Growing Vegetables in May

[@danielleterry2331]

All this stuff they are spraying in commercial planes I think is taking its toll on our pollinators just my opinion. I live 38 miles from a college town that has a small commercial air port and planes flying from and to Houston’s 2 airports we see those airstreams a plenty .

[@earthsystem]

My first job after college was AG research (into herbicides,) I've been interested in agriculture my whole life. Here in Northern California I honestly... Well, my personal research a few years ago led me to think that neonicotinoids are the likely culprit for the Bee Decline. Maybe yes, maybe no. "Neonicotinoids" are a very powerful pesticide, "systemic" means it stays in the plant's system, and gets into all plant parts including the flowers. You can find videos and decide for yourself what you might think. My grandmother used nicotine in the garden, for pests, they would save their cigarette butts in a coffee can and steep it in water. Nicotine has long been an organic pesticide. The NEO-NICOTINOIDS (new nicotine sisters) are a lab created, more powerful than the nicotine molecule

[@hardstylzz5024]

I took a picture couple weeks ago here in South Georgia two planes close together one has a very long trail behind it lasted 30 mins or more the other plane had dispersed 100' trail looks like water vapor. So yes planes do spray chemicals. Even the cloud seeding making it rain in Dubai where it floods.

[@barefootgardens22]

​@@earthsystemI think you should start protesting and we all need to stop this nonsense!

[@denniskemnitz1381]

NONSENSE is challenging to control.

[@mathewrichards7309]

Not all farmers spray in New Zealand they are very big on organic produce because there are so much red tape to get certified organic here and takes 3 years and lots of money most farmers don't waste there time but since organic is so big here you just assume most produce is organic. We only spray as a last resort we use beneficial insects like wasps and ladybugs.

[@Southern195]

We had a beekeeper just pull his bee hive houses up and leave our area. He said thousands of his bees were killed by the crop dusters spraying the fields. The bees go to the fields and the chemical kills them. So sad!!

[@DrJohn493]

I grew up on a dairy farm and then later a row crop farm, primarily wheat and soybeans, here in the southeast. Years, and I mean years, ago (like late 60s and into the 70s), I saw firsthand how indiscriminate and destructive "crop dusting" was. Not only harming the beneficial insests but also with killling off wildlife like quail and rabbits. Back then, it was "fence row to fence row" farming, ripping out all the wildlife habitat in between for a few bushels more. And my folks wondered what happened to the abundance of quail and rabbits they once hunted. My observations like this over the years have me convinced that humans are the apex invasive species that refuses to adapt in harmony to their natural environment. One thing we've mastered though is fouling our own nest.

[@jonathandunnam4810]

I had a bunch of bees when my blueberries bloomed but then they disappeared. Very strange and it's the first year I have noticed this happening. Like you I have beautiful stand of watermelon vines but no pollinators at all are on the blooms. I have resorted to hand pollinating what I can around the edges. I'm in Mobile, Al.

[@scottdurham4671]

These companies that come out and spray for mosquitoes are killing every flying insect that gets near it. We have 11 raised beds and our neighbor hires one of these companies to spray their backyard and I asked the guy spraying if the stuff kills honeybees and he said yes!

[@bethb8276]

Yep! Mosquito control will tell you it only targets mosquitoes, but I saw a drastic drop in butterflies and bees after they sprayed.

[@natashacrystal6490]

Our neighbor also sprays for mosquitoes. I hate them too but won’t spray out of concern for the beneficial insects.

[@DV-ol7vt]

I got about 30 squash plants of various varieties in full bloom and I have only seen 1 honey bee, and honey bees love squash blooms.

[@C3Voyage]

No bees yet except for carpenter bees. Melons, squash, and cucs are blooming. Sucks.

[@danaramey6519]

My fordhook limas I ordered from you germination was lousy, everything else I ordered has done great.

[@karencovington9960]

I live in central Alabama…and have not seen pollinators either. I have cosmos, zinnias, and sunflowers planted to attract them….greatly concerned.

[@oceandeepfishing4555]

I had some seeds that didn't germinate too. They were the hossinator tomato seeds. First i was surprised that there were only 6 seeds in the package. Was thinking they must be really good tomatoes that only 6 seeds came with it. Anyway i try to start them in my seed starter tray but none came up. I might try again in fall. Ive had no luck with tomatoes the last three years so was hoping to change my luck...lol Well falas just around the corner. Thsnks.

