Water, Caterpillars, and Squash
Water
With this hot weather you need to monitor your watering. Check your soil before you water so you don't over or under water. Gardens that are more shaded may only need water once a week. Those that are in full sun, or pots, may need more water and even need water every day. Different soils also have different water retention abilities.
Every soil and garden is different. Know your soil and your microclimates!
Bed is shaded / soil always looks damp / plants growth is stunted / plants look weak or yellow - you're probably watering too much. Water deeply once/week, Water Wednesday. Then, check to see if it needs water on Saturday or Sunday. Stick your finger all the way into the soil. If it feels wet and inch in, it doesn't need to be watered yet. If it's dry, it needs water.
If your soil is damp, don't water it. Wait until the surface dries out, then do the finger test to see if it needs water.
Leaves are drying out, curling, falling off / soil is cracked or pulling away from the sides of the pot - your soil is probably too dry and you may need to water deeply twice a week with surface watering in between. Or, if you have pots in full sun all day, you may need to water every day. Do the finger test.
Helpful tools
Straw or compost on the surface of the soil to help retain moisture.
Watering spikes - Lee Valley, Amazon, Dollar Store.
Inverted bottles with holes in the lid.
Caterpillars
Calgary is experiencing a once-a-decade outbreak of forest tent caterpillars. I think they brought their friends the cabbage moth caterpillars with them. Brassica plants in every Garden to Fork garden have been affected this year. Brassicas are cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, bok choi, radishes, etc.
Top left photo - a caterpillar having a 6 am breakfast on a purple broccoli leaf. It's surprising how quickly they can eat a large leaf.
Top right photo - 2 caterpillars hiding inside the core of the plant. Look in the center of the plant and gently pry open the leaves to find them hiding during the day.
Bottom left photo - caterpillar eggs where the branch is attached to the stem. The eggs are very easy to squish. When they are in tight places, use a small stick, stem of a recently trimmed plant or weed, etc. and gently squish them. Don't brush them into the soil where they can still live and hatch.
Bottom right photo - the damage they have caused to a cauliflower plant. The plant will still survive if there even if there is only a little bit of leaf left.
What are your options?
Daily Maintenance
1 tbsp of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap mixed with 4 cups of water. Spray your plants at night.
Pick the caterpillars off in the morning. They are super good at blending in with the leaves and stems.
Squish the little black eggs. They are usually easy to spot on the tops of the leaves and in the crevices. Check the surrounding plants as well.
Neem Oil
1 tsp neem oil and a few drops of dish liquid mixed with 4 cups of water. Spray the plants in the morning or late evening every 7 - 14 days.
Apply as instructed on package
Prevention
Cover the plants with lightweight row cover to prevent further infestation but you must also deal with the current infestation that will be under the row cover.
If you have a single standalone plant you can use a single plant net.
Next year, use a cover from the moment you plant your seeds.
Give up and pull the plant.
Squash Pollination
Did you know that squash flowers are either male or female, and the male needs to pollinate the female. If the female flower doesn't get pollinated it will start to grow a squash and then the squash will wither away. Bees, butterflies, etc. usually pollinate the plants but you can help them out. First thing in the morning, look at your flowers to identify the males and females. If the flower is closed, you can pry it open. Collect the male pollen with a q-tip or paint brush and brush the male pollen on to the female stigma. They each have distinct characteristics:
Female - picture on the left
Multi-lobed stigma in the center of the flower.
The stem of the flower may look like a miniature version of the squash.
Male - picture on the right
Single, solid central anther in the center of the flower.
The stem of the flower is straight and skinny.
Every year is different and we never stop learning
My lettuce crop is not productive this year. So I am planting live lettuce stems to grow more lettuce, see the baby lettuces sprouting in the photo below. My favorite is Ruben's Veggies Red Butter Lettuce from their red barn in the Southcentre Mall parking lot (also in Triwood Community Center and Oak Bay Plaza parking lots).
Question? Reach out to grow@gardentofork.ca.
Comments