Got the shipment of beneficial nematodes today. There are harmful nematodes which will destroy your garden. (Entirely possible I have had those, for all I know.) Beneficial nematodes are microscopic, carnivorous worms which feed on harmful nematodes and other herbivorous insects including aphids, whiteflies, snails, etc.

What is surprising about them is that they are so small that a one pint container holds as many as 7 million of them, along with carrier material which is largely comprised of food for them. You can't see them with the naked eye. They are so small that one method of spreading them is to mix them with water and use a hose sprayer! That's how I spread them this evening, to cover the whole garden.

Also got another shipment of ladybugs. Scattered them at sunset and after watering. Last I looked they were swarming particular plants. Guessing those plants had lots of aphids to feed on.

Those things came in none too soon. Lost several pumpkin plants this week because of insect attacks. Only a few green bean vines surviving, none yet large enough to produce. They've all been killed off by heat and insects.

I may supplement the beneficial insects with some tomato leaf spray. Tomato plants have gotten large enough to trim leaves and some actually could use some pruning. Tomato leaf spray isn't harmful to beneficial insects, so my best bet at the moment.

Weather is reportedly going to cool down a few degrees in the next few days. Not a precipitous drop but down to the 80's during the day and 60's at night. That should help a few things. Cool enough to give another shot at planting more spinach and lettuce. By the time it sprouts and begins to grow to a decent size, it will be cool enough to keep it from bolting.

Wait to do that planting until next week, after the tiller comes in and I get a chance to till some areas.

Still some chances for a productive end to the growing season and looking better now than all spring or summer!Got the shipment of beneficial nematodes today. There are harmful nematodes which will destroy your garden. (Entirely possible I have had those, for all I know.) Beneficial nematodes are microscopic, carnivorous worms which feed on harmful nematodes and other herbivorous insects including aphids, whiteflies, snails, etc.

What is surprising about them is that they are so small that a one pint container holds as many as 7 million of them, along with carrier material which is largely comprised of food for them. You can't see them with the naked eye. They are so small that one method of spreading them is to mix them with water and use a hose sprayer! That's how I spread them this evening, to cover the whole garden.

Also got another shipment of ladybugs. Scattered them at sunset and after watering. Last I looked they were swarming particular plants. Guessing those plants had lots of aphids to feed on.

Those things came in none too soon. Lost several pumpkin plants this week because of insect attacks. Only a few green bean vines surviving, none yet large enough to produce. They've all been killed off by heat and insects.

I may supplement the beneficial insects with some tomato leaf spray. Tomato plants have gotten large enough to trim leaves and some actually could use some pruning. Tomato leaf spray isn't harmful to beneficial insects, so my best bet at the moment.

Weather is reportedly going to cool down a few degrees in the next few days. Not a precipitous drop but down to the 80's during the day and 60's at night. That should help a few things. Cool enough to give another shot at planting more spinach and lettuce. By the time it sprouts and begins to grow to a decent size, it will be cool enough to keep it from bolting.

Wait to do that planting until next week, after the tiller comes in and I get a chance to till some areas.

Still some chances for a productive end to the growing season and looking better now than all spring or summer!