I have never had much luck with squash. A clan of squash vine borers benignly observe my squash growing efforts and, just when the squash begins its dash for the finish line, they take up residence in the base of the stem of the squash plant, chew away, and the vine keels over. In previous years I noticed mating stink bugs in the vicinity of the squash plants before their demise and, guilt by association, when I spotted them this morning, I quickly fashioned by bug dispatcher. My bug dispatcher is based on a handy internet tip – a soda bottle, or in my case a plastic dish detergent bottle, sliced horizontally with the top third inverted into the bottom third and secured with duct tape. Add a teaspoon of detergent, some water, shake, and this becomes the final destination for the offenders. To secure the miscreants I use long handled rubber tipped tweezers – the rubber tips have a better grip on hard shelled insects. So in to the soapy mix went the doting, connected couple. Another way is to locate the funnel of the bug dispatcher directly below the bug and then knock it or shake its perch and, with some luck, it will tumble into the funnel. My squash plants are in a new location this year and I hope, probably unrealistically, that they will escape the attentions of the vine borers.
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The leaves of my potato plants were afflicted by all types of bug biters. A biggish, slow moving feaster was easily taken and added to the dispatcher.
Fig tree
I was concerned when my main fig tree did not sport figlets – my word for little figs, and I thought the tree was taking a sabbatical or I had over fertilized it with manure the previous year. But suddenly, in the past week, figlets have appeared and I am now hoping for a bumper crop, what with the manuring, and having the overflow from my rainwater storage tanks directed at the base of the tree, and the removal of competitors.
Though there are bug visitors to the tree – large numbers a few weeks ago and just the occasional bystopper now – not sure who they are or their intent.
Tomatoes
Last year was not a great tomato year for me. I have again planted out a number of different varieties and will keep an eye on them. When I noticed two strong volunteers emerge from compost spreads I decided to embrace them with wire cages and I will water them well and hopefully in due course, learn their identity and enjoy them.
