It's hot in August!

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by Dewayne mater

Redbaron - how did you get rid of the mites quickly? I've already let the infestation get serious by misreading the leaves as having fungal/disease issues, so I need a nuclear option to save them. In the past, my best tool has been takedown which uses pymerethrin (sp?). Definitely going to try that.

In years past I introduced predatory mites. Most years I don't have issues. Is it the predatory mites? The lady bugs? I honestly can't say anymore. There are so many insects in my garden since I stopped using even organic insecticides that I can't keep track of them all. It's a jungle...literally!

All I use now is the rare Bt and once in a VERY great while neem mixed with garlic and hot peppers.

But keep in mind that was not a joke. Very seriously I have a jungle. 10-12 feet grass, 15 + feet sunflowers, basil, marigolds beans etc everywhere. To the untrained eye it would seem impossible I get anything at all. Yet through all that chaos, actually it is a mecca for all sorts of life including predators of every kind. And I have tomatoes when almost no one around here has them.

Too late for you to take a permaculture strategy. But you could try buying some predatory mites.

[tlintx]

If I had that much grass, the thrips would eat ME instead of the plants. Texas, where you don't need a magnifying glass to see the pests, you need a flamethrower to protect yourself from them.

It rained that peculiar "wall of water" rain twice yesterday. Amazing how a good rain perks plants up after a heat spell! The heat will be back in a few days, but it's actually tolerable out there right now.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by tlintx

If I had that much grass, the thrips would eat ME instead of the plants. Texas, where you don't need a magnifying glass to see the pests, you need a flamethrower to protect yourself from them.

It rained that peculiar "wall of water" rain twice yesterday. Amazing how a good rain perks plants up after a heat spell! The heat will be back in a few days, but it's actually tolerable out there right now.

I was driving back from Austin yesterday and saw the wall of water coming.
I stopped at the store and it started pouring down.

I just got out and calmly waked in it to the store by the time I was there I was soaked and freezing cold.
From 104 F to 78 F in 5 minutes isn't bad.

That rain felt like ice water coming down, Brrrrrrr.
It was ice water.

Worth