http://greenthumbs.tribe.net Tribe.net. Local Connections http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/3dbd311f-cf37-4c2c-a9ef-105ea66d35ac#d7cd02ec-3730-4795-8f86-ddd9e43b772b I love home grown potatoes. We had waaaaayy too much rain this spring and mine ended up with blight. So we ate them as new potatoes instead of letting them get full size. I covered the whole area in clear plastic to solarize the soil. Has anyone grown fall potatoes? I'd love to try my hand at some late crops this year. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:23:18 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/3dbd311f-cf37-4c2c-a9ef-105ea66d35ac#d7cd02ec-3730-4795-8f86-ddd9e43b772b yadda yadda 2009-07-05T04:23:18Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/3798f4b8-2426-466f-95a3-82507eecae6e#93f062f5-6f18-4b7c-a251-5959fc50f203 Last winter, when the economy showed signs of taking a steep dive, I decided to put in a vegetable garden for the first time. I live in a 4-plex with very limited space so most of my vegetables are in containers. I ordered some potato seeds and started them in three 30-gallon garbage cans back in early March. The potatoes are still growing now and some of the leaves have brown spots like the pictures I have seen on the internet for late-blight. The stems don't have any legions but they do have tiny, pin-prick, brown spots on them. All the potatoes I have harvested have been fine. None have had brown, corky centers and have been delicious. I am hoping to re-use the organic potting soil again because it was quite expensive. The book I bought "Bountiful Container" says I can as long as the previous harvest wasn't diseased. Can anyone tell me if my potatoes are diseased or if it is just that the plants are old and dying. I live in the South Bay. Thanks so much! Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:10:34 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/3798f4b8-2426-466f-95a3-82507eecae6e#93f062f5-6f18-4b7c-a251-5959fc50f203 Sara 2009-07-04T23:10:34Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b01c3336-73da-4158-bb38-9edc35a2cc49#4cf1c5d5-a5ba-4409-9102-c4c1b75500c5 You can't go wrong with guacamole! I'm Mexican so it's a staple. I like to use about 3 avocados and mash them up with a little lemon juice. Then I add about an eighth of an onion finely diced, salt and pepper to taste and sometimes a little grated cheese and garlic. I put it on all sorts of stuff. Veggie burgers, with corn tortilla chips, on salad. Yum! -Freya Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:02:57 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b01c3336-73da-4158-bb38-9edc35a2cc49#4cf1c5d5-a5ba-4409-9102-c4c1b75500c5 Freyamorganna 2009-07-04T23:02:57Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/3dbd311f-cf37-4c2c-a9ef-105ea66d35ac#f077f61a-a073-49ff-8a8c-f1ceb1e8bba8 I have just started growing potatoes myself. I planted them in 3 30 gallon plastic garbage cans. I bought my seed potatoes from http://www.gurneys.com. I get email alerts from them and I noticed they have their Red Pontiac seed potatoes on sale. I don't know if they are disease free or not. I planted my potatoes when I got them in March and they are still growing now. Some of the leaves have brown spots on them that look like the pictures of late-blight I saw on the internet but so far I don't have any legions on the stems and the potatoes I have harvested have not had any corky, brown centers. I sure hope they aren't diseased because all that organic potting soil I bought to plant them in was quite expensive and I was hoping to re-use it like the book I am using says I can as long as I re-fertilize it. As far as getting potatoes from the supermarket, the book I bought "Bountiful Container" says that supermarket potatoes are treated with something that inhibits sprouting and they may be carrying diseases. I would think a better bet would be to go to a farmer's market. You would be able to talk to the grower and find out if they had treated them or not and also would probably be able to get loads of growing advice along with some interesting varieties. Hope that helps and I hope someone can help me. Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:59:22 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/3dbd311f-cf37-4c2c-a9ef-105ea66d35ac#f077f61a-a073-49ff-8a8c-f1ceb1e8bba8 Sara 2009-07-04T22:59:22Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b01c3336-73da-4158-bb38-9edc35a2cc49#7939dd59-7955-4ac8-b535-111ef41f23f5 I wish I could become enthusiastic about avocados. I know they're great for you, but I had a bad (drunken) experience in college and have had a hard time eating them since. Thoughts for kicking this mental block? Does anyone have a neat recipe perhaps? Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:38:49 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b01c3336-73da-4158-bb38-9edc35a2cc49#7939dd59-7955-4ac8-b535-111ef41f23f5 Trish 2009-07-04T21:38:49Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/d982efb1-ede6-49a6-8a2a-483bb46f4784#4d4f6341-15ba-40d9-a1ac-261f5b7c02b4 I've become very interested in biochar and terra preta. Terra preta are ancient amazonian pockets of great soil in soil desert. They were made by addition of charcoal in addition to compost. It is pretty damn miraculous discovery. Very important as this solves several of our problems with one elegant, synergetic tactic. If you do not know about this, i think you will enjoy learning about it and please take the time to do so. These videos are excellent place to start: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-hSl59ET2A&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6EPKYp5UgI&feature=related Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:54:48 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/d982efb1-ede6-49a6-8a2a-483bb46f4784#4d4f6341-15ba-40d9-a1ac-261f5b7c02b4 wil 2009-07-04T14:54:48Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/14158689-5f41-4abb-8f13-77a3b07da210#30893161-9d66-4f86-ac7f-a7dce6f04cf7 Federal ‘organic’ label’s integrity under fire Consumers who pay up to twice as much don’t always get what they expect By Kimberly Kindy and Lyndsey Layton WASHINGTONPOST.COM WASHINGTON - Three years ago, U.S. Department of Agriculture employees determined that synthetic additives in organic baby formula violated federal standards and should be banned from a product carrying the federal organic label. Today the same additives, purported to boost brainpower and vision, can be found in 90 percent of organic baby formula. The government's turnaround, from prohibition to permission, came after a USDA program manager was lobbied by the formula makers and overruled her staff. That decision and others by a handful of USDA employees, along with an advisory board's approval of a growing list of non-organic ingredients, have helped numerous companies win a coveted green-and-white "USDA Organic" seal on an array of products. Grated organic cheese, for example, contains wood starch to prevent clumping. Organic beer can be made from non-organic hops. Organic mock duck contains a synthetic ingredient that gives it an authentic, stringy texture. Story continues below ↓ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement | your ad here -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Relaxation of the federal standards, and an explosion of consumer demand, have helped push the organics market into a $23 billion-a-year business, the fastest growing segment of the food industry. Half of the country's adults say they buy organic food often or sometimes, according to a survey last year by the Harvard School of Public Health. Expanding market But the USDA program's shortcomings mean that consumers, who at times must pay twice as much for organic products, are not always getting what they expect: foods without pesticides and other chemicals, produced in a way that is gentle to the environment. The market's expansion is fueling tension over whether the federal program should be governed by a strict interpretation of "organic" or broadened to include more products by allowing trace elements of non-organic substances. The argument is not over whether the non-organics pose a health threat, but whether they weaken the integrity of the federal organic label. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has pledged to protect the label, even as he acknowledged the pressure to lower standards to let more products in. In response to complaints, the USDA inspector general's office has widened an investigation of whether products carrying the label meet national standards. The probe is also looking into the department's oversight of private certifiers who are hired by farmers and food producers and inspect products to determine whether they can use the label. Some consumer groups and members of Congress say they worry that the program's lax standards are undermining the federal program and the law itself. "It will unravel everything we've done if the standards can no longer be trusted," said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), who sponsored the federal organics legislation. "If we don't protect the brand, the organic label, the program is finished. It could disappear overnight." Organic advocates and food marketing experts said the introduction this month of new "natural" products by an organics division of Dean Foods is the latest sign that the value of the USDA label has eroded. The yogurt and milk products will be distributed under the Horizon label and marketed as a lower-priced alternative to organic products. Congress adopted the organics law after farmers and consumers demanded uniform standards for produce, dairy and meat. The law banned synthetics, pesticides and genetic engineering from foods that would bear a federal organic label. It also required annual testing for pesticides. And it was aimed at preventing producers from falsely claiming their foods were organic. Corporate firepower The USDA created the National Organic Program in 2002 to implement the law. By then, major food companies had bought up most small, independent organic companies. Kraft Foods, for example, owns Boca Foods. Kellogg owns Morningstar Farms, and Coca-Cola owns 40 percent of Honest Tea, maker of the organic beverage favored by President