July 28th, 2009 | Gardens, Photo Galleries, aphids, balcony garden, bean, container, garden, micro-farming, mishka, purslane, spider mites, sunflower, Sustainable, tomato, urban
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We had a serious attack of spider mites. They started in the catnip and yarrow and somehow got to the choko and beans. They took the choko down in no time, fortunately it is a hardy plant and it has now grown back to where it was when the spider mites devoured it.
This was my first real run-in with spider mites, which are quite a common especially in container and greenhouse gardeing. I tried neem oil and washing the leaves off, but I think my problem was too advanced by the time I used these measures. I finally found a recipe for a light glue that is sprayed on the back of the leaves and smothers the mites. This has to be done every so often as the eggs will keep hatching. It seems to have finally put a stop to them and my beans are looking a bit better. I also gave them a dandelion tea because I thought it might help add some potassium to the soil and that is another thing beans can easily become deficient in if they are in containers.
July 4th, 2009
The gardeners of Vancouver BC create stunning gardens full of color. Gardens in this city have become a synthesis of the many cultures that have come together and now live side by side, sharing seeds and garden tips. These are a selection of some of my favorite flowers. ...
June 9th, 2009
We haven't gotten that much rain this year and the hot dry weather brought out the spider mites. This is the balcony garden before they ravaged my beans. But you can see how well the potatoes, tomatoes, rose, purslane, chilis and even the rainbow chard are doing. ...
May 20th, 2009
This year got started late with a huge snowstorm and a very cold winter. The roses seem to have done well though, and the amazing backyard gardens of Vancouver BC are going full swing. I am constantly impressed by how many plants there are in some of these spaces. It is also interesting to see that ...
April 19th, 2009
Previous :: Next Once we got some garden beds built and put the beans in they took off. Added a couple of bamboo poles. This end of the balcony gets the best sunlight and if the beans grow vigorously perhaps they will make a curtain for our bedroom window. The coriander, radish, squash, poppy an ...
April 3rd, 2009
The gardeners of Vancouver BC create stunning gardens full of color. Gardens in this city have become a synthesis of the many cultures that have come together and now live side by side, sharing seeds and garden tips. These are a selection of some of my favorite flowers.
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March 18th, 2009
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It was a long cold winter this year and many plants were killed by the ton of snow Vancouver got. Luckily we have a spare room that does quite well as a greenhouse in the spring. I ordered some of my favorite plants from my favorite seed companies, in fact I even became a member of the Hudson ...
December 13th, 2008
Not only are the gardens of Vancouver BC filled with an assortment of absolutely delicious edible fruits, vegetables and herbs but the micro-farmers are generous and friendly. This fig fresh off the tree was the most juicy I have ever had. Another happy old Chinese farmer gave me a couple of cho ...
November 13th, 2008
Vancouver BC, has some of the most incredible backyard gardens in the world, and walking the alleys is one of the best ways to view these spectacular edible works of art. I am constantly amazed by how many beans and tomatoes can be grown on a patch of land or in pots, and it is fantastic to see b ...
October 13th, 2008
The micro-farms of Vancouver BC are absolutely incredible. After traveling all over the world and being an avid walker I have seen urban backyards from New Zealand to Cambodia, New York to Papua New Guinea and can say that Vancouver BC takes the prize hands down, no questions asked. OK, I have n ...