[@jimbillingsley8274]

In our area, 30 miles east of Atlanta, the pollinators, especially honey bees have an abundance of nectar sources. Everything has been blooming, Blackberries, privet, and clover are everywhere. I suspect the honey bees are able to gather the nectar and pollen they need close to their hive and do not have fly as far to find resources.

[@MarthaGonzalez-jm3vn]

I live in the foothills of NC. The weather has always been a little strange, but this year the weather has been super strange.

[@jhutto3814]

I agree. SUPER STRANGE!!! In N central FL, way too many 40 degree nights this spring. I got to where I just didn't have the ambition to go out and garden. Planted corn twice, POOR germination. By the grace of God I had the where with all to start transplants in the house, so at least I have early corn for one crop, and 2 more I sprouted seed inside and transplanted after it germinated. Transplanted Okra twice, just didn't grow. Depressing. Everything grew so slow. Just now starting to pick up. Thank God for drip tape. Now a huge dry spell.

[@jillcaponi8995]

On the plateau in Tennessee….I’ve only seen a few carpenter bees… no bumble bees, no honey bees. 😢

[@jhutto3814]

Greg, don't forget about your Buckwheat. I have to tell you, that is the pollinator drawingest, lol, thing I have ever seen.

[@venidamcdaniel1913]

Hey I would love to get the pepper bundle but I have small space raised beds. I could used two each of the peppers but not 10. Just like the 10 seeds in a packet. Can you make that happen if not this year next year

[@BustinRootz]

We have so many bees in Kentucky. It is not funny. Sometimes I can’t even go out on my front porch. I had to move all my vegetable garden and flowers to the backyard to try to make sure that they all stay back here so the kids don’t get stung anymore. I’m more worried about all this rain that we’ve been getting here in Kentucky powdery mildew and just fungus problems.

[@Hewalkswithme]

I’m in Summerdale Alabama , very few pollinators . I’ve planted more flowers and trying to attract more ….

[@DrJohn493]

Here in south Montgomery County, my honey bee population crashed about 5 years ago and my open yard and garden plot are covered up with White Dutch Clover, and not a honey bee in sight, and scant few carpenter bees or wasps. It's really discouraging to garden when I see so few pollinators to help me out during our hot summers. And at my age I need all the help I can get.

[@sharonmckee2403]

Central Mississippi here…. So far I guess pollinators are here… I don’t see many but my squash is pollinated.

[@scottiewhite8762]

Same problem, Faulkville Ga

[@esmysyield2023]

Mr Greg is pelletized garden gypsum ok to use if you have BER? I noticed it also has lime, sulfur, and magnesium in it but it says it wont change the ph.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

yes, it is

[@conniemercer4824]

The pollinators sure do love clover, we usually put out weed and feed in the spring for clover in our grass but we've had so many honey bees close to our garden this year we decided we would wait.

[@bobfrye8879]

SW Arkansas says-VERY few pollinators so far this year.My bee population is always very low but so far, hardly any butterflies, hummers or dragonflies. Heck, even the wasp population is way down!

[@baddriversofcolga]

The more native plants the more pollinators (as long as the area isn't being sprayed with insecticides)! Any areas that are turfgrass that you don't need I would highly recommend removing the turfgrass and planting with a diverse mix of native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees! Prescribed burns where applicable at the right times will help with native plant diversity as well.

[@ethandsemmel]

I wish I had your pollinator problem. I'm in NY and get so many paper wasps and hornets in my area starting in mid June. I put traps all around the garden and they get filled up in just a couple of weeks. Then at the end of July the Yellowjackets come out and are all over the lawn through the fall. Makes it difficult to tend the garden.

[@andrewlittlefield3425]

Mr Gregg my bees are low in numbers as well this year in Dothan Alabama. Pest pressure is high 😊

[@carriejones9890]

I’ve got sweet alyssum, hummingbird mint and salvia blooming, almost no pollinators.not even cabbage butterflies, saw only one so far this year and I’ve got a bunch of cabbage planted.

[@earthsystem]

I have sweet alyssum, salvia, sage, lavender, sweet peas, borage. I do have some honey bees, and some solitary bees. Not a lot though. Not a lot.

[@MynewTennesseeHome]

I have crimson clover blooming right now and have honey bees all over it as well as carpenter bees and little black bees. I have also seen a lot of those little parasitic type wasps this year. One thing I haven't seen yet is cicadas. I thought we'd have them by now.

