The Helping Friendly Gardener

There’s only one thing on the mind of this ladybeetle larva, and it’s murder.
At this life stage, their singular goal is to crawl around and suck the juice out of every aphid it can find in order to eventually become the beautiful red ladybeetle we all recognize.
But ladybeetles are not the only insect that does such helpful work in the garden!
For every 1 pest insect there are 1700 beneficial insects that cause zero harm to crops.
That means, anytime you spray a pesticide, the larger effect is always the loss of all those beneficials.
When there is a garden space with no pests, like aphids, there can be no beneficial predators, because they’re without food.

If you successfully exterminate every single pest insect in your garden, it becomes a food desert for those predators. But the pests that feed directly on plants can still easily return at any time.

The solution is simple, you want to have as many diverse flowering plants as possible.
Because flowers are beacons for all insects and spiders.
Some predators, like hover flies that get their main protein from eating pests, also enjoy a nibble of flower pollen.
Having flowers is guaranteed to attract and support those beneficial predatory insects and spiders you need around.
You can also think of flowers, especially wildflowers, as sacrificial plants. Many plants have specific aphid species that evolved to live only on them. So when you see aphids on a plant, it is often not possible for that species to move to all your other plants.
So you actually want SOME aphids to be in your garden ALWAYS. Let your sacrificial flowers be covered, and that will be the “bat signal” and buffet that will attract the predators. And more importantly, make them decide your garden is a good spot to lay their eggs.
Plant some wildflowers somewhere, don’t ever treat them with pesticides, and don’t cut them back in the winter. If there’s a spot like this in your garden, predatory insects can eat, be happy and choose to lay eggs so that your garden is ultra defended next year.

Harvested the 3 sisters today (and some tomatoes and tomatillos). Homegrown corn is soooo good 😋. Pollination level was pretty weak for about half the corn as you can see. The silks came out during the epic heat wave (115-120° for 3 days) so they weren't as receptive to pollen. I hand pollinated every day during and after the heat for as long as the silks were fresh. Still incredibly delicious!

My posts have been few and far between because I'm preparing to abandon my house and garden after 4 1/2 years. I knew the day would come as it has for all my previous rentals, but it's still makes me sad. Onward to the next garden!! Hopefully one of my very own one of these years 💚

It's 110° in Portland today and tomorrow will be even hotter 🥵. My garden is set up on micro drip irrigation so the water comes on every morning, but on really hot days everything including the foliage appreciates some extra watering. I braved the 102° at 8pm to accommodate my plants and to my surprise and delight my garden has exploded!! Like everything doubled in size in the last week. I believe my compost tea is to blame for this incredible growth... I've always used it but this year I've been on a schedule every 2 weeks. As soon as the hottest weather is past I'll be making up another batch. Worms for the win!