2011 gardens first harvest

[corndog]

Well I've been staring at em everyday for a few months now and finally decided it was time to get some inside.Man I cant wait for these bad boys to get ripe . I am starting to see a few bugs so tomorrow im gonna dust em. I should have a steady flow of these tasty rascals for a while. Man life is good!!!!

[reeltime]

looking great ray!

[Ibtsoom]

WTG! Thats a big crop Ray. What am I missing? I always let em get red on the vine.

[Milkjug]

Super jealous. Can't wait till I get some property with a yard.

No hornworm problems?

[coachlaw]

Cook some before they get ripe. Fried green maters are good stuff.

[corndog]

WTG! Thats a big crop Ray. What am I missing? I always let em get red on the vine.

Well you put the ones you plan on eatin in the window sill to ripen and the other keep in a dark cool place until you are ready for them to ripen in the window sill. You pick right before they are ready and then you can control the ripening process. If you pic em green I have actally stored them for 2-4 weeks maybe longer before I ripen them.When I have too many ripe ones at the sametime I jar em up. Im just and ol boy from the country what do know!!!

[2112]

Good info Ray...
I didn't know that either, Mike.
I'm hoping next season my Lab will be mature enough that I can plant a garden without him digging it up!

[Ibtsoom]

I'm gonna give it a shot Ray! Thanks for the tip!

[Randy]

Good info and thanks! Last year the stinkers were sticking holes in my maters. I found some insecticidal soap and it took care of the issue. I've heard you can use dishwashing liquid with water and then rinse to get the same results. Has anyone tried that?
Good looking crop of maters Corndog! Time for a fried green mater BLT...good stuff

[WestEndAngler]

Good info and thanks! Last year the stinkers were sticking holes in my maters. I found some insecticidal soap and it took care of the issue. I've heard you can use dishwashing liquid with water and then rinse to get the same results. Has anyone tried that?
Good looking crop of maters Corndog! Time for a fried green mater BLT...good stuff

I use diluted dishwashing soap usually dawn to kill any white flies. I dust the garden for any crawlers too.

[alex6528]

you want to use a citrus scented soap for best results...the citric acid irritates the insects so they go elswhere. At least thats what they taught us in all my horticulture classes.

[Swells]

Yep, I used to make home-made insecticide and citrus oil was one of the ingredients - I just boiled some oranges and stuff that gone no good.

Rhubarb leaves are good, makes oxalic acid. A cigarette has nicotanic acid, another good one. A handful of dead bugs - especially the ones you want to kill - really works good, no ideal why. Boil, cool, strain, and add Ivory dishsoap (Dawn will work in a pinch). Bottle and spray away. Keep away from kids, as it's quite toskick.