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Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:October? Someone must be tearing off calendar pages as a joke. Where did the summer go? With that in mind, be sure to read our article about the summer of 1816 -- it might put the weather in a different perspective. We also take a look at cactus and succulent pests, remind you about early and mid-fall chores, continue our highlight on herb series, and more. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Tom Krueger Rex Gregor "Exotic & Unusual Seeds from Around the World" 2) Cactus/Succulent Pests
Many professional gardeners tend to use a systemic insecticide to correct the problem. But as we said, some types of chemicals will soon become useless as the mealy bugs become resistant to the treatment. If the problem is not too critical, it is possible to wash away the bugs with a jet of water. Some growers will use methyl spirits, or other forms of alcohol, which will remove the bugs wax coating, eventually killing the bug. However, using alcohol my cause damage to the plants. Some old time gardeners use cigarette butts and nicotine solutions to kill the mealy bugs. But you run the risk of transmitting Tobacco Mosaic Virus, which then creates a new problem! Today, one of the most favored methods is the use of biological controls. Many can now be purchased from commercial sources -- such as lacewings, which are related to the Lady Bug. Lacewing can eat the mealy bugs by the hundreds in one night. The other pest to a minority of succulents is red spider mites. These creatures are not really spiders – they are really mites. The major problem in spotting the problem is their size -- they are so small, they are difficult to see. Unfortunately, even though it is a minority of succulents, certain species are very prone to attacks from the Red Spider Mite. To help spot these pest problems, carry a magnifying glass in your pocket when working with your cacti or succulents. 15% off House Plant seeds through October 7 Exotic and Unusual House Plant Seeds on Sale.. 3) Humor for Today:A mother and father were chatting with their eight-year-old son about his future. The youngster said he'd like to attend Cornell, as his parents and other members of the family had. Pleased with his response, they pressed on. "What would you like to take when you attend college?" they asked the little boy. After giving it some thought and glancing around the kitchen, he replied, "The refrigerator, if you can get along without it." 4) 1816 -- The Year Without Summer:We don't know about you, but folks around here often complain about the weather. We suspect it is the same for you, as well. Here's a bit of history which might make everything not seem so bad. How about the year there was no summer. The year was 1816. 1816 has been called the "year without a summer." There were some scientific reasons for this, which are too lengthy for this article, but another factor was the eruption the previous year of Tambora on the island of Sumbawa, in modern-day Indonesia. The ash clouds and sulfur aerosols spewed by this volcano were widespread, chilling the climate of the Northern Hemisphere by blocking sunlight with gases and particles. Sleet fell in the Northeast United States, and snowdrifts remained two feet deep in late spring. In Franconia, New Hampshire, 88-year-old physician Edward Holyoke, an amateur astronomer and meteorologist who kept detailed weather records for 80 years, wrote on June 7: "exceeding[ly] cold. Ground frozen hard, and squalls of snow through the day. Icicles 12 inches long in the shade at noon day." Nobody could recall such a cold spring. Sheep froze in meadows and small birds were found dead in fields. Things started to return to normal as time went along, however, on August 21, Holyoke recorded the frosts and snows that killed off the meager bean and corn crop. The difference between August 17 and 21 was like summer compared with winter. The fields were "as empty and white as October." And, it wasn't limited to the Northeast U.S., it affected areas from southern Canada to North Carolina. Cold struck again on September 11, and people tended fields as if dressed for December. The bad weather wasn't confined to North America. The summer weather in parts of Europe was so bad that it reminded people of November. So maybe it wasn't so bad this summer! 5) Early and Mid-fall Chores:October! Where has the time gone? Are you going about doing the things that need to be done? Think about cutting down your perennials for neatness and to prevent self-seeding. In colder climates, you'll want to leave a few inches of stem to hold snow for winter protection. If you perennials are overgrown, it could be a good time to divide them and either throw excess out, or add them to other locations, or better yet, share them with a friend.
These are just a few of the things to be done before winter.
6) Quote for Today:"To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way
yourself once in a while." 7) Highlight on Herbs: Parsley (Petroselinum)Parsley is one of the most popular herbs grown today. The uses in the kitchen go from a simple garnish to the essential ingredient of parsley sauce. It can also be fried and sprinkle the crisp leaves on fish dishes. There are two common varieties, curly leaf parsley and flat-leaf or Italian parsley. The first one is more decorative and is sometimes grown along a path in the herb or vegetable garden, or even in a container. Italian parsley is hardier and has a stronger flavor. In the late Middle Ages, parsley was a popular medicinal herb. It was used to cure urinary infections and gas, and to help with menstrual problems. They even applied the leaves to the eyelids for conjunctivitis. The parsley juice was mixed with wine to cure earaches. Parsley has a lot of vitamin C, and as you may know, has a reputation for curing bad breath. It is a biennial hardy to Zone 6 growing one to two feet tall, and spreading a foot. Of course, it can be grown as an annual elsewhere. Parsley does have very small greenish yellow flowers in compound bunches. The flowering takes place in summer to fall. Of course, the foliage is a rich green color and aromatic. It will grow in full sun or partial shade. You want to have it in fertile, moisture retaining soil. Sow the seeds in early and late summer. It also self seeds. HR472 PARSLEY ITALIAN DARK LEAF (Petroselinum crispum) Click Here -- Found on our Home Medicine Chest page 8) Keep Ants Out:A study from Stanford University found that using insect sprays to keep ants out of your home can be a waste of effort and money. Ants enter homes primarily because of the weather and aren't easily deterred. So, what can you do? Instead of fighting the ants, look for how they get in - look for cracks in your home's foundation, spaces between windows and window frames, etc. Simply seal the holes. An unrelated study in North Carolina suggests that eastern red cedar mulch around your home's foundation can help repel ants, as well. 9) Subscribe/UnsubscribeThis newsletter, the Green Thumb Times, is sent out only to those who have requested a FREE subscription by signing up at http://rexseedco.com or specifically asked to be added, or are a valued customer of Rex's Seedco. PRIVACY: Your email address is held in the strictest of privacy. It is never traded or sold to anyone else. To subscribe to The Green Thumb Times Click Here or send email to subscribegtt@rexseedco.com To unsubscribe Click Here or send email to unsubscribegtt@rexseedco.com Tom Krueger, Editor and Publisher Rex Gregor, Contributing Editor Please feel free to forward The Green Thumb Times to a friend. Rex’s Seedco has searched the world for quality
growers of garden seeds. Many of these farmers bring together ancient
wisdom and modern science so people everywhere may have good health
and enjoyment in life. We are dedicated to providing the best wherever
they are found.
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When cacti and some succulent plants are grown under intensive conditions,
mealy bugs can be a persistent problem. And when mealy bugs show up,
they are known to multiply quickly. Unfortunately, they acquire a resistance
to pesticides. Mealy bugs will also lay dormant on inert material for
considerable periods of time, just waiting for favorable conditions
so they can multiply. In addition, many cactus and succulent species
have characteristics and habits which can compound the problem of fighting
mealy bugs.
