Category: nature (Page 19 of 27)

Plants Are Growing

After the posts last week about pumpkins, I received a question about whether a fresh pumpkin seed (that came directly from the pumpkin) would grow if you planted it. Here is the answer:

pumpkin growing

I planted these seeds last week after I took them from a fresh pumpkin. Looks like they are more than capable of growing. They are planted in moist potting soil in a newspaper pot.

By the way, the question was a good one because some seeds, for example apple, pear and blueberry, need a cool period ( a winter dormancy) before they will germinate.

November is a good month for gardening in Arizona. We plant many what we call “cold season crops” at this time of year. Lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, carrots and chard can all withstand the slight frosts we get here in the winter, and so go into the ground now.

brussel sprouts

The basil in this photograph does better in the warm summer months, but will make it through if we don’t get a heavy frost or if someone remembers to cover it.

herb garden

Hope everyone has a good week. I think I’m going to go make a salad.

Bug of the Week: Cabbage Looper

It’s cabbage looper season here again. In some places cabbage loopers might be considered to be pests, but in our yard they are considered to be pets. They are hardy, will eat a wide range of foods, and they show up every year.

cabbage looper

The looper gets its name from the fact it “loops up” in the middle while walking. The caterpillar has two sets of appendages. Its six true legs are right behind the head. Towards the rear is another set of fleshy, wider appendages called “prolegs.” Scientists don’t count the prolegs, so the caterpillar still has the six legs characteristic of insects.

cabbage looper

The caterpillar holds on with the true legs and brings its back end forward. The prolegs meet the true legs, and the back forms a loop. Then it releases the true legs. The head and front spring forward. The looper holds on with its true legs and the process repeats.

This one was nibbling my mint, but I’m not too concerned. The mint is prolific and the caterpillar has a lot of enemies. It is eaten by birds, wasps and parasitic flies. So, loop on little buddy.

Edit: The cabbage looper moth is featured in a later post.

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