[@LauriOrkney]

Also concerned about the lack of pollinators in my garden even though we have plenty of blossoming happening. Southwest Washington State

[@MarthaGonzalez-jm3vn]

I love hickory king over any sweet corn. I'm told I'm weird.

[@earthsystem]

Do you think the two are related? Are you weird because you like hickory sweet corn?

[@MarthaGonzalez-jm3vn]

@earthsystem Hickory king is like a field corn. It isn't as sweet as other corn. I like it when it is young and tender. No, I don't think I'm weird. I just don't like extremely sweet corn.

[@scotttaranto7870]

I just started hand pollinating my tomatoes this week because I don't see any pollinators. Maybe the cool nights we had this spring have delayed things??? Going to look into what's required to keep a hive on my property. I Live about 80 miles south of you near Wakulla Springs.

[@michaelcounihan9248]

We having the same problem in Savannah Ga the pollinators are just starting to show up. The wife has been pollinating all of our squash, zucchini, and cucumbers every morning

[@joelhenderson5404]

Greg they are saying our honey bee's are down 25%out of 100 I just don't know. I'm not seeing them either here in Oklahoma!

[@cliffleonard5938]

Not many pollinators yet in South Carolina, my summer squash are suffering because of it.

[@jeremyhughes5477]

I am worried about pollinators too. Live in Monroe,GA not seeing anything but wasp right now.

[@v8v83838]

In south Mississippi I’m seeing just a few honey bees, but it’s more than what I saw last year. Luckily for me, every year I have an abundance of bumblebees that take up the slack.

[@mojoflyingsolo639]

Have you thought about getting a bolt of cotton Crochet yarn, there is 100's of feet one one bolt(cone shape) I pick up mine at Walmart.

[@tommathews3964]

I’ve had a fair pollinator population here in N Central Bama. I swear I see more honey bees in corn tassels than at any other time in the garden. I’ve got bumble bees and lots of the smaller bees and wasps. Try running those maters up cattle panels! I gave up Florida weaving years ago. I use a “tape tool” that works with florist tape and small staples. I tied up 55 plants in about 45 minutes the other day. They seem much stronger tied up that way than when I weaved. (I’m sure part of that is my weaving technique! 😂)

[@creationsbychristieb]

I'm in East Coast NC and I haven't seen any bees in my yard since April. They came out strong but naturally I didn't have anything really growing yet. Now that I need them, I haven't seen any. No clue what's going on.

[@tcquiltstudio]

Growing in Late City, Fl and I have the most pollinators I’ve ever seen, especially bumblebees. Haven’t see many honeybees, but lots of native bees this year. I think this is because the fields behind us are being used for cows this year and not watermelons.

[@Lucontheman]

We have lots of native bees as well as a wild hive of honeybees, lots of butterflies. We are in North Texas. All that produce grown down there I imagine a lot of pesticides. 22 inches of rain in a month here

[@kit2130]

They get on the dandelions right before the 1st mowing which ends up wiping a lot of them out. Also I’d plant flowers and get into beekeeping! My place has a ton of bumblebees for some reason but they’re great pollinators!

[@richardschaffling9882]

You know I have not seen many pollinators this year in Tn except butterflies

[@JDHood]

A little north of you in the Atlanta area -- I've been wondering where the bees are as well. We should have seen some by now. The only bees we've seen are carpenter bees drilling holes where they shouldn't, but haven't yet spotted any honey bees working our blooms. We're shaking the pom-poms and rooting them on, but they seem late taking the field this year. Though I have spotted some moths, so I've been spraying for worms.

[@frankdix2230]

Hi.Love your show and a customer too.Yes not many honey bees this year so far.I live in Kingsport Tn.

[@ahabthecrab]

Northeast Florida here. Definitely not seeing honey bees right now. I had them in the fall and very early spring but then they vanished. I have a few bumble bees that love my tomato and eggplant flowers. Last night I had to use spinosad and BT for the army worms so hoping it doesn’t hurt the few pollinators I have.

[@bethb8276]

I'm not using pesticides at all on my property but have only noticed some bees and butterflies. Last year I had tons! We've had an unusually hot dry season so far. It is our dry season but we usually get some rain. I've been wondering if it's this weather? I have seen the bees that are coming on my cosmos, marigolds, red salivia, and the broccoli and mustard greens that I purposely let go to flower and seed.

