We held our June meeting at Ken’s land in St Lawrence. He’s really been getting on with it, and has a range of vegetables coming along nicely. You can see how much work he has done when you compare the two pictures.
Ken has worked hard to put in rabbit proof fencing, which gave the moles a good laugh.
As usual with Ken some of the veg we know and others are a bit more exotic. The wall helps to create a warm microclimate which will be ideal for apricots and other soft fruit and perhaps melons. Ken has sourced some local manure to improve the fertility of his plot.
Golly Heck! what’s been eating Ange’s runner beans?
While we were hoeing between the rows of tomatoes, we were joined by Ange in animated mood, she had successfully stalked and caught a verocious preditor of her runner beans. Looks like a bush cricket to me. she had seen it munching her leaves and reported to the Ventnor permaculture group forthwith.
Our next meeting will be on the third Sunday of July at a place to be arranged.
Meantime there will be a soapmaking demo at Nick’s in Shanklin, on Sunday at 10.30. Not far from the station, but get in touch if you want to come, and see wendy’s page for a progress report on the last batch.
Ok Wendy, after spending ages looking at pics of crickets online I agree, it was a young bush cricket. Now how do I persuade them not to eat my runner bean leaves?
They have eaten about 15 leaves in the last week or so, I found another cricket on them today. My beans are stuggling enough as it is, at this rate they won’t exist soon!
My neighbour told me today that there are a lot of them in Upper Ventnor and they do grow larger than normal here.
Suggestions anyone?
Ange I think you are on the right track . By getting to know your enemy and their life cycle you can hopefully find a way to stop them ruining your beans. Meantime I guess you will have to pick them off. happy hunting!