What are these?

[Wenchy]

Thanks, I'll check it out! Sounds easier than killing them by stepping on them... seems like it'd make a mess Still leary about picking them off the plants to, I know someone posted they are harmless but with them having a big horn it scares me Also if I use tongs, I'd squish them (again - wouldn't it make a big mess?) this sucker was huge yesterday. I inspected all plants and they all seemed okay. Nothings eating holes in the leaves or anything. I'm hoping I stopped him just in time.

You have to admit, although they are destructive to our gardens, they are beautiful. I couldn't kill one.

 

[dems4me]

I use products made with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a naturally occurring bacteria, to kill them. It's absolutely harmless to humans, pets, birds, beneficial insects, etc., and produce can be picked and eaten anytime after spraying. The only downfall is the pest has to eat the treated leaves for it to take effect but it does work quickly. You can also handpick them and drown them in a bucket of soapy water.

Birds are the only thing that I know that eat them. There's also a parasitic wasp (Trichogramma wasps) that will attach to the bug and feed on them, but I wouldn't count on that.

Thanks!

 

[itsbob]

You have to admit, although they are destructive to our gardens, they are beautiful. I couldn't kill one.

Some EVOO and some cracka crumbs.. 5 or 6 would be a tasty meal

 

[pixiegirl]

You have to admit, although they are destructive to our gardens, they are beautiful. I couldn't kill one.

Me either! Dems, save me one in a mason jar. Seriously. I'd love to show it to my kids! When I was a kid I found one in the street of my parents neighborhood (my mom called it a tobacco worm). I was probably 7 or 8. I picked it up and took it home as I'd never seen such a large caterpillar. I put it in a mason jar with lots of various leaves and a few sticks and wouldn't you know that a while later I had a cocoon. Still a while later it emerged and luckily when I found it it's wings were still damp. I set it free in the yard where it was able to spread out. I don't remember much of what the moth looked like other than it was huge. That caterpillar (or whatever it was) is the reason I have one tattooed on my foot!

 

[Wenchy]

Some EVOO and some cracka crumbs.. 5 or 6 would be a tasty meal

Agreed, but don't tell me what it is even after I've eaten it.

 

[dems4me]

Some EVOO and some cracka crumbs.. 5 or 6 would be a tasty meal

I'll make sure to freeze them for next time I see you

I have one last question, I have pole lima beans... how to I teach them to go up the pole? I've been reading and all I see is 3-4 lima beans per pole and the poles should be about 4 feet apart. Doesnt' say how I make them CLIMB the pole. Would tying it up with a bunch of string onto the pole work? It doesn't seem to be the most practical way... will it climb up on its own??? Any suggestions?

 

[Wenchy]

Me either! Dems, save me one in a mason jar. Seriously. I'd love to show it to my kids! When I was a kid I found one in the street of my parents neighborhood (my mom called it a tobacco worm). I was probably 7 or 8. I picked it up and took it home as I'd never seen such a large caterpillar. I put it in a mason jar with lots of various leaves and a few sticks and wouldn't you know that a while later I had a cocoon. Still a while later it emerged and luckily when I found it it's wings were still damp. I set it free in the yard where it was able to spread out. I don't remember much of what the moth looked like other than it was huge. That caterpillar (or whatever it was) is the reason I have one tattooed on my foot!

 

[dems4me]

Me either! Dems, save me one in a mason jar. Seriously. I'd love to show it to my kids! When I was a kid I found one in the street of my parents neighborhood (my mom called it a tobacco worm). I was probably 7 or 8. I picked it up and took it home as I'd never seen such a large caterpillar. I put it in a mason jar with lots of various leaves and a few sticks and wouldn't you know that a while later I had a cocoon. Still a while later it emerged and luckily when I found it it's wings were still damp. I set it free in the yard where it was able to spread out. I don't remember much of what the moth looked like other than it was huge. That caterpillar (or whatever it was) is the reason I have one tattooed on my foot!

Sure thing! I'll see if I can find it. Did you have a preference for dead or alive?

 

[aps45819]

I've never had problems with it before (no blurry pictures) and I havn't changed anything and I'm not doing anything different than I was when it was working good. Earlier this year a few pictures were coming out really blurry and now just about all the pictures are coming out blurry.

Have you ever cleaned the lens?

 

[pixiegirl]

Sure thing! I'll see if I can find it. Did you have a preference for dead or alive?

Alive if you can. They have a few critter cages laying around and I'd like to see if we can keep one until it becomes a moth. That's one of my favorite childhood memories.

 

[dems4me]

Alive if you can. They have a few critter cages laying around and I'd like to see if we can keep one until it becomes a moth. That's one of my favorite childhood memories.

