Vine Borer Help Link

I've found something that seems pretty helpful. It's informative if nothing else. I've tried most of what they suggest, as far as cutting the grub out, applying pesticide and covering the joints with mud to encourage more rooting. Next, I'll have to try some sort of covering, looking for and destroying eggs and perhaps wrapping the vines in nylons.

Here's the site: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/pdf/2153.pdf

Vine Borers Strike Again!

Just a quick update and I'll have more info later, but my patch has been attacked by vine borers. These little pests will take out a patch before you know what's wrong with your vines.

I'll post some detailed photos and info that I've found later about what to look for and how to handle the problem.

Right now I'm working on eradication and repair and I'm hoping that I can save my biggest baby pumpkin, because it's vine was hit hard.

More later...

Pumpkin Growers Reference

Since so many of you seem to be trying your hand at growing pumpkins this year, I wanted to give you this little golden nugget of information that I found last year when I gave pumpkin growing my first go :)

Check out this site: http://www.pumpkinnook.com/growing.htm

It is FULL of pumpkin growing information. Pay attention to the fertilizers, because that seems to be important. I personally use Blood Meal and Alaska Fish Fertilizer before the vines flower and after they flower I use regular old Mirical Gro. The site strongly suggest an irrigation or some sort of sprinkler system, but I've been watering mine myself EVERYDAY and that seems to be working out fine. Pay attention to the section about covering the vines/pumpkins, especially if you live in a very hot climate.

The pest section is a little frustrating for me, because it mostly references using different pesticides to control the little buggers and I really don't like dealing with harsh chemicals. Last year I had MAJOR problems with cucumber beetles and with vine boarers. With a little research, I found some non pesticide suggestions :http://www.ehow.com/how_7779001_home-remedy-repel-cucumber-beetles.html
As far as the onions, I just chop one up every now and then and sprinkle it around my garden. So far, so good. Also, for the wood ash, I've just been sprinkling it on the plants. Again, so far so good. I'll update as the season goes on, about how these "home remidies" seem to be working.

Hope this is helpful!

Pumpkin Update

Halloween Feelin' or Feelin' Halloween ;)

I've got that, Halloween feeeelllliinnn', oh, oh, that Halloween feeeellllin'! Sorry, couldn't help it. I'll keep my day job, I promise ;)

Projects are going to start soon. I've got the Halloween itch and I've got it bad. Missing my creepy projects. I have a couple of sketchy ideas for projects and one pretty solid one.

Hopefully I'll have some pics to post in the near future =)

1 Month Planted

Babies