This article is loaded with useful anecdotes, many of which require further investigation!

I'm particularly interested in the onions around cucumbers to control squash bugs. We are plagued with them here and have not yet found the right solution, except to delay the plantings until after August.

Yep, the "onions/cucumbers" one is new to me also. Worth a try though! I've gotten to where I grow squash and harvest it as long as I can before I lose to the squash bugs. I'll give it a try next year.

I think I would've liked growing in the "old days". Then again, the way I grew up growing is now considered the 'old days'. :>_)

A nice read, Chris!

Shoe

What a GREAT article Chris and I learned so much!

Thank you!

Thanks for a terrific article, Chris! I also learned a lot!

Chris!

I really enjoyed your article too, Chris. Love stories about history, especially how they gardened back then. Lots of interesting info. I'm also in line to try onions as a deterent for the squash bug!

I learned quite a bit myself and am excited to try a few things. We'll have to be sure to "report" next year to see how our efforts turned out! We're lucky here - squash bugs is one pest that isn't too bad.

We don't have problems here with the squash bug. What fascinated me was that they started seeds indoors using chunks of sod. How cleaver.
Such an interesting article Chris. I wonder what they did for wire worms. We can't seem to grow root crops like radishes and turnips because of them. : (

"I wonder what they did for wire worms. We can't seem to grow root crops like radishes and turnips because of them. : ("

Potatoes. Well, I don't know if the pioneers used them but I have! Wireworms love potatoes. You can trap them by burying large chunks of potatoes on a stick, with stick protruding upwards out of the ground. Check them periodically by pulling up the spuds by the stick/handle and if infested with wire worms then get rid of it. (Folks asked me one year what kind of sticks I was growing.
Fortunately I haven't had an overly large infestation; haven't had to take measures in quite a few years so perhaps something else also came into play.

Shoe

They have never bothered our potatoes. Just the radishes and turnips. But next time I plant those two crops I will try the pieces of potato on a stick trick.

Interesting Shoe. I can just picture people asking what kind of sticks you were growing!

*grin. well, these folks were the same ones that questioned me the year I grew a row of 'smores, so guess they thought I was up to no good (again).

Shoe