OK, so I took this selfie in the garden Saturday and figured for all those new to the blog here I am! Pardon the ragged appearance, I was working in the garden (after mowing) on an absolutely beautiful World Naked Gardening Day, but more on that later...
We actually have our first harvest of the season!
I gathered a bunch of herbs, here I cut oregano, chives and flat leaf parsley.
Of course there were veggies now. We have our first jalapeƱos of the season and look, cucumbers! Those were so fun to harvest, it was like looking for Easter eggs, they are hidden really well!
There were also a few eggplants coming in, they should be ready for harvest this coming weekend.
But all was not great...these were on the cucumber vines. Boo! I picked them all off by hand (a tedious job but I got them all) and dispatched them. I checked the rest of the garden and didn't see them anywhere else but I'm sure they'll be back.
What are they and of course any good solutions for taking care of them?
Ah, but I know the question everyone is still wondering after Saturday's post...was I naked on World Naked Gardening Day?
Well it WAS a beautiful day in the middle of country with only cows around...
hahaha...you are too funny!
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteEw! Icky nymphy somethings! Tip for hand picking bugs. Take some duct tape and put one wrap around your hand (sticky side out) and go picking. You can either pat the bugs onto the tape, or just use it to store them as you gather them up. Works better than flicking into soapy water for many bugs. Especially those who can fly out of a flick. Also, if you happen to spot any eggs while you are picking, the tape will get them off a leaf better than anything. When you're done, fold the tape up, step on it, and dispose.
ReplyDeleteWow, that duct tape idea is brilliant! Thanks!!! Love things that make something much easier.
DeleteTo nekkid gardern or not to nekkid garden. That is the question each must answer for themselves. Adequate foot wear, however is a must. Nice to see you obeyed the must!
ReplyDeleteHat tip to Anne!
DeleteLOL! Adequate footwear is definitely a must! Gotta protect the feet, if nothing else, ha!!
DeleteKymber, that was awesome huh?
DeleteBeautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you! ;-P
DeleteThat is awesome!! Love the garden and so nice to see a picture of you. Hey if I lived in the country I'd be naked anytime I could be haha. And besides you never said for sure, guys can wear shirts and nothing else. My hubby does that all the time. Janie V
ReplyDeleteWell, that is so true, I could have just been shirtless and wearing shorts. Only the cows will know for sure.
DeleteI had to laugh about Janie's comment, one day my husband was just wearing shorts and flip-flops, and he was trimming a hedge in our driveway. You could see his lower legs and feet at the bottom of the hedge where the base of the bushes were and then the hedge covered his middle section and then you could see him from the chest up, and from my windows it "looked" like he was completely naked!!! Bwahaha I just imagined what the neighbors were thinking.
ReplyDeleteThat's too funny, I can totally see that. I've seen some photos of people standing behind fences or things like that and wearing shorts and the mind instantly goes to "naked!" I bet your neighbors had a good laugh too!!
DeleteI've had those red devils before. No idea what they were, but I snapped off the stems they were on and gave them a swim in a bucket of soapy water!
ReplyDeletethanks Sue, much appreciated. I will have to really check them out closely. Red Devils, I like that description. They were certainly up to no good, THAT'S for sure!
DeleteIt's a good thing that Naked Gardening Day doesn't fall during June Bug season :-)
ReplyDeleteYIKES! June Bugs would be a disaster, LOL!!!!!
Deletei love that you nekkid gardened...proud actually. and just a reminder...jambaloney was in tighty-whities (and i mean tight! showing off all of the gorgeous round stuff!) and wearing rubber boots. that's it. and then the hydro guy came up the driveway to check our metre. everyone and i mean EVERYONE on the island has heard this story. bahahahahah!
ReplyDeletesending so much love to you guys. and always take our advice...let it all hang out when you are up at the farm. it's what the farm is for.
oh and btw - yer not hard on the eyes at all.
love to you both as always. your friend,
kymber
Aww, you're too sweet. Thanks for that. And tighty-whities with rubber boots? As the saying goes, "pics or it never happened", HAHAHA just kidding! I bet that meter guy took off and never came back. Hey, great way to get rid of door to door sales people too!
DeleteLove to you always!
No naked gardening at my place, too many nettles to sting my bits! Maybe if I get them under control for next year, although I think it's a shame it still quite cold when they have it....
ReplyDeleteHa, definitely don't want any stinging nettles, yikes!! And yeah, cold is never good. :-)
DeleteHey Good Lookin'! :) Nice to see your face :) But kudos on keeping the rest a mystery lol...I have no idea what those bugs are, eek.I hope you find a way to keep them away, especially if you're in your birthday suit out there!
ReplyDeleteLOL. thanks for the kind words. Yep, no bugs with nudity, ha.
DeleteOMB! you are HAWT! WOO HOO! and YAYZ for naked gardening!
ReplyDeleteWell I don't know about that, but thank you. At my age I'll take whatever I can get, ha.
DeleteWow, 2nd Man is lucky (I'm sure he's a catch too). Thanks for sharing but not oversharing LOL! Love it. I have been known to garden topless (female here) on occasion, and I live in town. If someone wants to look over into my backyard then more power to them either be afraid or not, I'm just more comfortable that way. Funny no one has answered about the bugs, I think they are more intrigues at your other picture, LMAO!
ReplyDeleteNice to "see you"! Long time follower but first time commenter. Jessica Storey
Hopefully he'll read your comment so he can be reminded, ha. No, he knows and I'm the lucky one. And thank you so much for commenting. My near naked body was what brought some people out to comment, ha. Just kidding. Thanks again and hey, if I saw the neighbor naked out there, I don't think I'd even think twice now.
