Sunday, October 6, 2019

Bad Bug - Good Bug Book

I found this online today while checking for different types of Bug Eggs.  I found some unusually large eggs under some tarp and some wood that I used to hold down the tarp.  There appeared to be about 40+ eggs per pile and I did not know if they were snake eggs or what?  I learned that they are slug eggs!!!  So, I gathered up about 160 slug eggs today and disposed of them before they hatch into ravenous slugs. UGH!  Anyways, here is the link to the PDF Book of Bugs, how to attract them and how to get rid of them without harming the environment.

So, anyways, what I read was that it can be hard to find slug eggs as they tend to lay them in areas that they feel are very hidden and secure.  But today was garden clean up day.  We were getting things ready for next spring. I was picking up boards and things that I use to secure the tarps when I cover the garden beds, and the wood also helps to keep weeds from getting too close to the corn patch so that it is easier to mow around by picking up those boards and blocks of wood just before mowing. Based on what I read, as soon as they hatch, they start devouring plants, so that is at least 160 less slugs this year!

Slug Eggs by Garden

Closer shot of Slug Eggs

More Slug Eggs Different Location

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Definitely Fall 2019

Fall hit hard and fast this year.  We have already had temps drop into the 30s with frost.  The frost killed the basil plants. You can see them pulled and waiting to be disposed.  Of the six pea plants, two remain.  The slugs attacked the cilantro then headed over to the peas.  So, new copper wire has been added around the outside of the garden bed. Fingers Crossed this works.  Also, the carrots and spinach are growing. The only other outdoor crop now is the broccoli in the tub.

Four Pea Plants survived Slugs

Spinace in a cage
Broccoli in a Caged Tub
Corn was just taking up space and holding dirt in place (so to speak) so today was clean up day for that patch.

Dead Corn

Clean Patch
The Greenhouse is done with a few things that needed to keep it warmer this winter, but for now, it is protecting my lettuce and herbs from the cold nights.

Greenhouse from East

Greenhouse from West

Romaine, Parsley & Marjoram

Red Sails Lettuce
Picked the last of the bell peppers.  The plants are dying in the cool temps and peppers needed to be picked before they start to die with the plants.

Briming Bowl of Peppers

Bottom of the Bowl of Peppers

As for chickens and moulting, the Rhode Islands started to moult about a month ago, but have continued to lay eggs and we are getting eggs from them every day. The Welsummers started to moult a week or two later, and there is only one that is still laying an egg every few days, so we are stilling getting some eggs every day, regardless. We ate our first of the summer chicks this week.  Very tasty.