Re: N&C Midwest: July 2023!

**Scorpio Rising** 7/22/2023, 11:21 am

I heard you guys got hit with big winds, even some tornado activity was noted around the state, OG. Your beans should recover. Glad the other plants had some help!

I’m heading out to survey the beds. Just ordered some mesh to protect the ground cherry plants. A squirrel got in there and took all the unripe fruits off, and broke a bunch f the stems. Grrr. Well I will try to thwart them!

OhioGardener 7/22/2023, 2:41 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:The insecticidal soap mixture is working really nicely on the whitefly sitch. Gonna go with it. The only plant I saw getting invaded was the eggplant. Sprayed it. It doesn’t seem bothered by the soap mixture either.

Did you know that Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap also makes a great insect repellent for your skin while working in the garden? Mix 2 tsp of soap with 1 cup of water and spray on the exposed skin. Most bugs will not go near it, and if they do land on the skin they aren't likely to bite since the don't like the taste of the soap. A good non-toxic insect repellent that also washes off easily.
N&C Midwest: July 2023! - Page 2 3170584802

N&C Midwest: July 2023! - Page 2 3170584802

**Scorpio Rising** 7/22/2023, 6:54 pm

Good to know! I did not know this!

**Scorpio Rising** 7/24/2023, 8:22 pm

N&C Midwest: July 2023! - Page 2 Img_1010

My garlic clean up! Huge heads of German Hardy on the left, and my first try of Spanish Roja! Nice!

**sanderson** 7/25/2023, 12:56 pm

OhioGardener wrote:. . . Did you know that Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap also makes a great insect repellent for your skin while working in the garden? Mix 2 tsp of soap with 1 cup of water and spray on the exposed skin. Most bugs will not go near it, and if they do land on the skin they aren't likely to bite since the don't like the taste of the soap. A good non-toxic insect repellent that also washes off easily.

I will have to give this a try. The tiny Aedes Aegypti leaves 3/4" welts. A shower with Irish Spring gives me a couple hours worth of protection until my blood meal scent comes through.

**Scorpio Rising** 7/31/2023, 9:44 am

Got my first 3 sweet banana peppers yesterday from my plant! Can’t wait to eat them!
Lots of blooms on my Ping Tung eggplant. One pepper plant isn’t growing at all. Not sure why.

OhioGardener 7/31/2023, 6:50 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:Got my first 3 sweet banana peppers yesterday from my plant! Can’t wait to eat them!
Lots of blooms on my Ping Tung eggplant. One pepper plant isn’t growing at all. Not sure why.

All of my pepper plants are stunted this year. They got off to a bad start with the very wet and cool spring, which then turned very hot and dry, followed by a monsoon. But, as small as the plants are, they are heavily producing.

Sweet Banana Peppers

N&C Midwest: July 2023! - Page 2 Banana12

Jalapeno Peppers

N&C Midwest: July 2023! - Page 2 Jalape12

Cal Wonder Bell Peppers

N&C Midwest: July 2023! - Page 2 Bell_p11

nrstooge 7/31/2023, 8:10 pm

Lovely peppers!

I picked my first small handfull of tomatoes (cherry) last night... oh.. the first one of the season... YUM

**Scorpio Rising** 7/31/2023, 10:02 pm

Yeah, the peppers have had challenges for sure.

I need to check my cherry tomatoes! In the morning!

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