The Knucklehead way to Grow a Blog

[DonH]

How big are the leaves of your seedlings? If the untrimmed leaves are 4 or more leaves you could plant them on Sunday maybe. What would be ideal is a couple of overcast days with light rain, but if the seedlings have been outside and are toughened up they would probably be fine with sun and an afternoon thunderstorm.

 

[Knucklehead]

I just trimmed all the leaves. They all have at least 4 leaves left, the biggest leaves were about 3x5" before trimming this last time. I totally removed the bottom 3 or 4 leaves to plant them deep and clipped all the other leaves in half. They have thick stems and the roots have begun growing out the bottom of the cells. They are ready to plant, I just don't want to plant them only to have them drown.

 

[workhorse_01]

Here, here! I second that.

I just trimmed all the leaves. They all have at least 4 leaves left, the biggest leaves were about 3x5" before trimming this last time. I totally removed the bottom 3 or 4 leaves to plant them deep and clipped all the other leaves in half. They have thick stems and the roots have begun growing out the bottom of the cells. They are ready to plant, I just don't want to plant them only to have them drown.

 

[DonH]

I just trimmed all the leaves. They all have at least 4 leaves left, the biggest leaves were about 3x5" before trimming this last time. I totally removed the bottom 3 or 4 leaves to plant them deep and clipped all the other leaves in half. They have thick stems and the roots have begun growing out the bottom of the cells. They are ready to plant, I just don't want to plant them only to have them drown.

If they're that big you can plant them on Sunday when the forecast is scattered thunderstorms with only 30-40% chance of rain. They won't drown. It looks like the sun will be out most of the day and the rain will help newly planted seedlings. The only thing you don't want is three days of continuous heavy rain or three days of super hot full sun.

 

[Knucklehead]

Thanks DonH. They really do need planting. EDIT: looked at the forecast again, chance of rain for Sunday has gone up to 60%. Drat.

 

[DGBAMA]

At least you don't have to worry about cooking your starts. Transplanting in our normal July heat would almost certainly be a death sentence for them.

 

[DonH]

Thanks DonH. They really do need planting. EDIT: looked at the forecast again, chance of rain for Sunday has gone up to 60%. Drat.

I'd still plant 'em. If its just a thunderstorm it won't be a problem.

edit: with all the moisture that's been dumped on your area there will probably be thunderstorms every afternoon.

 

[Knucklehead]

I exploited a hole in a cloud yesterday and did some serious weeding and got 15 plants in the ground before the bottom dropped out. I will try again today if there's a break. I worked in the rain as long as it was a slow shower, but hauled ass when the thunder and lightning arrived. There are some new holes in the plants, but BT won't do much good with this daily rain stuff. I'll try to give them a good visual and manual picking as soon as possible.

 

[Chicken]

i wouldnt say that b.t. and the rain are enemies,.

i just 3 days ago, found my first hornworms, and like you, we had continual rain,

during a dry spell. i got some of my plants sprayed,,,,,then it rained,, > it stopped and i sprayed the rest of them....< then it went to raining again,

damn: i thought, i just wasted that 2 gallons worth of poision,

.............................................................................................................

yesterday i was in the patch, supporting some plants, that the rain had BEAT DOWN.

and found dead, worms on many of the plants, so my theory is this,

them worms eat constantlly, so if you can get in a good spraying, with a little break from the rain, you'd be amazed at how many worms will get a good TASTE OF YOUR LEAF. and it's special sauce,


spray my brother,,,,,,let the gates to worm heaven open, and accept the souls of them poor critters, that thought you were growing them a buffet!!!!!!!!

 

[Knucklehead]

Thanks for the heads up ChickenHawk. I'll do that today if there's a break in the deluge.

 

[workhorse_01]

Knuck's, Don't worry about sending them worms to heaven. Just kill em, GOD will sort em out for ya!

 

[Knucklehead]

I'm going to send them to hell so God won't be bothered with them. I may need some special cold medicine after all this planting in the rain. I feel like I caught a summer cold yesterday.

 

[workhorse_01]

Come on by, I got you covered.

I'm going to send them to hell so God won't be bothered with them. I may need some special cold medicine after all this planting in the rain. I feel like I caught a summer cold yesterday.

 

[Knucklehead]

Come on by, I got you covered.

USPS. The Gov't works for us, right? ROFL

 

[AmaxB]

I agree with the C Hawk spray! Those things eat & EAT if you get the underside of the leaf sprayed well they will get a dose. The evening I sprayed the sky was heavy
with rain clouds and here and there I got hit with a rain drop. I thought rain be damned these worms are not going to destroy my leaf, and made sure to get the bottom side sprayed.

 

[deluxestogie]

Keeping in mind that I don't spray for hornworms (I just hand pick them.), my observation is that they always eat through the lamina. From the tiniest hornworms to the biggest, they eat all the way through. Even if they are on the bottom, they eat a hole--full thickness of the leaf. So it would seem to me that for hornworms in particular, just spraying the upper surface should expose them to the BT just a surely.

Perhaps you folks that are spraying with BT could do a trial--some sprayed top and bottom, some sprayed only on the top--and determine if you really need to use up twice as much BT.

Bob

 

[Knucklehead]

Keeping in mind that I don't spray for hornworms (I just hand pick them.), my observation is that they always eat through the lamina. From the tiniest hornworms to the biggest, they eat all the way through. Even if they are on the bottom, they eat a hole--full thickness of the leaf. So it would seem to me that for hornworms in particular, just spraying the upper surface should expose them to the BT just a surely.

Perhaps you folks that are spraying with BT could do a trial--some sprayed top and bottom, some sprayed only on the top--and determine if you really need to use up twice as much BT.

Bob

I could be wrong, but I got the impression Amax was recommending I spray the underside of the leaf due to the constant rain we are having. The underside of the leaf would offer a haven for some of the BT and not be as prone to being washed off. Today I'm having shower after shower with only about 15 minutes between. Every time I've saddled up to do something today, another rain starts before I can even get down the driveway. I'm having to put little water wings on the Beast's Chihuahua so he can go outside to do his business. He's usually a pretty good swimmer but the current is too strong today and there might be an undertow.

 

[chillardbee]

Just an observation, but spraying the underside would prevent the rain from washing it away but how fast does it break down to where is not poisonious. Just thinking that if rain doesn't wash it away, you might end up smoking insectides. a 2 day break in the weather is all you might need to get rid of those vermin with a top application and a repeat if necessary on another nice two days.

 

[DGBAMA]

Just an observation, but spraying the underside would prevent the rain from washing it away but how fast does it break down to where is not poisonious. Just thinking that if rain doesn't wash it away, you might end up smoking insectides. a 2 day break in the weather is all you might need to get rid of those vermin with a top application and a repeat if necessary on another nice two days.

BT is a biological spray and only effects certain insects that injest the leaves, which is why it is preferred over toxic pesticides.

a good read from Ohio State University where it is talked about for controlling the Gypsey Moth:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2174.html

 

[chillardbee]

Ok, I was unaware that it was a bacterial inoculant. Nice.