[@happy_dad4211]

I’ve seen a drop in pollinators since increased use of BT genetics in industrial agriculture. They claim it’s not directly lethal to bees but it messes with nursing larva weakening the hives. We hardly see butterflies and moths anymore in the country.

[@gardentogether9298]

I think we all know what's going on, but yea very few pollinators for me in hunstville al.

[@gatorguy7711]

Here in Tallahassee, there seems to be less honey bees this year. However, we have several pots of purple salvia growing on the patio and the bumble bees have been everywhere. Planting flowers seems to help with attracting pollinators. Great video content! Take care...

[@cherylcollins963]

I am in SE Texas and had alot of honey bees in early Spring. I suddenly started seeing several dead bees and discovered I have bee assassin bugs in my garden! I actually saw one attacking a bee. I have no idea what to do about it! 😢

[@undergroundkustomz2796]

Pollinators extremely scarce here in South Alabama! Just across the street, there's a hive of honey bees that belongs to a neighbor but we have only seen a couple

[@mathewrichards7309]

Not all farmers spray in New Zealand they are very big on organic produce because there are so much red tape to get certified organic here and takes 3 years and lots of money most farmers don't waste there time but since organic is so big here you just assume most produce is organic. We only spray as a last resort we use beneficial insects like wasps and ladybugs.

[@EventHorizon34]

Greg I have quite a few crepe myrtles in my yard especially near the edge of my garden along with other flowers too. That seems to attract the bees more often but I haven’t seen as many bees as I have seen in years past. I have a friend who told me that were they live out in the country they really can’t grow anything because they don’t seem to have any bees. They spray a lot of different chemicals in and around our small town but more so where she lives. I really think it’s having a detrimental effect on the bee population. I understand that agricultural chemicals are a necessary evil so to speak but something has to be done about this because if all the bees die off we will all be in serious trouble!

[@aileensmith3062]

We have our own Beehives so we need to actually plant "extra" for the pollinators!

[@RobertUnderwoodJr-b1z]

All I see in my garden is bubble bees and they are pollinating the clover more than the tomatoes. I haven’t seen any honey bees but have seen plenty of bubble bees.

[@beckymartinez9926]

I had bees covered on my lavender earlier in the season but now I have zinnias and borage and not seeing as many. -N Texas

[@GrammyYah7]

I was just telling my husband that I am going to have to resort to hand pollinating my squash all summer if no pollinators come. I’m now pollinating my cucumbers. I pray that they come when my watermelon starts to flower. Yes there is definitely something sinister going on. Thanks I thought it was just me. I’m in Eastern NC

[@DrJohn493]

What is your technique for hand pollinating? My bees disappeared on me several years ago and the peas and beans would bloom out but the pods wouldn't fill out. Pretty much the same for squash and cukes. Nice blooms but no fruit sets.

[@GrammyYah7]

Here’s my video on hand pollination. How To Hand Pollinate Your Squash When There Are No Bees kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpDOYoKZhLp8iM0

[@denniskemnitz1381]

Is hand pollinating fairly foolproof....

[@GrammyYah7]

You can’t go wrong

[@sarahmcqueen2319]

In Houston and I’m not seeing them either. Just a lot of mosquitoes!!

[@loukrudewig3414]

No pollinators here yet either. We should be really worried about this.

[@vancehoward4077]

I'm having problems also, not seeing many bees so far.

[@floridacoder]

I've noticed fewer pollinators this year also. Strange. I used a tiny paint brush on my melons. Hope it works. My cucumbers are coming in so there must be some pollinators. Just not seeing many.

[@earthsystem]

You can also vibrate flowers with an electric toothbrush, I know tomatoes like to be buzzed. I'm not sure about cucumbers. Those solitary bees. They will buzz the flowers that need it to get their pollen, and they don't buzz the flowers that don't need it.

[@floridacoder]

@earthsystem my tomatoes aren't flowering yet, but if I have any problems I will give the vibrating toothbrush a try. As for the melons this is my first time growing them. Plenty of flowers but I don't see much pollen. My great uncle (RIP) was the president of the watermelon association but sadly we never talked about growing melons. So much I wish I learned from my elder relatives while they were living. Uncle Harmon would know what to do 😀

[@earthsystem]

I used to feel like you but after 2 years of slow handicap person gardening, I realised that my garden is somehow telling me what it needs. So stick with it and listen/watch, you might get back that knowledge. I like to listen to Daisy Creek Farms, sometimes the man talks about his grandfather in India and his growing techniques, really healthy for the soil. My family comes from Oklahoma farming.

