My raspberry harvest has been decimated by Japanese beetles. Those f$@#ing things ate all the wild blackcap raspberries in our woods, and are doing their best to eat our cultivated raspberries as well. Any advice for deterring them? We sprayed neem oil early in the season but it seems to have done nothing.
That is a really tricky problem, and one that doesn't have a perfect solution unfortunately. Everyone says hand pick them...which is nice in theory, unless you have enough eating your crops to fill a 55 gallon drum. The fact that they can fly in from neighboring yards doesn't help either.
The main thing we've found is that they have boom and bust years, and if they absolutely decimated your crops this year, you might see none next year. That's been our experience. We have a bad year about every 5-7 years, and then almost none in between.
My best suggestions are the milky spore stuff, which does work, but it's expensive and labor intensive to put out on your land. And hand picking daily, which sucks, I know, but know that you won't have to do it every single year...just in the really bad years.
I got a few boxes of milky spore but have yet to spread it. You have to take a tsp. and put it on the ground every four feet in a grid-like fashion. It naturally kills the grubs which turn into J. beetles, and by extension, moles might go elsewhere for their next meal. I've read that it's a once and done kind of treatment...supposedly, it only gets better and fills in each of the 4' grid. It is shockingly expensive, but if it works, it will be worth it. (about $150 to treat 1/2 acre)
Ah, in my yard (50'x25') it was just a single application and that really helped. About $50 as I remember to spray the nematodes....1/2 acre is a big space!!
I thought the beneficial nematode thing may help, I did use them for fleas in the yard and they did help reduce the egg count. May help. Best and heres to next years harvest being better Emily!
They are tricky to work with! I've heard they make a truly incredible cheesecake, and that sounds really good to me. All that acidic tang balanced by the rich sweet cream cheese...mmmmm....
Great question Noreen! So many people have asked that I actually wrote up a guide to cold hardy grapes today. I'll add in pictures of each variety over the next few weeks, but for now, here you go!
I bet! Pawpaws are one of the fruits we actually don't grow, as they're only marginally hardy here. There are a few cultivars that are doing ok in zone 4, but apparently they're mostly a zone 5 or higher fruit (sadly).
Blackberries- They like well drained, fertile loam that's slightly acidic (ph 5.5 to 6.5). At least in an ideal world. They grow wild here in our poorly drained, heavy clay soil that's slightly alkaline. They're pretty adaptable, but obviously do better if given what they want.
Blueberries - They're incredibly picky, and want acidic, fertile and very light soil. They only send roots down about 18 inches and then about 2ft in all directions, so what many people do is just dig a really big hole and replace the soil in a 1:1:1 mix of compost, peat moss and sand. Then fertilize yearly with an acid loving fertilizer. (We use Espoma Holly Tone, it' works wonders.)
Asparagus - Likes rich, heavily amended soil that's consistently moist (but no standing water). In the wild, they grow near (but not in) drainage ditches. They need very deep soil, that's fertile and good down at least 3 feet. They like alkaline soil, and actually do best when it's amended with a bit of wood ash.
Supposedly, sea buckthorn is good in zones 2 to 8, but they say that about honeyberry too and it takes very specific varieties to grow above zone 6 with honeyberries. Seaberries are really vigorous though, so maybe they're not the same and they can do well in zone 7? I have no direct knowledge of this, but I think they'd be worth a try.
Here, in Afton, MN, I’ve been harvesting puffball mushrooms, drying them and then grinding into powder. At that point, I dry can in oven to seal for winter use in burgers, meatloafs, gravies etc. I’ve also been making apple peel syrup and Carmel apple jam. Tomatoes are ripening fast. Some I give away, some I can as diced with cilantro or garlic. Some I just peel and freeze as I’m going to use them in my roasted red pepper sauce canning.
Lovely! Puffballs are such a rarity around here, at least in my immediate area. It'd be so lovely to have enough to put up like that! Sounds like a wonderful way to use them.
The Russians use seabuckthorn, for sure in vodka for a sort of medicinal drink (that they drink in larger quantities than drops, not sure if this is a tincture or what, but whatever). Will see if I can find any recipes.. Oblepikha is their name for it, which means something in the vein of sticky, I think because the berries aren’t the easiest to remove. They use whole twigs without removing berries for their purposes often enough.
Ooo...a tincture/liqueur would be lovely with them. I did a bit of searching and couldn't find anything online about that, but it's tricky when I don't speak Russian. I'll ask my friend Maria about it, she may know.
Ha, I dithered and dithered about another order of chicks this year and finally decided this morning that since the hatchery had some brown leghorns available for this week, that I'd do it. I don't need them, but I have some chicks that a hen hatched out on top of a shelf over the stand up freezer in the garage the other week and thought a few more couldn't hurt . . . Yes, I am a fool!
The sea berries sound good. I've never had anyone explain the taste before and it's one reason I never took them that seriously. Next spring I'll think about them again, so thanks!
