Many Thanks to SCMG Cyd Brown for sending along this information from the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia Website.

MARK YOUR CALENDERS…..

 

Here are few of the not-so-nice are bugs we are seeing in our garden….

---

Four Lined Plant Bug

These bugs feed primarily on plant leaves. Herbs – especially mint and basil – are some of their favorite snacks. Dark spots (often mistaken as fungus) appear on leaves where they have been feeding.

Four Lined Plant Bugs nymphs are bright red and can be seen in the spring feeding on the upper side of plant leaves. Nymphs develop into adults in about four weeks. Adults feed until the weather starts getting warm, and can often be confused with Cucumber Beetles.

Insecticidal soaps can be very effective against the nymphs. Adult infestation is much harder to control, and may require applications of contact pesticides such as permethrin and bifenthrin.

---

Spotted Cucumber Beetles

The Spotted Cucumber Beetles are part of a large group of beetles known as Leaf Beetles. The Spotted Cucumber Beetles can cause severe damage especially to vegetable gardens. Thay are particularly fond of cucurbits: watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash. Spotted Cucumber Beetles can be active throughout the gardening season.

Here is control advice from the Mississippi State University Ag Extension Web Site: “Control adult cucumber beetles in home vegetable gardens with sprays containing permethrin, bifenthrin, or carbaryl. Check young plants and emerging seedlings regularly and spray promptly if necessary. Older plants can tolerate higher numbers of beetles. Before spraying edible plants with any pesticide, always be sure to note the pre-harvest interval for the product you are using and the crop you are using it on.”

---

Aphids

Aphids are extremely prolific and are one of the most damaging garden threats. Aphid eggs laid in the Fall hatch in the spring. During warm weather, a new generation can appear every two weeks (Aphids are born pregnant).

Single aphids are tiny and can be difficult to see. They thrive on the underside of leaves, and feed on plant sap. A horde of aphids will eventually kill a plant by destroying healthy leaves. Some plants are particularly susceptible to aphid damage. We find aphids are a big problem for eggplants.

Once they are established, controlling aphids is a constant battle. Ladybugs are aphids’ natural predator, so using broad spectrum insecticides is not recommended. Regular applications of oil based plant sprays (e.g. Neem Oil Sprays) can limit Aphid damage. IMPORTANT – Be sure to spray the underside of the leaves.

Robin’s Koginut Winter Squash

Growing Winter Squash
Winter Squash can be started indoors or direct-seeded in the garden. The best harvest time is mid-October before the killing frosts hit in November. When the stems get woody and the skin is hardened, it’s time to pick.

One space-saving tip. Winter squash vines grow fast, and can create quite the garden “sprawl”. To save space in our raised bed garden, we like to plant Winter Squash under growing corn stalks. Plant the Winter Squash Seeds (or transfer starts) when the corn stalks are knee-high. Shade from the growing corn protects young squash plants from the brutal Texas sun. Once the corn is harvested the stalks can be pulled up or snipped off at ground level.

Winter Squash Growing Under Corn

Winter Squash – Good Eats
Winter Squash varieties are closely related to pumpkins. Their flesh tends to meaty and sweet. They make great soups, pies, side dishes, and healthy snacks , Here are our three favorites Winter Squash varieties.

Robin’s Koginut
This squash is like a small pumpkin. The flesh is rich and sweet. It makes a great pumpkin substitute in pies and custard. NOTE: These seeds can only be purchased from Row 7 Seeds and often are unavailable.

Delicata
Delicata squash is almost too pretty to eat, but don’t let that stop you. Delicata makes a great dish when sliced into crescents and roasted. The meat is rich and the edible skin gives a slight crunch.

Futsu
This is a small wart covered pumpkin. It may not be pretty, but it has a delicious nutty flavor when roasted. Like the Delicata, the Black Futsu skin is edible.

There are dozens of Winter Squash varieties. They are easy to grow, pretty, keep well and the best part – they are a treat to eat on those cold winter days when you are planning next year’s garden.

Ideas from Somervell County Master Gardeners’ Personal Gardens
(Click on an Image to Enlarge)

Veggie Gardens Need Art Too	Use Art Glass Outside to Add Vibrant Colors	Fill Big Spaces with Metal Art
Get an Antique Look with a Worn Terracotta Statue	Think Exotic	Some Statues Can Remind Us of Simpler Times
Add Serenity with a Gurgling Water Feature	Repurpose Old Dishes	Garden Angel from a Shutter and Fence Slats
Garden Sheds Don’t Have to be Plain	Make Your Water Collection Barrel Pop	Let Folks Know What’s Growing with a Garden Sign
Put a Flower Bed in a Bed Frame	Use an Old Wire Headboard for a Climbing Vine Trellis	Make a Dragonfly from Fan Blades and a Bed Post
Garden Statues Don’t Have to be Pretty	Put Out a Stone Water Basin for Birds and Pollinators	Add Surprise with a Bold Sandstone Carving
Garden Trugs and Buckets can be Art Too	Statue Heads Make Handy Hose Guards	Kids Can Make Great Garden Art

The Founding Gardeners
Andrea Wulf
In 1771 John Adams declared cow poop in England was good “…but is not equal to (his cow’s)”. Adams was talking garden compost.  Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison were all avid gardeners.  They constantly searched for new plant varieties, new growing techniques, and new gardening technologies.  This book tells the story of the founding fathers’ gardens, and how they planned to turn the young United States into an agricultural powerhouse.

The Garden of Invention
Jane S. Smith
You’ve probably never heard of Luther Burbank.  At the beginning of the 20th century, Burbank was the nations most successful (and famous) breeder of new garden plant varieties.  Burbank’s work has been credited with saving millions from starvation.  He developed the thornless prickly pear as a cattle feed during drought.  The most widely used potato we have today is a Burbank development.  This book is Burbank’s story – from his humble beginnings in Lancaster, Massachusetts, to his world famous development gardens in Santa Rosa, California.  Read this book and you’ll see why Luther Burbank is truly one of our must important unsung heroes.

The Tomato in America
Andrew F. Smith
The year was 1820 in bustling Salem, New Jersey.  Robert Gibbon Johnson stood in the middle of town and ate a tomato – a fruit thought to be highly poisonous.  A large crowd had gathered intending to watch Johnson die a hideous death.  He did not die, and the tomato was on its way to become most popular crop in American gardens.  Smith’s book traces the tomato’s journey through American culture, medicine, and cuisine.