News Article for September 8, 2009:
It is not too late to plant a fall garden. Bush snap beans, English peas and Irish potatoes can be planted through mid-September.
You can plant cole crops such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts from seed now or wait until October to plant the transplants.
Beets, turnips, radishes and carrots can be planted now, but be sure to give them adequate moisture.
An early crop of shallots can be planted in September, but the main crop is usually planted in October. Onions can be direct set in mid-October to early November. Garlic can also be set in October and November.
Mustard greens, collards and lettuce can all be planted now for fall production.
It is not unusual to have love bugs flying around at Labor Day. They seem to know that it is the last stand of summer vacations, and they just can not refuse inviting themselves.
Love bugs have been around for a few weeks now but have not been that bad yet. Love bugs show up two times during the year. They appear in the spring around March and again in September. The generation that you are seeing now is the result of eggs that were laid in the spring in the organic matter.
I have made a few trips east of here and have found them in great abundance out on the Interstate. They are very prevalent on the Interstate because the organic matter in the median makes a perfect place for them to lay eggs that hatch to start the new life cycle.
You probably have noticed that love bugs are attracted to heat and white. If you try to cut you lawn during the heat of the day you will have a black cloud following you around. If you turn too quickly and have your mouth open, you will get to eat a few. (I have tried it and did not like it.)
You will also see them attracted to other warm motors on outside appliances and air conditioner compressors.
This would not be a good time of the year to paint. I have also tried that and found it to be very frustrating. It is, however, a good way to get a black polka dot pattern without really trying.
Unfortunately the love bugs run into our vehicles a lot. They have a very acid body content, and they can remove paint. I would suggest daily car washings for those who encounter swarms of love bugs. It is also a good idea to wash you windshield frequently so you can see where you are going.
For more information on these or related topics, contact Kenny at 225-686-3020.