It is always so busy on a homestead! We're getting ready for winter. Blueberry jam (your recipe 😁), fermented salsa and tomatoes, sauerkraut. We're waiting on the Fall garden to produce, still have some cabbage to do something with. All the things. It's such a satisfying work but, at the same time, it's never ending. I love the more self sufficient life too.
This is also my first visit and I really apprec all your careful work here, Ashley. I am especially winey, a little beery. Also, as a suprise this year, a jewelweed plant sprouted up in the yard, and its really beautiful and useful, (treats all skin issues esp poison ivy and stings VERY WELL) I live in Portland OR and there is a lot of free booze on trees, many people do not use their fruit at all and are glad to see it being made. I often share the results if the tree owners drink wine. best
My friend Colleen (from Grow Forage Cook Ferment) came to my house for a visit, and she's from Oregon. She saw the Jewelweed everywhere (like a lawn) and said, "OMG is that Jewelweed? Did you plant it? Where'd you get the seed?" I laughed and laughed. I could harvest it by the tractor trailer load out here, but apparently it's much rarer in the PNW? So lovely that you got some surprise plants though!
Yes, I have not seen a single plant out there in nature, perhaps a migratory bird or someones yard with the intentional planting of jewelweed, it sure is pretty and it was a mystery what it was till it bloomed....i am curious about how the seeds will look as well....best Ashley
This is my first newsletter and I am thrilled to read it. Great writing and informative! I intend to browse the historical blog postings to learn more.
My raspberry harvest has been decimated by Japanese beetles. Those f$@#ing things ate all the wild blackcap raspberries in our woods, and are doing their best to eat our cultivated raspberries as well. Any advice for deterring them? We sprayed neem oil early in the season but it seems to have done nothing.
That is a really tricky problem, and one that doesn't have a perfect solution unfortunately. Everyone says hand pick them...which is nice in theory, unless you have enough eating your crops to fill a 55 gallon drum. The fact that they can fly in from neighboring yards doesn't help either.
The main thing we've found is that they have boom and bust years, and if they absolutely decimated your crops this year, you might see none next year. That's been our experience. We have a bad year about every 5-7 years, and then almost none in between.
My best suggestions are the milky spore stuff, which does work, but it's expensive and labor intensive to put out on your land. And hand picking daily, which sucks, I know, but know that you won't have to do it every single year...just in the really bad years.
I got a few boxes of milky spore but have yet to spread it. You have to take a tsp. and put it on the ground every four feet in a grid-like fashion. It naturally kills the grubs which turn into J. beetles, and by extension, moles might go elsewhere for their next meal. I've read that it's a once and done kind of treatment...supposedly, it only gets better and fills in each of the 4' grid. It is shockingly expensive, but if it works, it will be worth it. (about $150 to treat 1/2 acre)
Ah, in my yard (50'x25') it was just a single application and that really helped. About $50 as I remember to spray the nematodes....1/2 acre is a big space!!
Yeah, and I have a full acre! Maybe I'll get to it at the end of the week when the weather is nicer.
Thats a bummer, you probably looked about for info, but here is one thing i found, nothing earthshaking, just handpicking them and maybe getting more birds around...here https://cedarcide.com/blogs/guides/9-natural-ways-get-rid-japanese-beetles
best from Oregon and the slugs!
I handpick them off multiple times a day, and we have a lot of birds... they don’t seem very interested unfortunately
I thought the beneficial nematode thing may help, I did use them for fleas in the yard and they did help reduce the egg count. May help. Best and heres to next years harvest being better Emily!
So looking forward to the seaberry recipes!! I remember looking for recipes last year but couldn't find a whole lot out there as well
They are tricky to work with! I've heard they make a truly incredible cheesecake, and that sounds really good to me. All that acidic tang balanced by the rich sweet cream cheese...mmmmm....
hello Ashley,
Thank you very much for the great information.
have a great day,
Paolo
You're quite welcome, I'm so glad it was helpful to you!
You spoke of several zone 4 wine grapes, wondering what those varieties might be?
Great question Noreen! So many people have asked that I actually wrote up a guide to cold hardy grapes today. I'll add in pictures of each variety over the next few weeks, but for now, here you go!
https://practicalselfreliance.com/cold-hardy-grapes/
I bet a sea buckthorn juice and frozen paw paw smoothie would be good.
I bet! Pawpaws are one of the fruits we actually don't grow, as they're only marginally hardy here. There are a few cultivars that are doing ok in zone 4, but apparently they're mostly a zone 5 or higher fruit (sadly).
I think I’ve found a source of paw paws this year (zone 7) so if I can find some sea buckthorn juice I will try it and let you know.
Sounds good =)
Hello Ashley,
what is the best soil to use when you plant Blackberries, Blueberries and asparagus.
Also, what about fertilizers?
