not all gone, but the baking soda and baking soda/dishsoap/milksplash sprays seem to be doing something! Yee haw!
Thanks again, girls - I can't imagine what I ever did without you! :) - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| prariehawk |
Posted - Aug 09 2010 : 12:56:30 AM
Nini--I bought some fish emulsion fertilizer at Lowes and it's approved for use on organic farms. It's called Alaska fish fertilizer. You might want to see if your local Lowes carries it.
Cindy
"There is more to life than increasing its speed". Mahatma Gandhi
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 07 2010 : 7:58:37 PM
Hi Teresa and Merry! Thank you both so much! Teresa, I honestly never knew to water from below! We've had such a rainy summer, I haven't watered more than twice, but from now on, I will do that! I will also definitely follow your soil treatment remedy - that is awesome! Please forgive me, though: what is a cover crop? I'm sorry... I really am a newbie, and am working hard to drop the "Al Capone of Green Thumbs" title... I really appreciate your patience and willingness to share! I did my own compost for the first time starting last fall, and it's good stuff. But we didn't have enough for the whole garden, so I added mushroom compost, dried cow manure and peat moss before tilling. This year we've got a much larger pile started, and it's doing great. Hope not to have to use much of anything store bought this time around! :) Merry, I will definitely try your recipe, too! Sounds like a sure thing! Thank you for sharing!
I can't wait to report back to you on how everything goes! Please keep the sage advice and farmgirl gardening wisdom coming! You all are the best!
Hugs - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| Merry |
Posted - Aug 07 2010 : 4:24:34 PM
I put a few drops dish liquid soap a tsp of baking soda and a splash of milk. Works great!
Merry
Farmgirl #536
http://afarminmyheart.blogspot.com/
Your life is an occasion, rise to it. Mr. Magorium |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Aug 07 2010 : 3:56:49 PM
When you put your garden to bed this late fall/early winter, cover the soil with heavy black plastic, that will kill most all of the bad stuff living in your soil, then early spring plant a cover crop and till it under when your planting time comes, that will add alot of nutriants to the soil also. When you water, water in the morning and only from underneath, like with soaker hoses, watering from above invites mildews and mold spores, make sure you use a good compost also, that has broken down and been sun baked, to help retain moisture. Good luck...
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| shunger |
Posted - Aug 07 2010 : 11:26:53 AM
Sherry, thanks for the organic tips. I am heading in that direction slowly -- I am thinking that miracle grow really hurt our plants this year. My husband likes Miracle grow and my mom always used it, but I am beginning to think it's not such a good idea. Suzanne |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 07 2010 : 08:33:03 AM
Thank you SO much, Sherry! You know, I've been using bone meal, but I've also been using blood meal to sway the bunnies away (farmer aunt's instructions), which is full of nitrogen... I am afraid I've been the one damaging my broccoli!!! Nooooooooo! Well, lesson learned. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your shedding light on this for me! I'll try to save them, but I'm thinking it may just be that I have to pull them. I will see if I can find seaweed around here - I had been looking for fish emulsion at one point, and couldn't find it to save my life. Are there any websites where I might be able to find these things? I am also definitely going to try the baking soda spray... I really would love to have my own pumpkins this year! Hugs - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| sherrye |
Posted - Aug 07 2010 : 07:44:40 AM
good morning ladies, welcome to our home nini. i as many here do grow organic. j i rodale first teaches that we need to feed soil. soil humus is the building block store house. i aam going to guess you need bone meal first off. it is roots and blooms. a strong plant has a skin on the leaf. this keeps the fungi from hurting it. if the plabt is stressed the skin is thin or broken. it is very thin and sensitive. but strong like our skin.if you cut a leaf with bacteria ( fungi) on it and then touch another you are spreading it. best to put in bag in garbage can. to care for your plants organically. 1.if she is hungry and weak miracle grow and synthetic fertilizers harm. the plant is forced to build on incomplete food sources. in a teaspoon of topsoil there are thousands of molecules man has yet to give names let alone reproduce. if you use organic now thats great. bone meal is strength. a complete fertilizer program is needed since this is second year for problems. you can feed some algae or seaweed to your plants in a spray bottle. put 1 tblsp. of seaweed and to one gallon water. spray in am before the leaf follicle closes. if you need to buy a fertilizer use one that will not burn. you are looking for the 2 last numbers higher. less nitrogen. if you get too high a nitro. count the plant again becomes vulnerable to disease. leaves are to fleshy. well gotta go do chores. also baking soda is good for bacteria and fingi on leaves. dilute as if it was the seaweed. 1 tblsp. to gallon tepid water not cold. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
|
| Ninibini |
Posted - Aug 07 2010 : 05:36:20 AM
Thank you so much, Diane! I feel a little better. I know what you mean; we've had similar weather here, and I really do think it's partly what's wreaking havoc with my plants! Last year, our tomatoes were assaulted by that blight, but the rest of the garden burgeoned. This year, the tomatoes are plentiful and growing like weeds (literally - I have them growing throughout the garden; must be from store bought tomatoes' seeds in the compost pile!), but everything else in my mini oasis is slooooooooow in coming! And something awful is happening to my broccoli: I only received a few teeny heads, then suddenly the edges of the leaves started to brown. Next they turned yellow and spotty. I clipped them off the plants, but now it's spreading. :( And my peppers are taking forever! I have plenty of banana peppers, and got a few hot cherries, but the green pepper plants aren't doing much. They are tall, green and lovely, but very few fruits. I didn't know they could get blight, too! Eghads! We've reaped enough of our other veggies to sustain our summer diet, but it looks like the canning jars may have to sit out yet another season. :( Oh, well... what you gonna do?
I would love to start a fall garden now, too, but wasn't sure when to start or what to plant! Any suggestions? And do I need to do anything special to the soil regarding this powdery mildew?
I'm not sure that this will work for your beetle problem, but it sure worked on my slugs: sprinkle white flour around the base of the afflicted plants. It clings to their skin and they suffocate. I know it sounds heartless, but what they were doing to my cabbages was heartless. I haven't had a problem since, and my cabbages are beautiful! And after finding MaryJane's article on making sauerkraut, my guys are keeping careful watch on them! They love their sauerkraut! :)
On another happy note, last fall was the first time I ever planted garlic, and was thrilled to see them popping up through the ground in the spring! I even made my first garlic braid - so purty, so neat! I am heartbroken to think that I'll be cutting from it in the near future - it's hanging in my kitchen, feeling just like a blue ribbon from the county fair! :)
I know: I'm so goofey! It doesn't take a lot to make me happy! ;)
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Aug 07 2010 : 04:17:55 AM
Nini, My squash and pumpkins have powdery mold too! I also have lost a couple of pepper plants to late blight. The weather has been so extreme, either monsoon rain or hot and humid. My cabbages all split and my turnips bolted. I also have Janpanese beetles eating every leaf in sight. My tomatoes are the only plants that are doing great. I just hope that blight doesn't spread to them. I am tearing everything out and disposing of it and am planning on a fall garden. What a wacky year for gardening. Don't feel like it is just you, Mother Nature has been a little crazy this year.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World! |
|
|
