Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 5 Entries. Sunday, June 25 View Page Getting ready for my first growing season since moving to our new property. Not exspecting a great year due to soil conditions and pest problems, Basically growing in what was wildness 2 years ago and with the amount of wild growing blackberries around I exspect the squash bugs to "come out of the woodwork as soon as the pumpkins sprout." Only trying a few Large Pumkins from stock I received from a friend overseas. But I am trying some for some color on the blue/jardale scale and the pink/jardale with seeds that have shown color fastness over several generations. Will begin my pest regimin tomorrow with a systimic spray for pests and instead of digging in my vines to protect from vine borrers will be using a two year old rough mulch to cover the vines as they grow. I will also begin putting out sticky(yellow) traps as soon as the plants sprout.   Tuesday, August 1 View Page Seeds in ground one week old. Only growing field pumpkins and the pinker strain of jardale. Did a 30 min soak on seeds with merrir 21.43% 1 tble spoon for 16oz. of water. No effect on germination with the field pumkins but the Jardale rate was cut to 50% in future will try a 10 minute soak on other varieties. Around the rest of the garden tomorrow I will be taking cuttings from my Hydrageia, I am hoping to get at least 8 plants. Am also having o treat my 4 yr old appricot trees for crown borers. Will have to start cheking the base on all of my fuit/nut trees in May for signs of this moth and treat.   Sunday, August 6 View Page Will be new spring bed for 2018   Sunday, August 6 View Page My DH built this bed for my 2 spring plants next yr. The Objects De Art will have to come out at planting time HA HA. This bed is about 25 feet long and I plan to grow 2 plants down the lenght of the bed with one set of side running vines running out of the bed with the stumps positioned on the end with the small pecan tree. The plan will be to set my Pumkins outside of the bed itself. The entire bed is built from well rotted compost and right now is a little fluffy but will probably 'shrink' a few inches by spring.   Saturday, August 19 View Page The dagger moths are feeding on my four year old pecan tree. They won't hurt anything and aren't they a cool looking caterpillar. Around the punkin patch not much to report except I chem burned two of my hills and am fighting mildew problems everywhere else. It has stayed hi 90's with humidity like neptunes armpit. Will definatly be adding a systemic fungicide to my roation next grow cycle.