Gardening Thread - Show me your gardens!

Diatoms are microscopic silicon-based organisms with an outer shell that is like tiny shards of glass. Doesnt harm people because too small (and is sometimes used as a food additive), but it cuts through insects' exoskeletons and they basically bleed out, get infected, etc.. At least thats my understanding.

Diatomaceous earth is mined where prehistoric oceans existed. They build up over millions of years and settle to the bottom.

Edit: It also works well for keeping mites and other parasites off chickens/poultry. We've had a big bag of it in the shed for a few years.

 

It's basically silica (glass) made from fossilized plankton. So it's extremely sharp and extremely tiny, and when insects walk over it it works into their exoskeleton/skin and causes thousands of tiny puncture wounds. Those dehydrate the bug and it dies.

I add a few cups to the dust bath area for the chickens every few months to keep them free of parasites, and put a scoop in their feed every 6 months or so for the same reason.

 

Jinx

 

Indeed.

 

It's not a pesticide like Sevin, but it kills just as indiscriminately. So if you sprinkle it on everything then it'll kill off your pollinators too.

 

I know they get fairly large, wouldn't I see holes in the ground where the buried themselves?


I also caged my individual plants to make sure it wasn't larger animals or rabbits.

 

Not necessarily. If the soil is soft enough, crumbly enough, or dry enough they can push through without leaving obvious holes. They're easy to find; just sift through the top inch or so in probably an 8 inch ring around the plant; they don't typically go further than that.

 

looks like I have some work to do.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/stop-cutworms-tomato-plants-42867.html

lots of good options here. The tomato plants looked good this morning. We will see what happens this afternoon.

 

It was there this morning, gone this afternoon. This is what it looks like after its cut off. Then I replanted a new one. I put foil around the base and cornmeal around the base. Fingers crossed.

 

Amazing what we will all do for a tomato that actually tastes like a tomato

 

They are the only ones I eat. They suck when bought from the store. It is funny though.

 

Need help identifying these mushrooms... Anybody know? Trying to learn more.

 

BTW.
How many of you are doing full organic, with no pesticides/gmo yada yada etc....?

Also no-till?

 

The bottom pics are prolly some kinda Amanita, most likely muscaria or regalis

The top looks looks like a russula to me

I ain’t no fungi expert tho lol

 

Are they edible?

 

If it’s a muscaria or regalis it might make u puke then flip your wig if u eat it raw lol. Some people eat em cooked but I wouldn’t. It’s not like psilocybin, it’s a different trip.
A russula will just make u sick.

Again I am far from sure as to the id, you’d need to do a spore print and take them to a mycologist to be sure

 

I don't use any pesticides. Everyting I plant, except corn, is heirloom, and I save my own seeds. No-till, heck no.

 

Maybe a vole?

Does a cutworm chew it off like that?

 

Cool..
So do you mean you don't till, or you do?
I was curious as to what kind of different methods people were using if any..

 

Sorry, I guess my response was kind of confusing. I do till. Sometimes twice a year if I have time in the fall.