Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Garden Coaching
  • Travel
  • Contact
  • My Gardens
    • The Back Garden
    • The Potager
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Garden Coaching
  • Travel
  • Contact
  • My Gardens
    • The Back Garden
    • The Potager

Dear Friends and Gardeners Week 17

28 June, 2009 By Dee Nash

by Dee Nash
28 June, 20095 July, 2009Filed under:
  • Vegetables

Dear Carol and Mary Ann, et al.,

Can you believe we’ve reached week 17 in our vegetable journey?

This week is all about bugs.  With the extremely warm weather, the insects both good and bad are doing their bit in the garden.  I don’t yet have squash bugs (I hate to type that for fear that I will jinx the poor zucchini), but I do have squash vine bores which are almost as bad.  Now, I didn’t take a photo of the damage because I was up to my waders in muck from the rain soaked soil and weeds.  I was afraid I would get dirt in my lens.  I already broke one Nikon lens this week, and if this other one goes down, I am lost.  Squash vine borers are a real drag because the stupid moth lays an egg inside the leaf stems or the vine itself, and unless you want to inject Bt into the stem (which I don’t), you just have to remove the infected leaves.  Or, you can slit the stem and remove the larvae.  Then, you hope for the best.  You can dust Bt around the plants, but I’ve not found that to be all that effective.

I also have hornworms.  Giant, ugly, green worms that can defoliate an entire tomato plant in a week or two.  I found one today, and with pleasure, I cut it in half.

A tomato stem stripped by a hornworm

A tomato stem stripped by a hornworm

I also have dratted cucumber beetles.  So far, none of them have found the cukes.  I don’t know why.

I tied up all of the tomato vines today and worked on Rosa ‘New Dawn’ because she was again trying to take over the garden.  I use both tomato cages & tripods.  I also have a new structure this year which is like a large cage made of those green bamboo-type stakes.  I like how tall it is.  I don’t have to tie the tomatoes to it.  Because it is green, it doesn’t show up like the other metal cages.  It is very sturdy, and once the season is over, it folds up for storage.  So far, it is my favorite.

Dysphania ambrosioides, Epazote

Dysphania ambrosioides, Epazote, growing next to the beans

I’ll leave you with a photo of a plant which I wish had never placed its roots in my soil.  Dysphania ambrosioides, Epazote a/k/a Mexican tea, Wormseed and Jesuit’s tea, is an herb native to South America and Mexico.  I used to buy herbal plants from a guy in the country, and one year, he said I needed Epazote for my garden.  Well, I bought it along with garlic chives, a plant that I’ve also tried to eradicate, but it has escaped my garden.  Anyway, I was told Epazote was used to season bean dishes in Mexico, and that is true.  However, at the time, some of our Hispanic employees were helping us to build our split rail fence and one of the men was so concerned about my new plant that he went to HH.  He told HH that Epazote was a weed, and it would take over my garden. HH later gave me this information, but being such an expert (ha!) I thought, oh no, it won’t spread here.  It will die in the winter.

Moral of the story.  If you’re about to plant something which is native to another region, and someone from that region tells you not to plant it, heed his/her warning.

See ya next week,

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

Post navigation

Previous Post A stroll through the Saturday garden
Next Post Dear Friends and Gardeners Week 18

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan Morrison/garden chick says

    3 July, 2009 at 1:51 pm

    I was just reading a similar post about not heeding warnings on another blog. I hate to say it, but gardeners are like toddlers and hot stoves when it comes to plant advice. You can say “don’t touch!” all you want, but it seems we always think we will be the exception to the rule and end up learning the hard way. (Or why else do I continue to plant full sun plants in my mostly shady garden, confident that somehow the label doesn’t apply to me?)

  2. Cindy, MCOK says

    1 July, 2009 at 11:55 am

    Dee, it’s a shame the tomato hornworms don’t like Epazote! Good luck eradicating both those pests!
    .-= Cindy, MCOK´s last blog ..Through the Garden Gate: Monday, June 29th =-.

  3. Rose says

    29 June, 2009 at 8:27 am

    Whoops, I meant to say herbicide:)
    .-= Rose´s last blog ..Annual Garden Walk: "Rooms With a View" =-.

