We cooked it up (steamed in water in the microwave for 6 minutes) for lunch with some leftover chicken w/broccoli. So yes - we had chicken w/broccoli w/broccoli.
I have a potential issue with my tomato plants, which I'm counting on my reader's vast experience to advise on: there are slices on the tomato leaves that look like a mini-Wolverine slashed them with his claws.
I'm guessing they're from some kind of worm??? The question is - big deal or not? Should I spray them with Sevin? (note: I sprayed the broccoli and Brussels sprouts with Sevin last week, but it rained later that afternoon, and maybe I didn't spray enough because I spent the next week picking big green cabbage worms (thanks RJS!) off the leaves. I'm trying not to use pesticide where it's not needed). I looked on the tomatoes for the elusive camouflaged hornworm, but I didn't see any. So - does anyone recognize this damage?
-KD
16 comments:
That is terrific Kid, a really good job. Only one problem. NO ONE LIKES BROCOLLI!
Sorry about that.
Tomato = Leaf Miner
mark - someone just asked me "was it delicious?" i said "it's still broccoli."
tenmile - you sure? it doesn't look like all the leaf miner pictures i see online... the leaf miner damage looks like something makes a tunnel pattern on the leaf itself. my damage is like a slice through the leaf. like claw marks almost.
KD, I don't think it is a leaf miner. It certainly is not a tomato hornmworm. Hornworms will eat the entire leaf. My recommendation is that you go out at night with a flashlight and see what it eating them. You might need a magnifying glass also. Then you can choose the appropriate tool. Most likely you will need a "BT" bacillus thuringensis type product, as opposed to a pesticide. Personally I recommend you switch over to organic type pest controls and drop Sevin. There are organic controls for any kind of malady your vegetables might suffer.
Good luck. . .
KD - it almost looks like the splits match - like the leaf is actually split like a piece of wood and could be glued back together.
That's clear evidence of delicate moose damage.
Just kidding. Have you had hail, or severe wind and rain?
Looks like hail. If not, try a couple of slug "beer traps" and see what you catch, or sprinkle some D.E. around the base of your plants. Hold off on the Sevin.
jch - yes - we had a ton of rain. for literally 10 days.
Does not look like brocolli. The first pic made me want to get stoned.
Are you sure that is broccoli? Looks like you are growing something you would smoke instead of your cigars. Although, it does answer the question: How are we going to make $ off the house and land!
-Mrs Big Show
it doesnt look like pest damage to me; it looks like something physiological; hail or wind is a possibility, but im almost thinking after "10 days of rain" that the leaves may have even split from rapid growth...do you have a lot of fertilizer in the soil?
& whatever it is, i wouldnt worry about it...
& btw, you dont want to use sevin in there's anything nearby in bloom; its very toxic to bees, which you'll be needing for pollination...
thanks RJS - i actually thought that the leaves splitting from growth or too much water was a possibility, since i haven't seen any mini-wolverines.
there isn't much fertilizer in the soil - some compost - although i hit them with miracle grow (the hose end attachment)
just another thought...
with 10 days of rain, the roots of your plants will now be growing in the shallow portion of your soil profile; this means that when you get dry weather, those roots will die back, and the plants wil suffer...thus this would be a good time to put down some kind of mulch to preserve moisture; if you dont have mulching materials, even old cardboard will suffice...
Could it just be that the real Wolverine swiped your tomato plant leaves?
PS count me in for some of that good stuff you showed the picture of up top.
KD, a few comments:
1) I do not suggest you using Miracle Grow or any other synthetic fertilizers. They are akin to speed to humans. Not very healthy in the long run.
2) The best thing you can do fertilizer wise would be to place a layer of good compost on top of the soil as a mulch layer. It will accomplish several things. Keep the moisture level in the soil more constant, and a small dose of fertilization every time the plants are watered and prevent weeds from growing.
3) Instead of using miracle grow, I suggest using a fish emulsion/seaweed foliar spray. You can get them from Johnny's in Maine or many other places. If you are close enough to drive to Johnny's, it would probably be worth your time. They are great folks.
Link to Johnny's seeds>
I have no affiliation with them BTW.
Good luck
DT
We had some hail and heavy rain here in Virginia a few weeks ago and I have the exact same slices in some of the leaves of my tomato plants as well. I don't think it's anything to worry about.
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