Yesterday as I was working in the garden, I decided to make a game plan for this week. In a nutshell, my raised garden beds are driving me bonkers {and that’s saying it mildly}. Almost all the garden beds are overgrown, unrulely and look like crap and they are making me crazy.
So what’s the plan?
I’m giving myself until this Friday to get my raised garden beds in tip top shape. And then I will give you a proper tour. Having a deadline helps with the procrastination. So hold me to it okay?
By the way, the drunken slug test does not seem to be working. I have not caught 1 slug yet. So either A. I have Irish slugs and they only drink Guinness, or B. Slugs don’t like beer. Hmmm. Which is it?
Here’s a question for all you big time squash growers out there. Let’s say there are 30 days until the first frost. Will a butternut squash the size of the palm of your hand have enough time to grow, or should I just save it from it’s impending death and pull the vine up?
Okay peeps, I’m off to go play in the dirt {and plant some kale}.
Keep on digging!
♥ Mavis
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The Prudent Homemaker says
I vote Irish slugs!
Melissa says
I’ve had pretty limited success with luring slugs to a drunken doom. Crushed eggshells are a great organic alternative, though. Perhaps you’d like to give it a try?
~Melissa says
I live with sandy soil and a lot of toads looking for a slimey snack so I rarely see a slug but sure had lots at my old garden.
There was a blog post in the spring at mysuburbanhomestead where all the slug trapping/drunken making/deterring methods were tested and it didn’t seem like any did much good. You can see it here at http://www.mysuburbanho mestead.com/how-to-ge
t-rid-of-slugs/ (I chopped up the url in case your comments don’t like hyperlinks.)
Handpicking and some preventative measures seem to be of some use.
Good luck!
PS: I was just cleaning up my unsightly raised beds today too. My kale was starting to look like a creature from the black lagoon.
Mavis says
How tall is you’re Kale Melissa? I remember watching a documentary and this guys kale was like 3 feet tall. Wowza, I wonder how he did it?
Sara says
Some of my kale are at least 2 1/2 ft. Some are definitely healthier than others, no idea why.
Debbie says
I have a volunteer kale plant that is three feet high.
~Melissa says
My kale is around 3 feet tall. I much prefer the taste when it’s young. I think I could build a small hut with big, tough this stuff.
Mari the Kiwi says
The first frost will destroy the vines but if u leave the squash there, one frost won’t hurt them as long as u pick it that day and store it carefully. Like your tomatoes, take the leaves away from the squash and break off the vine two leaves beyond the squash so the goodness goes into the fruit and not into the vine. Do this on pumpkins and zuchini too.
You can also make a frost shade over the fruit. My dad used to cut branches/fronds from the pine trees ( any ever green will do) and make a wee tent over the fruit (he did this on any tender plants in spring too). But have a cardboard box or 3 handy to wizz out and put them over the fruit at night if u are worried. What ever u use must not touch the fruit as it will blemish the fruit and creat soft spots. Just remember to lift it in the morning and pick the fruit if there has been a frost.
Tina from Eatonville says
I tried for a couple of years to do away with slugs by getting them drunk with cheap beer. The deeper the depth of beer the more likely it is to capture these slow moving and hungry creatures. I found that banana slugs will come drink your beer and leave, I have found them climbing out of the container. The other slugs were more likely to drown.
The best organic method I have found to exterminate slugs is to rise early on a cool and damp morning and cut the slugs in half with a pair of scissors dedicated to this gross, yet quick and easy method. Each year there are fewer slugs in my garden.
Tina from Eatonville
jolanta says
don’t chicken eat slugs? I would let chickens out to work on exterminating them
Mavis says
Not mine. I have high maintenance chickens.
Zoe says
I’m guessing it won’t be mature enough to taste good. Mine were that size probably 2 months ago.
becca says
Give the squash a shot – you never know, the frost might be late…
Melannie says
The first year I grew butternuts, I just left them in. I had so many beautiful fruit I didn’t want to let them go. Butternut is one of those ornery vegetables that will not ripen off the vine.
If you could cover and protect the plant and vine for at least 4 – 6 weeks from frost they may still yield.
What you may choose to do is cut the vine back and or reduce the total fruit to also assist.
Mavis says
I think I’ll remove the smaller one on the vine and see what happens. Thanks Melannie
Tracie says
Look up Slugo. Its supposed to be an organic natural product. It is safe on fruits veggies and around kids and pets. I used it twice this year. It made a huge dent in the slug population.
Sara says
Sluggo is my vote too. It’s usually crazy expensive for any quantity, but Costco actually had it this spring.
Tracie says
I just got the store brand and was sure to check and make sure it was only the organic one. It helped so much. I couldnt even grow peas or squash and to replant my beans 3 times because they would eat up the new growth!
Bobbie says
I would pull off all of the small squash- ones less that 3-4 inches long- so the plant can concentrate on ripening the bigger ones. Mine ripened fairly quickly after they reached good size….give em a chance! You cant beat butternut squash soup 🙂 Plus they weigh way more than Kale!!!
Linda says
I use beer for my slugs all the time. I dig a hole in the soil that’s the size & shape of my container (I like to use old food containers like butter or Cool Whip size), put the container in the hole, pour in the cheapest beer I can find, and wait for the slug-a-palooza to happen. I check the container every day or two, toss the dead slugs, and refill with beer. In the springtime my container can be almost full of dead slugs. Yuck! Good luck!