Vegetable gardens 2014

[Raven]

making 12 16" x 24" 5 inch deep boxes
out of a sheet of plywood
and some left over lumber

HEY Cheferson...... take some pictures and post-em

[cheferson]

Originally Posted by Raven

making 12 16" x 24" 5 inch deep boxes
out of a sheet of plywood
and some left over lumber

HEY Cheferson...... take some pictures and post-em

I would , but I haven't figured out how to post them on this sites mobile version .
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[cheferson]

ProfessorM ,

What's the latest you can prune blueberries ? Also when do start spraying them for catapillars ?
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[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by cheferson

ProfessorM ,

What's the latest you can prune blueberries ? Also when do start spraying them for catapillars ?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

You would like to prune all your fruits when they are dormant but I'd say you can prune anytime before say May, really asap if you missed the dormant stage with the blueberries. Also you don't want to fertilize fruit any later than early June as you don't want too much growth to not have a chance to harden off before winter. I have often pruned apple trees for a second time after the fruit is starting on the tree to get more sunlight onto the fruit so 2 prunings is not unusual for the home grower. So I'd say prune them asap is preferable as the dormant stage is passed as the buds are starting to swell now. I'd say spray as soon as you can notice any green, any little bit, showing on the buds. Looking at the buds will teach you when. That is what I am going to do and then I will spray again 2 weeks later then that is it for them. Other fruits is a whole different ballgame. Most of the commercial guys go by temperature, degree days, and keep a strict schedule. Home guys are not that fussy. Your County Extension Service is a great wealth of info for anything involved with plants and trees and spraying and pruning, etc... For the blueberries I am after the winter moths and they enter the bud very early. I wish I could remember when I did it last year as I hit it perfect. I will write it down this year. I used Sevin. That is the only pest I have encountered in the last 15 plus years that effect the blueberries and only for the past 5 years. Before that I never sprayed the blueberries but if I don't now I get zero berries. I need to look at the buds tomorrow as I have been busy and didn't this week yet. Hope that helps and not too confusing. Paul

[Raven]

used to think bacillus thuringiensis (BT) was a great natural
kill all caterpillar's weapon for the garden until i noticed
how it turned the foliage a different color on my broccoli
almost as if it changed the surface.

i use different methods now.

[Diggin Jiggin]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

You would like to prune all your fruits when they are dormant but I'd say you can prune anytime before say May, really asap if you missed the dormant stage with the blueberries. Also you don't want to fertilize fruit any later than early June as you don't want too much growth to not have a chance to harden off before winter. I have often pruned apple trees for a second time after the fruit is starting on the tree to get more sunlight onto the fruit so 2 prunings is not unusual for the home grower. So I'd say prune them asap is preferable as the dormant stage is passed as the buds are starting to swell now. I'd say spray as soon as you can notice any green, any little bit, showing on the buds. Looking at the buds will teach you when. That is what I am going to do and then I will spray again 2 weeks later then that is it for them. Other fruits is a whole different ballgame. Most of the commercial guys go by temperature, degree days, and keep a strict schedule. Home guys are not that fussy. Your County Extension Service is a great wealth of info for anything involved with plants and trees and spraying and pruning, etc... For the blueberries I am after the winter moths and they enter the bud very early. I wish I could remember when I did it last year as I hit it perfect. I will write it down this year. I used Sevin. That is the only pest I have encountered in the last 15 plus years that effect the blueberries and only for the past 5 years. Before that I never sprayed the blueberries but if I don't now I get zero berries. I need to look at the buds tomorrow as I have been busy and didn't this week yet. Hope that helps and not too confusing. Paul

Paul, any recommendations as far as what product you spray your apple tree's with ?

I also have a peach tree that does well and produces a lot of fruit but a lot of the peaches get little green dots on the skins, should I be spraying them with something ?

[cheferson]

Thanks professorm !

Think I may just wait until this coming winter to prune . Most of the buds have really swollen and some have already popped .

Have you had any luck using thuricide for the caterpillars ? I'm not big fan of pesticides , sevin is little much for my tastes . How many people did it kill in that accident in India !? Gonna give em a shot of thuricide today . Heh , even ravens scared of this stuff though .... I bet your plants reaction was from the carriers and emulsifiers raven , not actual bt.

Really happy with the results using the row covers ! Makes a nice warm microclimate and keeps all the bags and animals out ! Only thing that sucks is the rain doesn't get through . Everything has really taken off! I will try to get some pix soon!
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