Daily Harvest

Tripp,

I have 96 sq ft in 6 4X4 raised beds plus an estimated 125 square feet in a circle garden. Then I have some odds and ends around the place. This is my first garden year on this site so I am experimenting with different garden styles and plant varieties.

As for tomatoes I can only tell you what I do. I water every day. I used a soil mixture similar to Mel Bartholomew's formula for square foot gardening. I encourage beneficial insects (predators and pollinators) and use no chemicals, insecticides (includes BT) or pesticides.

Based on what I have read and based on my experience living in a wide range of climates I think raising tomatoes or any other vegetable is site (soil, climate and fauna) specific.

I suggest working with neighbors or with the local garden club to see what they recommend for your area to maximize production. I also recommend visiting the Garden Web to find folks in your area and determine how they deal with issues specific to your area. Growing Tomatoes Forum - GardenWeb

 

The squash is a winter squash called buttercup. It is supposed to be ripe when the rind begins to turn orange where it touches the ground. I lifted it to look and it snapped off....

This is the first year I have grown this variety. I picked the variety because of it's similarity in appearance to the calabasa (sp?) that my wife grew up eating in her native Puerto Rico.

Corn is great! Just plant in a minimum of 4' X 4' blocks for pollination. I put 16 plants in each 4' square. The variety pictured is silver queen.

 

Tripp, I have carpenter bees and honey bees helping with the pollination of my squash. You can hear a buzz when next to the plants.

Again, probably a very regional thing. There are thousands of varieties of insects which can aid in pollination.

You might try putting in some already growing plants that attract those bugs. I planted some mint, cosmos and sweet allysiums in the garden for beneficials primarily to attract predators.

Here is an article I found for plants which attract beneficial insects.Beneficial Borders

If you want to try seed you might want to try buckwheat which grows very very fast and attracts bene bugs even before blooming.

 

Great ideas! My bird feeder is in my garden as is my hummingbird feeder. I see the same with my visiting bees and other beneficials. Lots of activity in my gardens but I have never been stung. I am quite amazed by the variety and beauty of these insects...brilliant greens and blues plus stunning patterning.

Additionally, I recommend a simple water feature like a half barrel with some rainwater and catails. Put in some gold fish...they'll eat the mosquito larvae too I believe...but more importantly the water will attract even more beneficials ... like the dragonflies which I have spoken of before and some of those also patrol my gardens.

 

Here are some photos of some of the beneficials flying around my place. Feeding on oregano and mint flowers. Here are my best guesses left to right.
Immature carpenter bee, great golden digger wasp, mature carpenter bee, and eastern sand wasp.

 

Tripp, I haven't seen any "bumble bee" types with green coloring. I have seen wasps with green coloring which are usually beneficials.

You might want to put in a small water feature, if you don't have one already...my little dragon fly pond seems to be attracting many more insects than just dragonflies.

Tomatoes do need pollination. In a book I am reading about greenhouses the author discusses using a camel hair brush to pollinate tomatoes during the winter in a greenhouse. I believe beans require polination also...otherwise I don't believe the bean...a seed would result?

As to mint, I sowed seeds. In her book "Gardening in Clay Soil" Sara Pitzer touts mint, marigolds, chrysanthemums, and culinary sage as clay fighting plants. Mint is invasive as are chysanthemums. She believes that these plants mingled among the vegetables in the garden cuts down on the numbers of problem insects. As well she says that her pets don't have many fleas. Finally, as I have discovered, mint, marigolds, chrysanthemums and probably sage attract beneficials.

Here is a link describing something called an insectary which is gardening to attract beneficials. It is one of many sites to visit for ideas.
Attracting Beneficial Insects to Your Garden for Natural Pest Control (Garden Insectary)

 

Tripp, make a little 2 liter bottle minnow trap which I described in the foreclosure/swimming pool thread. Look for a place like a pond which has some little minnows in it....like a golf course pond, park pond etc. Remember to fill the trap up and and keep the opening under water.

You could also go to walmart, a pet store...and buy some guppies. Guppies eat mosquito larvae too.

I'd send you some mosquito fish but the postage might be prohibitive.

Here is a link to a mosquito page which validates something I accidently found out through experience.

By stocking my dragon fly pond with mosquito fish I have pretty much eliminated mosquitos in my yard. I will get bitten if I go to my woods but not in my yard day or night.

Another interesting aspect is that along with orbiting my pond the dragonflies are now patrolling my garden...guess they are desparate for food due to the lack of mosquitos?

Anyway, here is the link. Robyn's Mosquito Page
Here is another link for deterring mosquitos Mosquito Predators