Comments for The Heirloom Seeds Blog

Comment on Squash Bugs and Ways to Deal With Them by Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:44:04 +0000

Thanks so much for your invaluable information and experiences, Jacqueline! I wonder if baby chicks or at least younger chickens could be a partial answer to these monsters…

Comment on Squash Bugs and Ways to Deal With Them by Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:17:36 +0000

I have used Neem Oil with some success, but nothing seems to work on all of them.
At the beginning of the season, I thought I could pick them by hand. I do believe I was winning the war until we strawed the tomatoes which were near the squash. I lost all seven plants even though I was picking over 100 bugs a day morning and night and squashing eggs that they were producing. Then they moved to my cucumbers and killed them too.
Meanwhile in the pumpkin patch which was on the other side of the yard, my sons newly hatch baby chickens skittered through the garden fence without there moms and ate every squash bug they could find, obviously doing a much better job than me!
A friend of mine is a certified organic farmer, farming approximately 1000 acres. He gave me an ounce of something called Pyganic, the adults fell over dead on the leaves. When I looked up the price of Pyganic, my heart skipped a beat I think.
Something else I found that worked when you spray, no matter what you are spraying neem oil, soap or even water, the adults come to the top making them much easier to catch and kill if you don’t have a big garden.
I haven’t had a garden in many years and I don’t remember dealing with squash bugs when I was a kid in my father’s garden. They have certainly made raising squash a miserable experience.

Comment on Squash Bugs and Ways to Deal With Them by Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:22:27 +0000

Thanks for the input on the Guinea hens, as I don’t have any experience with them.

I agree, the squash bugs seemed much worse, both in timing and population. I’m guessing it is a seasonal response to the cold wet winter we had for the past couple of years.

Comment on Squash Bugs and Ways to Deal With Them by Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:20:06 +0000

We would have had these earlier, but didn’t have quite the problems that popped up later in the season.

I would recommend not giving up entirely on pumpkins. Give it a year or so, then try a smaller type, like the New England Sugar Pie. They are physically smaller, and the vines don’t sprawl quite so much, so might be an option.

Comment on Squash Bugs and Ways to Deal With Them by Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:17:47 +0000

Yes, I think that Neem oil is a good foundational application for undesirable bugs. As one of our readers pointed out as well, Bt is also a good deterrent.

Comment on Heirloom Corn and Potato Chowder by Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:16:26 +0000

I agree, that would make a great addition!

Comment on Provençal Chard Soup by Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:15:39 +0000

Bev-

We would love to see your photos! Keep up the great work of sharing and spreading the garden harvests.

Comment on Seed Saving and Storage by Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:14:30 +0000

You are absolutely right! We all need to start our own personal, private seed bank.

It doesn’t need to be large, only those varieties that you want to eat on a regular basis. It is much easier and more practical to save seeds from only one or two varieties a year, as this gives you enough time and space to plant a large enough population to ensure the highest quality and enough seed left after removing the less than perfect plants and fruit that results in inferior strains a generation or two down the line.

Comment on Seed Saving and Storage by Larry

Larry — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:07:08 +0000

I have been freezing seed for 30 years and am astounded as to how long seed will store and still have a high percentage viability to get started again after 25 or so years. We all need to put some of our local OP corn types in storage as so many are going extinct.

Comment on Provençal Chard Soup by Bev MacAllister

Bev MacAllister — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:34:56 +0000

I will send you pictures of the Flagstaff Fire Station Gardens I sponsor and teach them to consume chard. I also share harvest with 5 families with children so they can experience the fresh is best excitement. Bev