re: The 2021 Garden Thread

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giant manure pile

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what type?



((horse !!!!))

Cow

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Is it possible to raise a quality garden without pesticides in the south?

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Given that the definition of pesticide can be pretty broad, I'd say probably not.

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I typically dust my garden, but I brought home a couple beehives from my bee yard. I’d love for these beehives to benefit my garden, but I don’t know how to accomplish this without seven dust

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I've been using pollinator friendly organic methods for years. The key is to apply at the right time. That time being when the bees aren't active in your garden. Very early in the morning, very late in the evening, or at night. I usually opt for late in the evening because that is the best time for me. I've been using neem oil (which shouldn't harm bees even if sprayed directly on them), thuricide (also won't harm bees), and pyrethrin (will kill bees) for years and I continue to see bees in and around the garden. Spinosad can also be used as long as it is sprayed at the right times. You'll just have to be a little more persistent.

You could probably continue to use Sevin as long as you keep it away from blooms, but personally I wouldn't chance it. You could definitely still use it on the ground for crawling insects if you'd like. Avoid spraying anything that has a long residual.

The only thing I use Sevin on are squash and zucchini. It’s the only way I’ve been able to keep the plants from getting demolished by borers. I use a turkey baster to apply the dust directly to the stem. I keep it away from the blooms. Bees still pollinate the flowers and I haven’t seen any dead ones.

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Is it possible to raise a quality garden without pesticides in the south?

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Without synthetic pesticides? Sure.

Without any pesticides period? Maybe, but it's hard.

I use almost strictly organic pesticides (neem, copper fungicide, etc.), but I also try to promote beneficial insects like lady bugs, lace wings, predatory wasps, and the occasional mantid by providing habitat for them, whether that be food sources or cover. If you follow IPM principles, pesticides are always the last resort.

Hell, I'm going to plant my squash later this year just to try to beat the squash vine borers by planting after they have done most of their business. They destroyed me last year. Pesticides don't do any good on them, so I'm making the change in a "cultural" practice to beat the pesky bastards.

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Pesticides don't do any good on them

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You have to prevent them by following a treatment schedule. Planting open habit plants will help as well because there’s not a dense canopy to get through. I plant approximately 400 vines a year and haven’t had trouble with them after switching to open upright plants.

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4x4 sq. ft. garden for the kids

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How tall will it be? 10-12” should need about a half yard of soil.

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have any recommendations on big box store soil

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Do you have a pickup truck? And are you in the Lafayette area? Cause I can recommend a few places to get bulk garden soil that will not only be far superior to what you can get at the box stores, but also cheaper.

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Cause I can recommend a few places to get bulk garden soil that will not only be far superior to what you can get at the box stores, but also cheaper.

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Que?