Thank you very much in advance,
Paolo
Blackberries- They like well drained, fertile loam that's slightly acidic (ph 5.5 to 6.5). At least in an ideal world. They grow wild here in our poorly drained, heavy clay soil that's slightly alkaline. They're pretty adaptable, but obviously do better if given what they want.
Blueberries - They're incredibly picky, and want acidic, fertile and very light soil. They only send roots down about 18 inches and then about 2ft in all directions, so what many people do is just dig a really big hole and replace the soil in a 1:1:1 mix of compost, peat moss and sand. Then fertilize yearly with an acid loving fertilizer. (We use Espoma Holly Tone, it' works wonders.)
Asparagus - Likes rich, heavily amended soil that's consistently moist (but no standing water). In the wild, they grow near (but not in) drainage ditches. They need very deep soil, that's fertile and good down at least 3 feet. They like alkaline soil, and actually do best when it's amended with a bit of wood ash.
Good luck!
How far South will seabuckthorns thrive? I am in zone 7B.
Also, from where did you order your baby chicks? Thanks for all the great content. I love your posts!
Oh, and baby chicks came from McMurray Hatchery. They were great, all super healthy and quick shipment.
Supposedly, sea buckthorn is good in zones 2 to 8, but they say that about honeyberry too and it takes very specific varieties to grow above zone 6 with honeyberries. Seaberries are really vigorous though, so maybe they're not the same and they can do well in zone 7? I have no direct knowledge of this, but I think they'd be worth a try.
Here, in Afton, MN, I’ve been harvesting puffball mushrooms, drying them and then grinding into powder. At that point, I dry can in oven to seal for winter use in burgers, meatloafs, gravies etc. I’ve also been making apple peel syrup and Carmel apple jam. Tomatoes are ripening fast. Some I give away, some I can as diced with cilantro or garlic. Some I just peel and freeze as I’m going to use them in my roasted red pepper sauce canning.
Lovely! Puffballs are such a rarity around here, at least in my immediate area. It'd be so lovely to have enough to put up like that! Sounds like a wonderful way to use them.
Also mmmm...caramel apple jam!
The Russians use seabuckthorn, for sure in vodka for a sort of medicinal drink (that they drink in larger quantities than drops, not sure if this is a tincture or what, but whatever). Will see if I can find any recipes.. Oblepikha is their name for it, which means something in the vein of sticky, I think because the berries aren’t the easiest to remove. They use whole twigs without removing berries for their purposes often enough.
Maria
Ooo...a tincture/liqueur would be lovely with them. I did a bit of searching and couldn't find anything online about that, but it's tricky when I don't speak Russian. I'll ask my friend Maria about it, she may know.
Ha, I dithered and dithered about another order of chicks this year and finally decided this morning that since the hatchery had some brown leghorns available for this week, that I'd do it. I don't need them, but I have some chicks that a hen hatched out on top of a shelf over the stand up freezer in the garage the other week and thought a few more couldn't hurt . . . Yes, I am a fool!
The sea berries sound good. I've never had anyone explain the taste before and it's one reason I never took them that seriously. Next spring I'll think about them again, so thanks!
You're quite welcome, seaberries are really lovely...if treated properly. They're trick to eat fresh though.
Ha! You can never have too many chicks!
It is always so busy on a homestead! We're getting ready for winter. Blueberry jam (your recipe 😁), fermented salsa and tomatoes, sauerkraut. We're waiting on the Fall garden to produce, still have some cabbage to do something with. All the things. It's such a satisfying work but, at the same time, it's never ending. I love the more self sufficient life too.
"It's such a satisfying work but, at the same time, it's never ending."
This! Exactly this. You took the words right out of my mouth, well said.
This is also my first visit and I really apprec all your careful work here, Ashley. I am especially winey, a little beery. Also, as a suprise this year, a jewelweed plant sprouted up in the yard, and its really beautiful and useful, (treats all skin issues esp poison ivy and stings VERY WELL) I live in Portland OR and there is a lot of free booze on trees, many people do not use their fruit at all and are glad to see it being made. I often share the results if the tree owners drink wine. best
My friend Colleen (from Grow Forage Cook Ferment) came to my house for a visit, and she's from Oregon. She saw the Jewelweed everywhere (like a lawn) and said, "OMG is that Jewelweed? Did you plant it? Where'd you get the seed?" I laughed and laughed. I could harvest it by the tractor trailer load out here, but apparently it's much rarer in the PNW? So lovely that you got some surprise plants though!
Yes, I have not seen a single plant out there in nature, perhaps a migratory bird or someones yard with the intentional planting of jewelweed, it sure is pretty and it was a mystery what it was till it bloomed....i am curious about how the seeds will look as well....best Ashley
This is my first newsletter and I am thrilled to read it. Great writing and informative! I intend to browse the historical blog postings to learn more.
Wonderful, so glad to have you along!