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   rec.gardens.edible      Edible gardening topics      40,489 messages   

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   Message 39,222 of 40,489   
   Frank <"frank to songbird   
   Re: Japanese Beetles   
   13 Jul 20 15:47:39   
   
   From: "@frank.net   
      
   On 7/7/2020 6:54 AM, songbird wrote:   
   > Snag wrote:   
   >   
   >>     Were eating my beans up pretty badly , but I'm somewhat controlling   
   >> their numbers now . I sprayed the plants - blue lake pole beans - before   
   >> they flowered with some fruit tree spray (checked with my Plant Guru   
   >> first , she said it was OK) that has permethrin and neem oil and that   
   >> worked fairly well . Once they flower I can't use pesticides because of   
   >> the bees , so I'm drowning the bugs in soapy water . What I'm doing is   
   >> holding a gallon size ice cream container with an inch or so of soapy   
   >> water in it under the leaf they're on . I touch or shake the leaf , they   
   >> land in the soapy water and drown . Early in the morning is a good time   
   >> as is late afternoon/early evening - but you can find them just about   
   >> any time of day . I'm not preventing all the damage , but I'm reducing   
   >> it enough that it's not a big deal . And this year the beans are loaded   
   >> loaded with blossoms and teeny tiny beans . I am optimistic ...   
   >   
   >    if you put the JBs in soapy water they will drown   
   > but you will be surprised by how long that can take.   
   > longer than an hour or two.  they must go into some   
   > hibernation state.   
   >   
   >    i was taking them and throwing them at the end of   
   > the driveway for the birds to eat.  after a while   
   > they would start crawling away.   
   >   
   >    i haven't seen any yet this year but they will be   
   > around.  i greatly reduced the number of how many   
   > are around by getting rid of the wild grape vines.   
   > i see some vines are starting up again so i'll   
   > have to get back there again and cut it back.  always   
   > fun on a slope.   
   >   
   >   
   >>     Also , the tomatoes are doing very well , loaded with fruit and   
   >> blossoming like crazy .  We've started picking cucumbers and a few   
   >> peppers (California Wonder red/green and Anaheims) and the bees are   
   >> doing very well , putting up lots of honey . Everything seems to be   
   >> going well this year - I think it's partly because I'm spending more   
   >> time out there and partly due to fertilizing with generous quantities   
   >> of rabbit droppings ...   
   >   
   >    it's been so hot here i'm not sure how many fruits   
   > are setting yet, but i do see some and plenty of   
   > blooms.  lack of rain keeps me watering every two or   
   > three days.  the beans are not doing all that great   
   > but they'll perk up once we get a few good rains.   
   >   
   >    i'm starting to see some flowers here or there.   
   >   
   >   
   >    songbird   
   >   
      
   We have a few tomatoes coming in around the house and I planted a few at   
   a neighbors house across the valley along with beans, carrots, squash   
   and melons.  My neighbor is stuck in India with the virus problems.   
   Cannot get back until August 1.  We have been watching their house.   
   Went over the other day and deer had eaten everything.  I still may get   
   some of his peaches before he returns.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)   

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