Obama. That corporate firepower has added to pressure on the government to expand the definition of what is organic, in part because processed foods offered by big industry often require ingredients, additives or processing agents that either do not exist in organic form or are not available in large enough quantities for mass production. Under the original organics law, 5 percent of a USDA-certified organic product can consist of non-organic substances, provided they are approved by the National Organic Standards Board. That list has grown from 77 to 245 substances since it was created in 2002. Companies must appeal to the board every five years to keep a substance on the list, explaining why an organic alternative has not been found. The goal was to shrink the list over time, but only one item has been removed so far. The original law's mandate for annual pesticide testing was also never implemented — the agency left that optional. From the beginning, farmers and consumer advocates were concerned about safeguarding the organic label. In 2003, Arthur Harvey, who grows organic blueberries in Maine, successfully sued the USDA, arguing that the fledgling National Organic Program had violated federal law by allowing synthetic additives. "The big boys like Kraft realized they could really cash in by filling the shelves with products with the organics seal," Harvey said. "But they were sort of inhibited by the original law that said no synthetic ingredients." His victory was short-lived. The Organic Trade Association, which represents corporations such as Kraft, Dole and Dean Foods, lobbied for and received language in a 2006 appropriations bill allowing certain synthetic food substances in the preparation, processing and packaging of organic foods, creating conditions for a flood of processed organic foods. Tom Harding, a Pennsylvania-based consultant for small local farmers and big producers, including Kraft, said that broadening the law has helped meet demand by multiplying the number of organic products and greatly expanded the amount of agricultural land that is being managed organically. "We don't want to eliminate anyone who wants to be a part of the organic community," Harding said. "The growth we've seen has helped the entire organic food chain." Today, labels on organic infant formula boast that they include DHA and ARA, synthetic fatty acids that some studies suggest can help neural development. But according to agency records, when the issue came before the USDA in 2006, agency staff members concluded that the fatty acids could not be added to organic baby formula because they are synthetics that are not on the standards board's approved list. The fatty acids in formula are often produced using a potential neurotoxin known as hexane, prompting many organics advocates to conclude that the board would not approve their use if it took up the matter. In a rare move, Barbara Robinson, who administers the organics program and is a deputy USDA administrator, overruled the staff decision after a telephone call and an e-mail exchange with William J. Friedman, a lawyer who represents the formula makers. Story continues below ↓ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement | your ad here -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I called [Robinson] up," Friedman said. "I wrote an e-mail. It was a simple matter." The back-and-forth, he said, was nothing more than part of the routine process that sets policy in Washington. In an interview, Robinson said she agreed with Friedman's argument that fatty acids were not permitted because of an oversight. Vitamins and minerals are allowed, but "accessory nutrients" — the category that describes fatty acids — are not specifically named. As for hexane, Robinson said the law bans its use in processing organic food, but she does not believe the ban extends to the processing of synthetic additives. "We don't attempt to say how synthetic products can be produced," she said. Manufacturers say the fatty acids are safe and provide health benefits to infants. "We test every lot that comes out for hexane, and there is no residue," said David Abramson, president of Maryland-based Martek Biosciences, which produces the fatty acids used by formula companies. 'Illegal rulemaking' Several groups have filed complaints with the USDA saying they think that the inclusion of the fatty acids in organic products violates federal rules and laws. And they say that Robinson did not have the authority to make the decision on her own. "This is illegal rulemaking — a complete violation of the process that is supposed to protect the public," said Gary Cox, a lawyer with the Cornucopia Institute, an organics advocacy group. Cox and others make the same argument about other decisions by Robinson and several members of her staff. In 2004, Robinson issued a directive allowing farmers and certifiers to use pesticides on organic crops if "after a reasonable effort" they could not determine whether the pesticide contained chemicals prohibited by the organics law. The same year, Robinson determined that farmers could feed organic livestock non-organic fish meal, which can contain