  4. Rose says

    29 June, 2009 at 8:27 am

    That’s certainly a good moral to remember. It’s been very hot here, too, but the worst bugs we have right now are the Japanese beetles that arrived last week. They’re decimating my hollyhocks. I haven’t seen any pests in the garden yet, but I’m on the lookout. I hate those huge tomato worms!

    Your flowers are certainly looking lovely; if the natural pesticide you mention in your last post works, I hope you’ll post info on it some time.
    .-= Rose´s last blog ..Annual Garden Walk: "Rooms With a View" =-.

  5. Gail says

    29 June, 2009 at 6:34 am

    Dee, The bugs have been bad here, too…The wet spring and too warm June have invited them to make themselves at home….and they are trying to defoliate many plants! The Tomato Horn worm is a big ugly creature…glad you caught it!

    Yes, if only I had listened to the gardener who gave me a thug to plant in the garden! gail
    .-= Gail´s last blog ..Could You Leave Your Garden? =-.

  6. MA says

    28 June, 2009 at 10:15 pm

    Dee, would diatomaceous earth work on your pesky pests?
    .-= MA´s last blog ..Week 17, Dear Friends and Gardeners =-.
    MA, it’s worth a try.~~Dee

  7. Carol, May Dreams Gardens says

    28 June, 2009 at 10:15 pm

    Good moral to that story. We never seem to learn, though, and always think we can control the plants.

    On the bugs, you are ahead of me so far. Knock on wood, no squash vine borers or tomato hornworms yet, but it is just a matter of time before they get here. Same with the Japanese beetles. They are due any day now; in fact, I think they are late!

    Week 17, unbelievable in a way. It still seems like the garden is just getting going.
    .-= Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog ..Letters to Gardening Friends, June 28, 2009 =-.

Primary Sidebar

About Dee

Hi, I’m Dee, a professional garden writer and speaker born and raised in Oklahoma. Here you’ll find all my best dirt on gardening and travel. Welcome!

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Subscribe Here To RDR Updates.


* indicates required
Email News
Email Format

Garden Coaching

Garden Coaching

Grow a beautiful and manageable garden with personalized pointers from Dee!

Learn More

Give my podcast a listen!

Our podcast logo! The Gardenangelists.

Search me baby!

Travel

It's time to get the leaves off of the pansies.

It’s time to plan for next year’s garden

9 November, 2022 By Dee Nash

Yes, I know we're all exhausted from the summer from hell in Oklahoma and Texas--or is that just me? But it's time to start planning for next year's dream garden. Trust me, it's time, and who knows? Maybe next Read More

Fun days at the daylily national convention

16 July, 2022 By Dee Nash

For July's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, I want to share my visit to the daylily national convention. A region of the American Daylily Society puts on the AHS National Convention each year. Region 15 put on this Read More

Road trip to Yellowstone National Park

28 October, 2019 By Dee Nash

Bill and I traveled all summer. I'm not gonna lie. It was tons of fun, but after getting back from our road trip to Yellowstone National Park last month, I am tired and will be staying home for a while. I Read More

GOW Footer Widget Header

Ask me a question!

Please feel free to ask me a question here or at my email addy: dee@deenash.com.
I’ll try to answer every question and get back to you as quickly as possible.

Contact Us

Footer

Blogs I Dig

  • Clay and Limestone–TN
  • Cold Climate Gardening–NY
  • Dirt Therapy–PNW
  • Each Little World
  • Faire Garden–TN
  • Greenbow–IN
  • Growing With Plants
  • Joanne's Cottage Garden
  • May Dreams Gardens–IN
  • Redeem Your Ground
  • Rock Rose–TX
  • Toronto Gardens–Canada

Red Dirt Sisters

  • Curtiss Ann Matlock
  • The Not Always Lazy W

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Let’s bring back the Monarchs

Let’s bring back the Monarchs
For more info about speaking and other work, visit my other website!

Dear Friend and Gardener

Join our virtual garden club and share all summer

Join our virtual #garden club and share all #summer

Disclosure Notice

Red Dirt Ramblings participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and its affiliates.

Occasionally, I also accept some garden items for review. If I review one of these items, I will let you know in the post. Thank you.

© Copyright 2023 Reddirtramblings.com · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Sitemap

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...