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The BEST way to get all of Rebecca's knowledge is to subscribe to Rebecca Kolls' Seasons and to keep up to date on her blog, but you can find great ideas, tips, and general garden advice right here. Remember, keep your hands dirty!
SPRING 2009 TIPS
HOLIDAY 2009 TIPS
Gabby Gardeners
REMOVING PITCH
The pinesap called “pitch” can be easily removed with rubbing alcohol.
SQUASH VINE BORER
The squash vine borer is a common problem on vine crops including summer squash, winter squash, and pumpkins. Sometimes you’ll find them in cucumbers and melons too. The borers come from clearwing moth (although they look like a wasp). Early summer (late June-early July) the adult squash vine borer can be seen flitting around the garden. They lay eggs around the stems of their host plants. Within a week the eggs hatch and the larvae bores its way into the stem of the plant. As they eat their way up the vine, they cut off the plant’s pipeline for water and nutrition. Eventually the borer exits the stem (if you look closely you’ll spy tiny holes with moist green-like sawdust called “frass”) and bores into the soil to pupate. After about six weeks the host plant will begin to suffer the borers’ damage, eventually dying.
You can control the borer by placing row covers over your plants once you spy the adult squash vine borer (just be sure the covers are removed when the plants are flowering – otherwise they won’t get pollinated). Covers left on and anchored for two weeks are usually sufficient. You can also put out yellow containers of water (the borers are attracted to yellow). The borer will fly into the water and drown. Also many garden centers carry sticky traps that will capture the borers before they get to your plants.
Dusting around the base of the plant’s stems with products containing BT might kill the borer before it enters your plant. Start treatments when vines begin to run or when the first adult borers are detected. Repeat in seven to ten days until the end of July. Below is a list of common names of active ingredients that are effective against squash vine borers. At the end of the season promptly pull and destroy any plants killed by squash vine borers.
Dollar Diva
SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU EAT HEALTHY REGARDLESS OF YOUR BUDGET:
- Shop the perimeter of the grocery store – to save money and eat healthier.
- Eliminate chips and soda from your grocery list. They provide no nutrients and are packed with calories.
- Snack on fruit. Buy bananas, apples, and other fruit in season. Keep them in a bowl on the table – studies show kids will eat more fruit if it’s left out on the table or counter.
- Shop farmer’s markets. It’s an inexpensive way to get fresh produce at cheap prices.
- Eat more fish and chicken as they are typically less expensive than beef.
HOLIDAY HELP LINES
Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, 800-323-4848 or www.butterball.com
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 800-535-4555
National Turkey Federation, www.turkeyfed.org
Land O’Lakes Holiday Bake Line, 800-782-9606, www.landolakes.com
Ocean Spray Help Line, 800-622-3263, www.oceanspray.com
Fleischmann's Bread-Line, 800-777-4959
General Mills Bake Line, 800-328-6787
International Food Safety Council, 800-266-5762
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