Bad bugs and good bugs

Check out my new article in the Falls Church News-Press, "Not All Bugs Are Pests" http://www.fcnp.com/around-fc/9723-garden-time-not-all-bugs-are-pest.html.  This is the first month that the FCNP has put my article on line (they have previously only had it in the print and E-issue).

Strawberries in July

I had a few (3) fresh strawberries this morning.  I can't describe how delicious a freshly picked strawberry is. I was under the impression (false) that strawberries only grew in June.  Not only are they ready to pick in July their taste is really quite a pleasant intense strawberry taste. I just wish I could remember which type of strawberry it was that is ready to pick now.  Perhaps Tristar?  Now all I have to do is to get the birds and bugs to stop eating them first!

Cucumber beetle Aaaaargh!

I saw one today!  I am so bummed, I thought that planting the cukes, squash and melons a bit later would preclude a problem.  Now I wonder should I spray?  Should I use Remay to cover the plants? But what if I trap one of them in there with the plants and tomorrow morning one little beetle has eaten everything or laid their eggs?  Last year I did not get one cucumber.

Okay, I have calmed down a bit.  My plan is to go out tonight with a flashlight, scare any  CBs off that I see and then cover with cloth.  Hopefully tomorrow morning all will be well and I can take the cloth off to water later.  Whew!  Panic over.

Vegetable garden update

Nothing yet is ready for picking, but if the critters stay away from the tomatoes (see garden remedies) I will have fresh ripe "Early Girl" tomatoes in about a week.  Some are already orange and hopefully there will be enough sun to ripen them.  I do have basil, 2 types "Genovese" and "Siam Queen", baby garden cress, arugula and lettuce to add to salads or garnish a plate with.  The tiny salad greens are in a shady spot which I hope will keep them growing through the heat.  Also available are several other types of herbs to cook with.  Now if I could just gather up the energy to cook something!  It seems I either have energy to garden or energy to cook,  anyway, I hope the beans, cucumbers, squash and melons do alright.  I don't want to jinx anything, but it seems that planting the cucurbits in June (around the 15th) may have bypassed the life cycle of cucumber beetle and the squash bug (but not other pests but hey, the CB and SB are nasty buggers).