mercury and PCBs. The law requires that animals that produce organic meat be raised entirely on organic feed. After sharp protests from Leahy, Consumers Union and other groups, Ann Veneman, then agriculture secretary, rescinded these and two other directives issued by Robinson. The orders were signed by a staff member, but Robinson took responsibility, saying she had made the decisions unwisely without consulting organics experts, certifiers or the standards board. "I failed, and take this as a learning experience and do not want it to happen again," she told board members in 2004. Directives Earlier this year, however, Robinson issued a series of directives without consulting experts, certifiers or the board. She said that because the issues were urgent, including one on food safety, she had to act quickly. In an interview, Robinson said she believes the federal program's main purpose is to "grow the industry," and she dismissed controversies over synthetics in organic foods as "mostly ridiculous." Joe Smillie, a board member, said he thinks that advocates for the most restrictive standards are unrealistic and are inhibiting the growth of organics. "People are really hung up on regulations," said Smillie, who is also vice president of the certifying firm Quality Assurance International, which is involved in certifying 65 percent of organic products found on supermarket shelves. "I say, 'Let's find a way to bend that one, because it's not important.' . . . What are we selling? Are we selling health food? No. Consumers, they expect organic food to be growing in a greenhouse on Pluto. Hello? We live in a polluted world. It isn't pure. We are doing the best we can." Under Robinson, the National Organic Program has repeatedly opted not to issue standards spelling out how organic food must be grown, treated or produced. In 65 instances since 2002, the standards board has made recommendations that have not been acted upon, creating a haphazard system in which the private certifiers have set their own standards for what products can carry the federal label. The agency has not acted, for example, on a 2002 board recommendation that would answer a critical question for organic dairy farmers: how to interpret the law requiring that their cows have "access to pasture," rather than be crowded onto feedlots. The result has been that some dairy farms have been selling milk as organic from cows that spend little if any time grazing in open spaces. "This is really a case of 'justice delayed is justice denied,' " said Alexis Baden-Mayer, national political director for the Organic Consumers Association. "The truly organic dairy farmers, who have their cows out in the pasture all year round, are at a huge competitive disadvantage compared to the big confinement dairies." Story continues below ↓ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement | your ad here -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robinson has blamed the delays on the program's small staff, saying that "we have to prioritize." Without specific standards, the wide discretion given to certifiers has invited producers and farmers to shop around for the certifiers most likely to approve their product, consumer groups say. Liquid fertilizers Sam Welsch, president of the Nebraska-based OneCert, said his company this year has lost as many as a dozen fruit and vegetable farmers seeking other certifiers that allow the use of certain liquid fertilizers, which most organics experts believe are prohibited by organics laws because they are unnaturally spiked with high levels of nitrogen. "The rules should be clear enough that there is just one right answer," Welsch said. Consumer groups and organics advocates are hopeful that the Obama administration will bolster the program. In his proposed budget, the president has doubled resources devoted to organics and installed USDA leaders who support change. Vilsack's deputy, organics expert Kathleen A. Merrigan, told consumer groups three weeks ago that she intends to heighten enforcement. Merrigan helped write the original organics law and get the federal program off the ground in 2002. And Vilsack said he wants to protect the organic label. "That term, 'organic,' needs to be pure," he said in an interview. "You can't allow the definition to be eroded to where it means nothing. . . . We have to fight against that kind of pressure." Still, at the standards board's meeting last month, Chairman Jeff Moyer noted the growing tension. "As the organic industry matures, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find a balance between the integrity of the word 'organic' and the desire for the industry to grow." In Love and Light Naveen Das Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:32:48 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/14158689-5f41-4abb-8f13-77a3b07da210#30893161-9d66-4f86-ac7f-a7dce6f04cf7 ॐNaveenॐ 2009-07-03T13:32:48Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/535a2570-e044-4e2f-8315-e899549833f5#a1fa518d-4e8c-4c28-870e-9dad23b1131c have had volunteers come back pretty true...I say why not...love buttercrunch... Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:21:53 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/535a2570-e044-4e2f-8315-e899549833f5#a1fa518d-4e8c-4c28-870e-9dad23b1131c Lisa 2009-07-03T04:21:53Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/535a2570-e044-4e2f-8315-e899549833f5#6d72071e-45ae-4735-b847-0286c4a5c157 I bought some buttercrunch starts on a whim this spring. They were from a small local garden shop and didn't specify if they were hybrid or OP. Can I save the seeds and sprout something remotely similar to the parent? Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:37:57 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/535a2570-e044-4e2f-8315-e899549833f5#6d72071e-45ae-4735-b847-0286c4a5c157 yadda yadda 2009-07-02T00:37:57Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/23359062-f92f-4902-b77a-3d177dbc9d68#c5816211-4d9c-48bd-8645-363aaf366b3c Mine turn purple every year. Might be variety. But they are fine iike that, and get red eventually. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:44:42 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/23359062-f92f-4902-b77a-3d177dbc9d68#c5816211-4d9c-48bd-8645-363aaf366b3c wil 2009-07-01T19:44:42Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/23359062-f92f-4902-b77a-3d177dbc9d68#bdfbcd65-d9da-41eb-ae41-7b59e2971c38 Eh, I have some that turn purple. Don't worry about them, they are still edible. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:11:41 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/23359062-f92f-4902-b77a-3d177dbc9d68#bdfbcd65-d9da-41eb-ae41-7b59e2971c38 ~Ms. Purity~ 2009-07-01T19:11:41Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b01c3336-73da-4158-bb38-9edc35a2cc49#528c6cc1-b971-439c-a32f-916716ace579 Mine all started growing in the compost. We just take em out when we turn the compost and my daughter plants them. Our little one is still only about 3 inches tall and has a lot of roots. We put it in water first and then a ceramic pot. Good luck. I hope yours grows really nicely. -Freya Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:21:13 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b01c3336-73da-4158-bb38-9edc35a2cc49#528c6cc1-b971-439c-a32f-916716ace579 Freyamorganna 2009-06-30T04:21:13Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b01c3336-73da-4158-bb38-9edc35a2cc49#f2cdf985-ea74-4dfd-a145-431b99792b52 I have a new avocado plant growing. This one was/is really funny.The other ones that I've grown have put down roots long before the stem started growing. The stem started growing after about 10 weeks without any root. last week, with the stem about 4" tall, the roots started. Now the stem is about 6" tall and the root is just over an inch. Other than that, it is doing really well. Of course, this is a seed with several toothpicks in it then suspended in a jar of water. MP & BB John ))0(( Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:45:32 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/b01c3336-73da-4158-bb38-9edc35a2cc49#f2cdf985-ea74-4dfd-a145-431b99792b52 John 2009-06-30T03:45:32Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#e7c5fc8b-cb52-4451-83f2-56aa8b3002f1 Thanks! Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:26:20 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#e7c5fc8b-cb52-4451-83f2-56aa8b3002f1 Yewni 2009-06-29T16:26:20Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#07bbf8e1-2585-460f-a789-1300ef7b2530 I remember that cucumbers were the first thing i used neem on. When it was new on the scene here in the 70's i think, that is what it was recommended for as it repels cucumber beetles for some time. These are a bad pest here, and they spread bacterial diseases and mildew as well as munching the hell out of them. Anyway, neem is a wonderful botanical with many uses. Here is a thread where gardeners talk about using it on powdery mildew in squash and cukes: http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14348 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:10:43 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#07bbf8e1-2585-460f-a789-1300ef7b2530 wil 2009-06-29T13:10:43Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/9c689ae5-0025-429b-86b6-8e6b76d39bed#52f0056b-f914-4d16-ad0e-1b621e6eaf79 I've started to include spirulina and chlorella in my supplement regime as both are considered good sources of whole food-green algae, basically. (Chlorella also has been shown to help seizures, which I have a history of.) I figured it was wiser to cut back on the meat I purchase for home and see where that goes. I've really gotten into leeks lately too...and hummus and cilantro. Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:22:29 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/9c689ae5-0025-429b-86b6-8e6b76d39bed#52f0056b-f914-4d16-ad0e-1b621e6eaf79 Trish 2009-06-28T23:22:29Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#867aabdf-22ed-41b4-a6b4-01abe2e7510b last year i had this on the zuke leaves, they are cousins. . .people said water only in the morning to prevent that. . .it was too late then, but soon i will be seeding again. . .we'll see. . Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:09:02 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#867aabdf-22ed-41b4-a6b4-01abe2e7510b Lorenzo 2009-06-28T22:09:02Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#60fbda75-5e3b-4e27-9ba6-5cec6abb87a8 Neem also a fungicide. Here is a good page on powdery mildew: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02902.html and the wikipedia entry for neem oil uses: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil#Uses Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:49:14 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#60fbda75-5e3b-4e27-9ba6-5cec6abb87a8 wil 2009-06-28T21:49:14Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#20c0af9c-2858-42ea-8d1a-598a70969c56 Could be powdery mildew....starts as whites spots on the underside of leaves but eventually covers the entire leaf with powdery areas.... There is a possibility that you can control it with a baking soda spray applied once a week: 1 teaspoon baking soda to 1 quart water. Note though that if you can't control it it will spread to other plants. The most common solution is to thin your plants, remove and destroy all infected parts, disinfect your hands and tools in a bleach solution: 1 part bleach 4 parts water after each cut. In addition to pruning: apply a cooper based fungicide every 7 to 10 days (stop 3 to 4 weeks before harvest). As for NEEM it is used on insects and works as a repellent and insecticide. Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:54:41 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#20c0af9c-2858-42ea-8d1a-598a70969c56 Deborah 2009-06-28T20:54:41Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#aaf9db2a-eeee-42a2-82c7-c7f9dce5bdb1 Powdery mildew. Yeah, neem is what i'd use. Use it in the evening so the hot Sun doesn't hit leaves fresh sprayed. Water them well, then spray. Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:46:58 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#aaf9db2a-eeee-42a2-82c7-c7f9dce5bdb1 wil 2009-06-28T20:46:58Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#2347f51d-78b3-4ab5-a3fa-ef349272f976 Does anyone know what this is and what I can do about them? I am assuming it is a fungus. Would neem work? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:36:49 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/96533d17-adf2-4864-88c0-a673472ee0ca#2347f51d-78b3-4ab5-a3fa-ef349272f976 Yewni 2009-06-28T19:36:49Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/2f9f2316-5d42-42a8-86a7-52cc2df097a0#0cacd6e1-efba-4ca7-8471-e0d7ee335411 eirliglo would be my guess.,if this is your first year on the strawberries the main thing is.,stop the runners--and ive been told to pinch the first flowers off--too build better root systems--most berries dont really kick in till second or third year--if your berries dont just jump--dont worry--give them time--enjoy-- Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:47:38 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/2f9f2316-5d42-42a8-86a7-52cc2df097a0#0cacd6e1-efba-4ca7-8471-e0d7ee335411 pickerrick 2009-06-28T00:47:38Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/2f9f2316-5d42-42a8-86a7-52cc2df097a0#eb169f5d-d6f8-4096-afbb-6d56643afe8f 18 inches...thank you....The plants are on a balcony and spiders take care of the bug problem...the huge problem is raccoons and squirrels...some animal is pulling the strawberries partially out of the soil so i gotta make sure they cant get their little paws close to the fruit...I going to use mesh with tiny openings so hopefully it'll be ok....I saw some flowers opening up today, i tried to help pollenation with a q-tip but im not too sure i did it right...and i forgot i had to seperate species of berry and possibly put pollen on the wrong plants :P so we'll see what happens...oh wait, do the early blooming "Earliglow" have flowers now and the "Sparkle Supreme" will have flowers later on in the summer, or no? Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:36:13 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/2f9f2316-5d42-42a8-86a7-52cc2df097a0#eb169f5d-d6f8-4096-afbb-6d56643afe8f petra 2009-06-28T00:36:13Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/2f9f2316-5d42-42a8-86a7-52cc2df097a0#686b197e-9bb4-48ef-b899-1ea4c2c49b14 18 inches--chicken wire can help--birds are a tough one.,they keep the bugs down.,and enjoy your fruit for you.,starlings and cherries is a bad mix--starlings bury thier heads in the cherries and you can hear them pop-- Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:06:47 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/2f9f2316-5d42-42a8-86a7-52cc2df097a0#686b197e-9bb4-48ef-b899-1ea4c2c49b14 pickerrick 2009-06-28T00:06:47Z http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/2f9f2316-5d42-42a8-86a7-52cc2df097a0#a8049c16-7091-47e8-97f4-f225e3901ec8 I'm building a wire mesh "fruit cage" for my strawberries to keep squirrels/birds away from the fruit...How tall can strawberry plants get? Thank you, Petra :) Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:52:17 GMT http://greenthumbs.tribe.net/thread/2f9f2316-5d42-42a8-86a7-52cc2df097a0#a8049c16-7091-47e8-97f4-f225e3901ec8 petra 2009-06-27T10:52:17Z