It's just wonderful visiting the garden on Thursdays and being with all of the enthusiasts!
When we looked more closely at the shrivelled brown leaves of the potato crop today it appeared that they hadn't just died back ready for harvest, but had been hastened in their demise by the 28 spotted ladybird. This could be good news for those who want a flower garden, because by planting a greater variety of nectar producing flowers, the ratio of beneficial insects to destructive insects should balance out. A mix such as "Good Bug Mix" left to self seed around the edges of the garden may be a starting point.
http://www.greenharvest.com.au/seeds/good_bug_mix.html
Meanwhile however we can pick them off by hand where damage is being done, and keep up our watering roster to minimise stress on the other plants and make them less attractive hosts.
But the harvest today was again bountiful - Joe has photos.... and I'm sure we'll all become experts with zucchini as we pick our way through the weeks ahead. Post your best recipes here!! Happy Gardening!
