Category: Pests

Gotta screw up at least once

Well- I finally made the call on the fava beans and cut them all down (mostly- there are a couple of new shoots I left.)

I think the majority of the damage came from aphids (black flies). There was damage to leaves and the stalks, and some pods burst open and some didn’t mature correctly (probably bacteria brought in and nurtured by the flies. I found a couple of good articles about controlling them – links are deactivated

riversidegardencentre. blog/broad-beans-and-the-dreaded-blackfly

growing-guides. .uk/blackfly-on-broad-beans/

Basic recommendations are-

  • pinch off top of plant where they like to be.
  • Plant companion plants that bring in predators – oregano, dill, allysium
  • Plant things black flies like better- nasturtium
  • Soapy or essential oil treatment
  • Manual squishing!

Anywho- I’m going to see what I can salvage in the way of beans. I would still plant these even if I can’t get beans from them, because of the handy hearty early greens and the bonus nitrogen fixing.

Here are some fava beans horror shots.

Oh Deer

So, I knew we were taking a risk clearing out some of the blackberry without putting up a fence between the garden and the field- and after the field got mowed right up to our property a furry friend starting grazing- specifically on the yellow beans, green beans, and raspberry– although now he’s moved on to the beets and carrot tops. Les sigh.

He has lots of options though, so P put in poles to make the beans grow higher.

Todays haul wasn’t half bad.

Clean up

Spent the afternoon cleaning up leaves and dead plants. P is working on the fence because we have a big planting project coming up in the upper yard.

He pulled the apple tree a little while back, because we realized we would never win the fight against pests.

The arugula and roots are going strong, the kale is hanging in there, and the asparagus still has green (I’m supposed to cut it back when it turns brown.)

ROBIN.

I FINALLY caught the little $#%s eating my pea starts. They dug a full trench across both sides.

P suggested trying to screen it in, so I cut and poked pieces through to hopefully give the new seeds a little protection.

Little %#^£!#%s griped at me the whole time.

I am not a fan.