Meet Mr. Pickle Worm

Nothing says "good morning sweetie" then waking up to this nasty critter.
 Meet "Mr. Diaphania Nitidalis" aka "The Pickle Worm"

 

Thanks to my good buddy DUKE who verified what the little holes were. I followed his lead and cut one open this morning and there it was....ICK!  It gave me goose bumps. ND who is an aspiring entomologist wanted to keep it as a pet.

These guys are a serious pest. They primarily like to feed on squash, but also like vegetables in the cucumber and melon families. What you initially see are small holes in your fruit or veggies, that is where the larva ( pictured) like to burrow. About 8-9 days later they will emerge as the "pickleworm moth" and fly out primarily in the evening hours.

 

I dusted my cucumbers in the early evening hours last night with Sevin dust. Which I have been told will work. The only problem with any insecticides is I don't want the Bees who stop  by to pollinate the blooms to die as well.  It is kind of a catch 22.

Some other ideas to protect your garden is to cover your vines with screen so the moths can not get in to lay eggs, or planting a group of squash as a sort of "trap crop" to keep them off your more important vegetables.
This is because they prefer the squash over anything else. They also do not like to feed on watermelons for some reason.

Either way, its a disgusting little cusp that I hope to eradicate from the few vines of cucumbers I am growing. 

-JUGM

Carolina Summers Pt. 2.... Pancakes and Creamed Corn

Like most old southern folks my grandparents had a garden, one that took up much of the back yard. They grew all sorts of vegetables: cucumbers, okra, tomatoes, squash, corn and lots of beans. They were in the garden from the time they got home from work until sundown and for most of the day on Saturdays. And during my summer visits we kids worked the garden as well. Nanason and Papa collectively liked to can. I remember a nasty looking concoction they called “Chow-Chow”  I just know it burned permanently on my brain, As an adult I still can not stand the smell of stewed tomatoes, corn, and okra all cooking in the same pot--it all just makes me shiver....

Papa, now he was a wiz…he could make the best iron skillet corn bred known to man. I have tried many times to replicate, but never have mastered it as well as he did. Apparently it all centers around bacon grease- There really wasn’t much that did not happen in that kitchen that did not involve the use of bacon grease- it was a staple item. Oh and Lard…I must not forget the Lard!. 

They both loved to cook and put out a spread. Back then Breakfast was breakfast, Dinner was lunch and Supper-well that was dinner. We would eat breakfast and then the preparation for dinner would begin, and so went the vicious cycle….

I wasn’t unlike any other 6 year old-. If it was green I wouldn’t touch it, like most kids vegetables were yucky, They were no mans land as far as I was concerned. So, one night for supper, Nanason and Terri tried to trick me.

It all looked yummy enough, and smelled delicious.  I inquired, and was told we were having pancakes, cream corn and sausage for supper.  “Wow pancakes”! I love pancakes… I notice Terri smirking and Nanason with a big smile.

 The spread was laid before us and we all sat down, said the supper prayers and proceeded to chow. I was terribly famished from a long day of playing, and breaking all child labor laws by working in the garden and picking beans. I piled 2 large pancakes on my plate with a side of cream corn, poured syrup across them and proceeded to dive in… One big bite in my mouth and my face turned from excitement to green… “Blah”!  I spit it out.  “What is your problem? “My brother asked.  “ this is no pancake, what is this ? It is horrible!”
It was by far the worse taste that was known to a kid…“Honey its fried egg plant” Nanason said. “I like it nanason” said my brother. I gave him a scowl. At least I have the cream corn I thought. I dug my spoon in and took another heaping bite. Blah again…"now what is this stuff? “   “Oh that would be the squash dear”

Uggg I was green,”This is the worst supper I have ever had!; “you can’t feed this to kids”.  My protests fell on deaf ears; thankfully I still had sausage and corn bread.  Her trickery was short lived, supper ended the table was cleared, I retreated to the confines of the front porch   and the taste of fried egg plant covered in syrup still lingering in my mouth  was nothing less then pure icky-ness…..

--To Be Continued….