From: Snag_one@msn.com   
      
   On 6/19/2023 10:10 AM, T wrote:   
   > On 6/19/23 06:59, Snag wrote:   
   >> On 6/19/2023 7:30 AM, T wrote:   
   >>> On 6/11/23 15:32, Snag wrote:   
   >>>>    I guess that's what it is since they rot on that end . Anyway , I   
   >>>> read that it's caused by a calcium deficiency . And since egg shells   
   >>>> are mostly calcium ... but I read that it's not in an easily   
   >>>> absorbed form .   
   >>>   
   >>> Hi Snag,   
   >>>   
   >>> Our water is FULL of calcium.  You can see a white power   
   >>> after it dries.   
   >>>   
   >>> I have experiences with "blossom rot" with standard sized   
   >>> tomatoes.  The other cause is that I don't water   
   >>> the stinkers enough!   
   >>>   
   >>> Also, full tomato plants need about 4 to 6 feet of   
   >>> good soil under them.  Or so I am told.  I don't   
   >>> think you need anywhere near that with a squash.   
   >>>   
   >>> I have never had a successful full tomato crop.   
   >>> Cherry tomatoes, on the other hand, I excel at!   
   >>>   
   >>> Have you tried cutting off a male flower, removing   
   >>> the pedals, and twirling the male parts inside the   
   >>> female flowers (manual pollination)?   
   >>>   
   >>> -T   
   >>>   
   >>>   
   >>   
   >>    I don't think it's a pollination problem , the bee hives are only   
   >> about 20 feet away and I see bees in the flowers . The fruits will get   
   >> 4-5 inches long then start rotting from the blossom end . I stuck a   
   >> couple of the wife's calcium/magnesium/zinc tablets in the ground   
   >> right by the plant , we will see if that helps . I find it odd that   
   >> the yellow squash is the only one affected , there are also zucchini ,   
   >> acorn squash , watermelon , and pumpkins in that same patch and   
   >> they're not affected at all .   
   >>    Squash bugs on the other hand are trying to infest everything . I   
   >> smashed at least a few hundred eggs this morning , only found one leaf   
   >> that had baby bugs . They're dead now too ...   
   >   
   > Hi Snag,   
   >   
   > In the heat of the day, my squash bugs like to   
   > go down to the trunk by the ground where it is cooler.   
   >   
   > I squirt dish soap at my zuke trunks at the ground.   
   > Then I water.  The squash bugs come lumbering up   
   > through the soapy water.  They are walking dead.   
   >   
   > Death to squash bugs!   
   > Death to Earwigs!   
   >   
   > -T   
      
     I've never had an earwig problem . Japanese beetles ... I patrol the   
   bean row at least twice a day flicking the little SOB's into a container   
   of soapy water . The squash bugs can usually be controlled by smashing   
   their eggs . A fairly short window for them to breed , if you can get   
   all or at least most of the eggs before they hatch it's much less of a   
   problem later in summer . I'm just very limited on what I can/will use   
   as far as chemicals and other natural control methods . Around here BLM   
   means Bee Lives Matter !   
   --   
   Snag   
   "You can lead a dummy to facts   
   but you can't make him think."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)