Okay!! Now that I want them in my garden so I can get you one, I probably won't see another one of these pests

 

[dems4me]

Have you ever cleaned the lens?

Yes, but not with anything professional. What would you recommend?

 

[jazz lady]

I have one last question

Yeah, right.

I have pole lima beans... how to I teach them to go up the pole? I've been reading and all I see is 3-4 lima beans per pole and the poles should be about 4 feet apart. Doesnt' say how I make them CLIMB the pole. Would tying it up with a bunch of string onto the pole work? It doesn't seem to be the most practical way... will it climb up on its own??? Any suggestions?

Pole beans send out tendrils that cling to whatever's nearest and they climb on their own. If yours aren't climbing...you ain't got pole beans.

 

[aps45819]

Yes, but not with anything professional. What would you recommend?

With a multi-year old digital, I'd dampen a cotton cloth with windex and wipe it clean. Clean the viewfinder also, might need a Q-tip to do that.
Don't use a paper towel.

 

[dems4me]

Yeah, right.


Pole beans send out tendrils that cling to whatever's nearest and they climb on their own. If yours aren't climbing...you ain't got pole beans.

I recently transplanted a bunch into my garden from seedling trays, they are only about 6 inches high right now wanted to train them early if you are supposed to train them - so basically they'll find something nearby to climb? I have the tomatoe cages nearby - think they will find those? That would be ideal BTW, (and yes these are more questions ) where do I find poles? I went to southern states and they didn't sell those - what else can I use that I might just have laying around the house? Originally I thought I had pole green beans but reread the bag and found out those are bush and my lima beans are pole kind. Wish I new this before I planted them

 

[dems4me]

With a multi-year old digital, I'd dampen a cotton cloth with windex and wipe it clean. Clean the viewfinder also, might need a Q-tip to do that.
Don't use a paper towel.

Thanks if I have time tonight I'll try it and post a picture and see if it helped.

 

[jazz lady]

I recently transplanted a bunch into my garden from seedling trays, they are only about 6 inches high right now wanted to train them early if you are supposed to train them - so basically they'll find something nearby to climb? I have the tomatoe cages nearby - think they will find those? That would be ideal BTW, (and yes these are more questions ) where do I find poles? I went to southern states and they didn't sell those - what else can I use that I might just have laying around the house? Originally I thought I had pole green beans but reread the bag and found out those are bush and my lima beans are pole kind. Wish I new this before I planted them

Are your beans planted in straight rows? If so, the easiest thing is to get two poles, place one at each end of the row, and run either strings or fencing along the length between the poles. You can also put individual poles in the ground next to each plant and let them climb up that way.

 

[dems4me]

Are your beans planted in straight rows? If so, the easiest thing is to get two poles, place one at each end of the row, and run either strings or fencing along the length between the poles. You can also put individual poles in the ground next to each plant and let them climb up that way.

Yes, they are in straight rows. That's the one thing I did right

I was thinking individual poles because of space if I can figure out where these are sold, but your way would work well too!! I'm thinking about trying to grow peas again. I'm down to 2 or 3 pea plants, they were all supposed to climb up my corn I did buy some fresh corn from the stand next to Southern States, they said LOTS of people are complaining this year about squirrels destroying their entire crop. At least it does free up some room in the garden

 

[jazz lady]

Yes, they are in straight rows. That's the one thing I did right

There are many different ways of planting things and straight isn't always best for everything. I use a technique called intensive gardening (also called square foot gardening) that maximizes the space in your garden by planting in grids. I know - TMI.

I was thinking individual poles because of space if I can figure out where these are sold, but your way would work well too!!

Try Lowe's. I think that's where I got the poles for my garden from the last time. They're just long wooden stakes and are usually sold in bundles.

I'm thinking about trying to grow peas again. I'm down to 2 or 3 pea plants, they were all supposed to climb up my corn

Okay, peas are a cold weather crop and corn is a hot weather one. They are NOT compatible. A better choice is to plant something with the same growing season and would appreciate the shade. Beans (your pole beans for one!), pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers all do well with corn.

One thing you might find very valuable to a technique called "companion planting." Certain things grow well with others and other plants just hate each other!

Info on companion planting

I did buy some fresh corn from the stand next to Southern States, they said LOTS of people are complaining this year about squirrels destroying their entire crop. At least it does free up some room in the garden

I always found corn to be too much of a PITA to bother growing. A lot of work and normally not much yield usually.

 

[itsbob]

Agreed, but don't tell me what it is even after I've eaten it.

hey baby.. wanna suck down a horned tomato worm??