9
07
2008
Categories : My Chicago Garden
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11
06
2008
The Illinois extension has this to say about Cabbage Worms.
"It is almost impossible to raise cole crops in Illinois without controlling these pests."

Well I can tell you I agree with that statement. My cabbage plants were decimated last year (my first year growing vegetables in IL). I decided to run a little cabbage trial in my garden this year. I put out a crop of cabbage utilizing a row cover and another crop without row cover. Everything else was exactly the same. I had been seeing minor damage on the broccoli and cabbage leaves but nothing major until this morning. I came out this morning and the uncovered cabbage was completely destroyed. Nasty little bliters! The base of the leaves were full of a green’ish colored "poop" which could be the eggs of the cabbage looper and on the most damaged cabbage I found small yellow egg sacks on the under side. I don’t remember seeing any of the cabbage moths flying around so it might just be cabbage loopers. Time to get out my insect encyclopedia.
Oh yeah…the covered cabbage…as pretty as can be and not a single pin prick of damage. In fact the leaves could easily make a hat they are so big.
Anybody else have issues with these guys?
Categories : My Chicago Garden
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29
05
2008
Over on the My Skinny Garden blog, Gina brought up the topic of big box stores, and in particular their return policy on live plants. Here was my response…..
Im a non-selective shopper [except under rare occasions where a particular store has made me particularly mad] , however I always give the local guy a try first. I’m willing to pay a couple extra bucks, even if they don’t have the best return policy. They almost always have the best service.
As for plants, I guess I have a different philosophy. Plant’s are living things, and they die for any of a number of good reasons. Most of them having to do with my actions. If only a couple died, that’s pretty good in my book and I wouldn’t even pull them out to take them back to HD. In fact I’ve probably killed $20 worth of plants already this year and all of them went into the compost pile instead of back to the store. I figure HD is trying their best to give me a good product and I tried my best to keep them alive, but stuff happens and it’s unfair to expect them to take the loss.
Different strokes for different folks I guess
I know some of my family members will take an instore item that is scratched up to the counter and ask for a discount when there is nothing wrong with the item and it will get scratched as soon as they put it in the car. Unfair if you ask me.
One thing I will not tolerate from a local shop though is the complaining about being put out of business by the big guys. That’s a bunch of hog wash in 99% of cases. What really happened is they refused to change their business and died, like anybody else who has done that.
Case in point…when I lived in KY there was a local hardware store. I tried at least 15 times to purchase items from them, but their hours were 8am to 4pm M-F. That’s nearly impossible for anyone but contractors. And where do you think contractors shop? The discount stores…duh. They then complained in the newspaper about how the big box stores were putting a 100 year old hardware store out of business. Total crap. Had they changed their hours to cover weekends and evenings and stocked retail items instead of commercial they could have stayed in business. But they refused. And they died. No loss in my opinion
Categories : My Chicago Garden
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26
05
2008
Categories : My Chicago Garden
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21
05
2008
A few months ago I saw what to me was a new soaker hose system and it had been tempting me ever since late winter when I saw it on the shelves. Only problem was it was basically a very thin soaker hose and a 1/2" distribution tube and they wanted $38 for it. I shook my head and told myself that only a moron would pay $38 for two hoses and some plastic pieces (Amazon for $36). Only thing was is that I went back and looked at it EVERY time we went to Menards, which is practically every weekend, and it looked like nobody was touching them.
A few days ago I saw a sign that had them down to $10. I did a double take and thought 75% price drop?!?! No way! I couldn’t pass it up and grabbed 4 of the 6 boxes that were still on the shelf. See…I’ve done this before and purchased only one of an item and then come to find out I can’t find them anymore. Like my Ultimato Tomatoe trellis system. Curse you Lowes for not stocking them anymore! When I got to the checkout they rang up as $8 each. I about fainted.
Tonight I just finished installing the first one and I can tell you it’s the best soaker system I’ve ever used. I was out in the garden pulling out my large soaker hose system and replacing it with these. I recommend anybody with a couple extra bucks hit their local Menards and snatch up a couple. You are looking for a purplish box labeled Orbit Vegetable Garden Soaker System (Part #67562). It may say "DripMaster" on it somewhere. It was originally outdoors in the garden section near the edging but I found them this time in the seasonal area near the hoses and hose accessories.
No seriously. Go now. If I didn’t already have 4 and only 3 vegetables beds I’d go back for the last two. Actually, if they still have them when I go back this weekend I’ll probably buy the rest. So if you live near Cold Springs/West Chicago nevermind…the system is horrible and a complete waste of money. What you need is a large bird bath..yeah that’s it!
Categories : My Chicago Garden
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Those sunflowers are awesome! Do you ever try to get a record tall one?
I didn’t even know there was a record. Is there a website or something for that?