Cages, Harvesting, Growth, and Aphids (Uck!)

Allright! I'll start with cages. I have been using up extra fencing that we've had from having fences in a couple previous homes (moved 4 times in 2 1/2 years, put up fences at two of them). At our last place, we were able to give away most all of the fencing and t posts to the farm down the road, but I saved some...so glad I did. I'm taking it and cutting the bottom off, so it will be able to stick into the ground.....

...then I am cutting the whole length in half, so I have two cages. This is saving us money, as cages are getting up there in cost!
...and here we go! Stick 'em in the ground, and you have a tomato cage! I don't always wrap them all the way closed, just enough for support for most of the plant. These are Heirlooms!

This one is the one that barely had any green on it when I planted the poor thing. Now, it's flourished, getting tall, and producing nice fruit!

Harvesting seeds.

Here is some Spearmint, I had taken the seed tops off, and put them in the cup.

I take the seed tops off, and put them in the labled cup. I let all the seed cups sit in the house till dried up, then shake the seeds into the cup, they usually fall off easily. Some might have to be coaxed in there :) I am planning on collecting a BUNCH of seeds this summer and fall.

Here is some beautiful Sweet Basil....
This was a harvest on the 28th of July....happy happy joy joy!

I started some Mini Pumkin seeds a little late, we'll se what happens...

Here is a harvest on the 20th....I was SO happy!

Here is Manny Von Popsicle, feasting on his Catnip. He only eats a bit at a time, he always is a gentleman, and doesn't eat up too much!

This one was in early July, I took this one to show how it gets watered most of the time. The sprinkler is at the corner of the fence, and is timed for midnight for 25 minutes. Sometimes, during these really hot days, I'll give extra water during the day, at ground level when I can.

Ugh. Ok, now onto the Aphids. Wait, I want to say Ugh again.....UGH. I hate them. Hate is a strong word, yet I still choose "hate". I'm ready to just pull up the Broccoli and Cauliflower....really, I'm this close to done. I've started with the "crushing them all with my own fingers" method. Then the "power spray with the hose" method. Now, I'm just giving up. Yet, I will try ONE more thing, something Mike found in the Jerry Baker book, a recipe to spray on them. I wasn't going to rely on just water and dish soap, and this sounded like it just...might....work. I am going to mix it up tomorrow, and give it a try, I'll let you know how it went......UGH.

1 sm onion chopped

2 med garlic cloves, chopped finely

1 tbsp liquid dish soap

2 cups water

Put all ingredients in a blender, blend on high, then strain out the pulp. Pour the liquid into a mist sprayer, and apply liberally on all affected areas at the first sign of aphid activity.

Now, we'll see how this goes, as they've been having "activity" on my Broccoli and Cauliflower for weeks and weeks. UGH.

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