Posted by Suzanne D. on May 14, 2009, 12:01 am
A few weeks ago, I planted some cucumbers along the fence in my front yard,
where lawn used to be but where it is mainly weeds. I am not even bothering
with grass this year; I have most of the lawn planted in corn, with vining
things along the fence.
So I just dug into the soil a little, didn't till anything, let all the old
leaves and stuff stay there, and planted my cucumbers. A few days alter, I
saw a few little sprouts coming up.
A week later, I saw no sprouts. On close examination, I found several
little stems. I guess bugs must have eaten them. The grass along the
fence, though clipped close or pulled, still is messy, and I suppose it
houses many bugs.
So today I tried something new. I bought some disposable cups, and cut the
bottom off of them so they made a cuff about two inches tall. Put one cuff
under each of the drip-holes in my hose. Filled each cuff with some wet
potting soil, and planted the cucumber seeds in them.
I figure that this way, they will be up off the ground a little, protected
by the cup. The roots will go down into the yard soil, and when the sprouts
are sufficiently high I can remove the cups and just let them grow on their
little soil mound.
Has anyone ever tried this, and if so, will it work? Should I put a little
smear of Vaseline around the outside of each cup to further discourage bugs?
--S.
Posted by Charlie on May 14, 2009, 12:10 am
On Wed, 13 May 2009 22:01:28 -0600, "Suzanne D."
>A few weeks ago, I planted some cucumbers along the fence in my front yard,
>where lawn used to be but where it is mainly weeds. I am not even bothering
>with grass this year; I have most of the lawn planted in corn, with vining
>things along the fence.
>So I just dug into the soil a little, didn't till anything, let all the old
>leaves and stuff stay there, and planted my cucumbers. A few days alter, I
>saw a few little sprouts coming up.
>A week later, I saw no sprouts. On close examination, I found several
>little stems. I guess bugs must have eaten them. The grass along the
>fence, though clipped close or pulled, still is messy, and I suppose it
>houses many bugs.
>So today I tried something new. I bought some disposable cups, and cut the
>bottom off of them so they made a cuff about two inches tall. Put one cuff
>under each of the drip-holes in my hose. Filled each cuff with some wet
>potting soil, and planted the cucumber seeds in them.
>I figure that this way, they will be up off the ground a little, protected
>by the cup. The roots will go down into the yard soil, and when the sprouts
>are sufficiently high I can remove the cups and just let them grow on their
>little soil mound.
>Has anyone ever tried this, and if so, will it work? Should I put a little
>smear of Vaseline around the outside of each cup to further discourage bugs?
>--S.
Could it be cutworms? When you find a cut off plant, start scratching
around in the soil, working out from the stem and see if you find one
of these littel bastids...
http://entoplp.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/cutworms.htm
If you find one, exact your revenge!! It's too late for the plant,
but revenge feels good. They will move to another plant if you don't
get the effer.
The collar should protect seedlings.
Charlie
Posted by Suzanne D. on May 14, 2009, 3:21 am
"Charlie" wrote in message
> Could it be cutworms? When you find a cut off plant, start scratching
> around in the soil, working out from the stem and see if you find one
> of these little bastids...
I have never seen these, but I don't suppose that means they aren't there.
I am guessing it's earwigs, though--they are ALL OVER the place.
> The collar should protect seedlings.
Welp, that's what I wanted to know! Thanks. Hopefully you are right.
--S.
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>where lawn used to be but where it is mainly weeds. I am not even bothering
>with grass this year; I have most of the lawn planted in corn, with vining
>things along the fence.
>So I just dug into the soil a little, didn't till anything, let all the old
>leaves and stuff stay there, and planted my cucumbers. A few days alter, I
>saw a few little sprouts coming up.
>A week later, I saw no sprouts. On close examination, I found several
>little stems. I guess bugs must have eaten them. The grass along the
>fence, though clipped close or pulled, still is messy, and I suppose it
>houses many bugs.
>So today I tried something new. I bought some disposable cups, and cut the
>bottom off of them so they made a cuff about two inches tall. Put one cuff
>under each of the drip-holes in my hose. Filled each cuff with some wet
>potting soil, and planted the cucumber seeds in them.
>I figure that this way, they will be up off the ground a little, protected
>by the cup. The roots will go down into the yard soil, and when the sprouts
>are sufficiently high I can remove the cups and just let them grow on their
>little soil mound.
>Has anyone ever tried this, and if so, will it work? Should I put a little
>smear of Vaseline around the outside of each cup to further discourage bugs?
>--S.