[@earthsystem]

I came back to my Northern California hometown, agricultural region, and there aren't any bugs sticking to the windshield anymore. !!! 🤯Bugs used to swarm over the AG fields at night. There's not even bugs circling my porch light. And I personally haven't seen a bat, which used to be very common in the Twilight sky. I don't live in a big city. I live in a small city in a large agricultural area. And the other thing, I don't hear crickets at night. I never hear crickets. And I don't hear frogs at all. Even after a rain.

[@hardstylzz5024]

Well down down here in south Georgia plenty of mosquitoes seems like more than usually this time Probably Gates been releasing more and more in areas. Still don't know why.

[@garyschmelzer]

Last 2 years in my area NE Florida have not seen that many bees usually you can see and hear them all over cucumbers

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@esmysyield2023]

Mr Greg. I need to add some calcium to my containers for my tomatoes. I found some pelletized gypsum but it also has magnesium and sulfur and lime. It says it wont change the ph. Is this the right kind of gypsum? Its says garden safe. But lime and sulfur would seem to cancel each other out and so would the magnium for the calcium right?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Not sure what brand you have . Regular gypsum would do the trick for you. I would not use a combo product.

[@BigSkirtMcGirt]

Strangely the plants that draw the most pollinators for me are my pickling cucumbers and Meyer lemon trees. Loaded with bees.

[@hardstylzz5024]

Oh yes Meyer 🍋 lemons and blackberries notice also humming birds love lemon and Satsuma blooms.

[@David-kd5mf]

What if you just broadcast the summer cover crop into the vetch right now before it dies and mats down?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

It might work if you timed it just right.

[@southalroots]

I had pollinators coming out when all my broccoli was flowering and going to seed in February and March. Haven’t seen much since. I’m in South AL on Mobile Bay.

[@DrJohn493]

Kinda reassuring to see a master gardener have some of the same problems to deal with that us amateurs struggle with. I really cut back on gardening when I had the same disappearing problem with pollinators about 5 years ago. Now, part of my garden plot is covered up with White Dutch Clover and not a honey bee in sight. Only a random carpenter bee or two. There was a time when I could easily fill a freezer up from our summer garden that would carry us from one season to the next. Now I'm lucky to get a few months put up in the freezer. What's been really discouraging is to get in the garden during the heat of a southern summer, put all the work in with pest and weed control, using minimal pesticides and herbicides, and then not be able to pick and put up enough peas, beans, squash, cukes, okra, tomatoes, peppers etc. to make all the hot work seem worthwhile. I ain't giving up yet, but...darn I miss my green picked black eyed peas and ladyfinger peas. P.S., when my grandfather got too old to keep a garden going all summer, he resorted to going to the local farmer's market to buy several bushels of peas and beans to put up, doing this several times over the summer so his freezer was stocked. Same for cukes (for pickling) and squash. Now, I don't even have that choice since the last local summer farmer's market shut down several seasons ago.

[@mattlee2020]

Hoss what sweet corn did you plant this year?!

[@gardeningwithhoss]

A new variety we are testing

[@mattlee2020]

@@gardeningwithhoss awesome that’s what I figured considering you didn’t say it to exited to see what it is and how good it done looks good so far! Sweet corn is my favorite to grow and eat!

[@LJ-xw3ou]

Do you have a catalog?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

We actually stopped printing a catalog a few years ago. You can find everything on www.growhoss.com

[@gardeningwithhoss]

No

[@karenwaterbury9895]

Michigan here - pollenators were EXCELLENT this spring on my peach, apple and pear trees! I watched thousands, seriously just on my apple tree for several days while it was in bloom. Sorry you are not seeing them down there.

[@shadyacrefarm1005]

Good job Mr Hoss

[@kearneystephens8019]

My yellow sqash are beautiful but eat up with green worms boring all in the sqash. What is the most effective way to get rid of those? I have probably a 1 acre garden

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Spinosad or Bug buster ll

[@kearneystephens8019]

Thank you

[@joeywest]

I’ve noticed Travis hasn’t been in any videos lately. What happened?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

He has been gone for over 3 years now.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

He decided to follow a different path 3 years ago.

[@rwg727]

thanks! y'all have the best homestead/farm!

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Thank you!