Search

You can use a balanced fertilizer (same number across NPK values, like 10-10-10) if that's what you have. If you were buying something, I'd go with like a 6-3-3, or similar. Ideally, an organic fortified with ammonium sulphate (if my guess about your soil being alkaline is correct). There's quite a few kiln dried manure products made this way. Might ask at a local turf supply shop. They're gaining popularity and shops like that have large bags at good prices. Organic inputs tend to have micronutrients and supply what the soil bacteria need to improve the soil over time. They're like concentrated compost, in a sense. Problem with compost is you need a lot of it, by comparison, but it's better for soil health most of the time.

Spacing is pretty important, too. You want corn spaced about a foot apart.

I tried to attach a photo of some corn I grew last year... will see if that works.
2023 - 6 foot+ corn stalks a few weeks before harvest

I'm replying to this comment, but this is really meant for both of you.

@[email protected]
@[email protected]

OK, so in this case, OP is an actual human and not a bot.
There's usually little point in accusing an account of being a bot outside of reports. Hell, I've probably done it myself in the past, but it sucks.

Thing is:
If they were a bot, then they wouldn't care.
If they weren't a bot, then that's just hurtful.

I'm sure everyone can see how being called a bot isn't fun.
Then again, lashing out through DMs also fucking sucks.
Lemmy is also dumb in that the recipient of a DM currently can't delete it, making DM abuse kinda bullshit to deal with.

On reddit, you'd both have received a vague boilerplate message about nothing, but on here there are actual humans involved and this one likes to imagine we can somewhat get along, or at least ignore each other without being toxic.

This isn't meant as a judgement/endorsement of the quality of whoever's content, just there's little point in such fighting amongst ourselves.

Peace.
- Random admin from sh.itjust.works

@JimmyB @gardening I hope that’s the case for you! My husband said his grandmother grew tons of zucchini and never had this problem so I think it’s an expanding problem at last in the US.

@displaced_city_mouse @oSeabass yes, it’s the small rust colored circle. They all look similar so if you get yours eyes trained to see them, they are easier to spot. I have considered not growing zucchini because it’s so time intensive finding and removing the eggs, but the are soooo tasty! Good luck with the pests this year.

@oSeabass sorry for the late reply! I try to make the second picture more obvious but I could circle it. As someone else said, it’s the small rust colored circle near the tie wrap. Hope that helps!

@displaced_city_mouse @oSeabass It depends where you live, I've never had a problem with squash bugs, I've been battle SVB for over 20 years. I've heard that there are no SVB west of the Rockies.

@LKSimone @gardening Wikipedia is telling me this is an American bug so not a concern (yet) elsewhere

@doomy @gardening ugh! It is a pretty bug but what damage!!! Every year I perform several surgeries to remove the ones that I miss in egg form. But fresh zucchini is just amazing!

@LKSimone @gardening the first time i was growing squash i didnt know about svb and i was like "wow what a cool bug!" and had to cull the whole plant 😭

I think she spent $400 on the fence. but at least we know there's no chemicals> rabbits in the yard but nothing touched inside the fence, so far. need rain

https://calckey.social/notes/9ge0y99yh7udf0ng

This year we got a solar electric fence. So far so good. Past years they'd eat all the sprouts at night. Racoons, chipmunks, squirrels, ground hogs, deer. Irish spring soap seemed to keep deer away.