Peaz & Carrotz Organic Garden

The Squash Bugs Have Arrived!!

Well it was bound to happen… I have had amazing luck the last several years with no visitation from the “stinky” squash bug, but I found and immediately squished 3 adult squash bugs yesterday… which by the way, smell exactly like a stink bug when you squash them.  The best part is that about an hour after I took the picture of the eggs they had laid, the eggs were gone… I’m assuming that a wonderful ladybug or other beneficial needed an afternoon snack.  I’ve attached a picture of what the effects of a squash bug snacking on your squash plants can do… leaves turn yellow after they have sucked all the sap out of your plants.  Unless your plants are strong, squash bugs can devastate your crop.  I can guarantee from personal experience that you can control them pretty effectively by just handpicking them off and releasing any anger you may have by squashing them like a lil’ grape!!  You will want to make sure you regularly check the the underside and top of the squash leaves for any eggs.  I have read several places on the internet that adult squash bugs are hard to catch, but I have never had any trouble doing so!!  Has anyone else had any trouble catching them??

Happy Organic Gardening,

Ronnie

Scenes from an Alabama Organic Garden!

It’s been a pretty busy spring and early summer, here are a few pics to catch up… Lots of veggies in and most all are doing well… Growing in the garden now: Tomatoes, Pink-Eye Purple Hull Peas, Butter-beans, Green-beans, Carrots, Squash, Peppers, Basil… and some weeds here and there.  Happy Organic Gardening!!

Ronnie

Catching Up!!

I didn’t realize how long it had been since my last post… This spring has been very busy… work, family, t-ball games, softball games… but rest assured, gardening has been happening here in HOT Alabama… We have had temps in the near 100 degree mark for the last 2 weeks… the tomatoes and squash love that weather, but my beans are starting to literally “burn up”!!  We have had no rain for almost 2 weeks and my rain barrels have become bone dry!!  I had a pretty successful early spring… I actually was able to successfully grow broccoli and the english peas turned out well too… I’m going to post a few catch up pics of the early spring garden and more current pics will follow… Happy organic gardening to everyone!!

Ronnie

My home-made brewed compost tea, brewed in National Championship Auburn Tiger style!!  War Eagle!!

I brew my tea anaerobically?  Does anyone else use this method?  I don’t use the aquarium pump, I just sit my buckets in the sun and stir it about 2 to 3 times a day for 2 days and then water all my plants with the tea… it seems to have worked very well??  Happy gardening!!

Ronnie @peazandcarrotz

The first Blooms of 2011 @ peazandcarrotz garden!!  Looks like it’s going to be a good year for gardening!!  Happy gardening!!

Tomatos, Peppers, Spinach, and More!!  A few early spring gardening pics to get 2011 gardening started and running!

The Organic Tomato Pit Project… Update!!

OK, so I have been filling the tomato pits with all the food scraps, leaves, and grass clippings I could find since January.  They seem to be doing very well and I am on pace for them to be ready by Easter.  Worms have moved into many of the holes and have helped with the decomposition of all the scraps.  I look forward to comparing the results of these tomatos to tomatos I plant in my raised beds.  Happy gardening!!

Ronnie @ peazandcarrotz

OK, so it’s been quite a while since my last post… alot has been going on… very busy at work, and I broke my ankle… however, gardening has continued here in Alabama.  The English peas are up and growing, lettuce and broccoli transplants are in the ground and very happy.  I have even set out a few tomato and pepper plants early and they are doing very well also.  I hope to catch everyone up here in the next few days… lots of pictures to come!!  Happy gardening from the deep south!!

Ronnie @ peazandcarrotz

The Peas are Coming, The Peas are Coming…

The weather has finally started to warm up here in Alabama… the english peas have started to peep out of the ground today… shouldn’t be long before they are off and running… I am so excited, spring is almost here…  It was almost 75 degrees here today… awesome!!

peazandcarrotz