DeleteI'm not new to the blog, but I've never seen your photo before. You look nice. Naked gardening? I hope you never run into poison ivy. Your veggies are beautiful. I have cucumber water and orange water in the refrigerator. It's the beginning of Beat Diet Coke Week.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Ha, I know you aren't new to the blog, and we're always grateful to hear from you too. Thanks again, and cucumber and orange is on our list for the next batch of infused water. Thanks!!!!
DeleteIt's been only a few degrees above freezing around here in the past several days so anyone that celebrated naked gardening day would have frozen their butt off...literally! :)
ReplyDeleteThose bugs are leaf footed nymphs - I've never encountered them myself, but it seems that hand picking (like Sue) and insecticidal soap are good options for dealing with them.
I'm having visions of "Frozen".....and now singing songs from it, ha.
DeleteThanks for the info on the bugs! Now I have a name and you're right, I googled it now and that's it. thanks!!
Good looking guy spotted in the garden! (May or may not have clothes.) You look a lot better than me after working in the garden!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read the title “Red bugs on naked gardening day” - I thought you meant that chiggers got ahold of you - and that would have been BAD, especially on naked gardening day!
Your garden is doing so well - first harvests are always exciting.
Information on your red garden bugs:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/weekly_Q&A/p&dc_12.htm
and
http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2226323/stink-bug-vs-assassin-bug
I like the tip that someone wrote in the last article: “I have a little blurb that helps me: "Bad Black Bump" which is what the Stinkbug nymphs sport on their butt tips when they are smallish and congregating like little orange ants with long black legs.”
Hey sweet lady!!! Thanks! Yep, maybe shorts and shoes only? Or not! The cows are the only witnesses and they ain't talking, ha!!!
DeleteOooh chiggers, my Mom had those once (stopped on the side of the road to pick wild peaches), nasty little things. Ugh.
First harvest was unexpected but welcome!
Thanks for the info on the bugs. Seems like they are not easily dispatched. I don't want to use point in the garden, we're trying to stay organic. I guess some insecticidal soap would be a good try.
I haven't even planted yet :/
ReplyDeleteThe weekend before last was snow,
This past weekend was thunderstorms/wind-temps in the 80's
I'm hoping in the next week to plant.
I love your farm, loved the garden gnome.
SNOW? Wow!!! I hope you get to plant soon. And remember, when it's like 110 here this Summer, y'all will probably be much nicer. :-)
DeleteWasn't that gnome cute? We need to find one of those.
Very disappointed to be coming into your 'bit' at the end but fun to read all the posts and comments. I take my hat off to you for being so bold. We don't have neighbours for miles in all directions but I still don't think I could bring myself to garden in the buff. It must have been so very liberating. Don't know what the bugs are but if you're going the organic way, spraying the plants with soapy water often does the trick.
ReplyDeleteHA; hilarious; but Great photo. :-} Trying to get a tan are we? :}
ReplyDeleteWith them cucumbers and peppers; I see maybe some canned relish or some homemade tartar sauce in the making sometime in the future.
Damage Caused By Cucumber Beetles
Cucumber beetles feed on the soft leaves and stems of many vegetables in the curcubit family including cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, and melons. The biggest threat cucumber beetles possess in the vegetable garden is they can spread mosaic viruses in cucumbers and other plants. This disease will cause wilting and yellowing leaves, and ultimately death to the plant. Affected fruit can grow disfigured and bitter tasting.
Attract Beneficial Insects
Cucumber beetles will not only damage your cucumbers but squash, melons, etc.
Plant flowers and other plants in, and around, your vegetable garden to attract beneficial insects, like ladybugs, lacewings, assassin bugs, and solider beetles into your garden. These beneficial insects pray on cucumber beetles and can reduce their numbers.
Use Specific Organic Pesticides
Specific organic pesticides can also be used in a controlled manner to reduce cucumber beetle populations. Neem oil and Insecticidal Soap can be used to help get rid of cucumber beetles. These pesticides work by smothering, so make sure to coat the insect pests with the neem oil or insecticidal soap well.
Use a Trap
Cucumber beetle traps can be placed around affected plants to lure and trap them as well. The cucumber beetle is attracted to the trap, fly over to it and become trapped in and cannot get back out. Place these traps within three to five feet of affected plants for best results.
Use yellow sticky traps to catch cucumber beetles.
Knock beetles to the ground and catch them with a piece of cardboard placed under the plant. Or, use a handheld vaccuum to suck up the beetles. They are very hard to hand pick, but it is easier to hand pick them with yellow gloves coated in petroleum jelly.
Cover seedlings with row covers, though you must remove during blossoming time several hours each day to allow pollination.
Few insecticides can be used on cucurbit plants because they are very sensitive. They would need to be used when plants are beginning to emerge through the soil.
Ohhhh myyyyyy! Sorry no nekkid gardening here...unless you count no sunscreen.
ReplyDeleteI use neem oil (a natural pesticide made from the neem tree) and Pyrethrum (Organic made from chrysanthemum and painted daisies). I use Garden Safe and Ecosmart brands. Here is a good reference for natural gardening https://www.planetnatural.com
1st Man,
ReplyDeleteGreat picture of your face......thank you for not including a full view :-) ~HA so you were mooning the cows!!!!
Beautiful harvest of cucumbers, will you be making pickles this season?