Hey Gray.. with the 20+ inches if rain we've gotten lately in SE Texas, I fear my potatoes have given up. I've always planted them direct sow on Valentines day. Question: Is it too late to try again?
It's not too late to plant potatoes in southeast Texas in mid-May. If you are going to start again I would plant early/mid-season varieties like Norland or Yukon Gold. Make sure to work in compost/manure for loose, nutrient-rich soil. Plant seed pieces 12" apart, 3-4" deep. Keep soil moist, mulch helps. Hill soil around plants as they grow. You can expect to harvest new potatoes around 10-12 weeks after planting, though yields may be smaller than earlier plantings due to increasing summer heat. Let me know if you decide to pull the trigger and how it goes.
These green caterpillars have infested my brocolli plant. I'm on the patio so where do they even come from and how do I get rid of them? And should I take off the first flowers of my tomatoe plants!?
Green caterpillars eating your broccoli on a patio: The best approach depends on the extent of the infestation, the plant being affected, and whether you want to preserve or eliminate the caterpillar population.
If they are damaging plants you want to protect, you can try removing them by hand and disposing of them. This is best for small numbers of caterpillars.
For larger infestations, there are organic/natural insecticides derived from bacteria like Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) that specifically target caterpillars. These are considered environmentally friendly.
Don’t hesitate, the help you need is only one comment away!
Hey Gray.. with the 20+ inches if rain we've gotten lately in SE Texas, I fear my potatoes have given up. I've always planted them direct sow on Valentines day. Question: Is it too late to try again?
It's not too late to plant potatoes in southeast Texas in mid-May. If you are going to start again I would plant early/mid-season varieties like Norland or Yukon Gold. Make sure to work in compost/manure for loose, nutrient-rich soil. Plant seed pieces 12" apart, 3-4" deep. Keep soil moist, mulch helps. Hill soil around plants as they grow. You can expect to harvest new potatoes around 10-12 weeks after planting, though yields may be smaller than earlier plantings due to increasing summer heat. Let me know if you decide to pull the trigger and how it goes.
Really want the reds if possible. I do plan to try again because that's what gardening is all about - keeping at it until you achieve success!
You said it right. It’s only failure if you quit!!
These green caterpillars have infested my brocolli plant. I'm on the patio so where do they even come from and how do I get rid of them? And should I take off the first flowers of my tomatoe plants!?
Green caterpillars eating your broccoli on a patio: The best approach depends on the extent of the infestation, the plant being affected, and whether you want to preserve or eliminate the caterpillar population.
If they are damaging plants you want to protect, you can try removing them by hand and disposing of them. This is best for small numbers of caterpillars.
For larger infestations, there are organic/natural insecticides derived from bacteria like Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) that specifically target caterpillars. These are considered environmentally friendly.
Let me know if this helps!