@FrugalGramma, I'm not sure how dedicated you are to using open-pollinated seed, but last year I planted Ashley cucumbers (OP) and got nailed with Downy Mildew and wire-worms. Being here in the deep south we tend to grow monster bugs and disease.<sigh> Anyhow, this year I opted to go with General Lee cucumbers which is a hybrid and has a good list of disease resistance attached to it. I'm very pleased with the production from these. I had plans of saving the seed from the OP plants last year, but I decided this year I'd try stacking the cards against disease...it appears to have helped in my pestilence riddled garden!!! The General Lees are basically ready to be pulled from the garden, but compared to last years OP cucumbers they are superstars!!!!!! Just thought I'd mention these. Oh, and they taste good, too!!! :drool:
Oh, and tomatoes... Last year I did not harvest a single edible tomato from around 15 BIG plants that was loaded with them. All open pollinated and *every single one* ROTTED. This year I planted hybrids and what a difference...we ate tomatoes and gave buckets of them away...we still had bad ones and blemished ones, but we made lots of them that were good. I do believe the "hybrid vigor" and bred-in disease resistances really made the difference!!!
But this is my garden here in the hot, humid south and it seems my garden gets nailed by many things. Growing further north you don't have quiet the disease and insect pressure but being in the middle of a lot of other growers I can see how you have to deal with nearby disease. I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other...just sharing what my brief gardening challenges have shown me so far. In searching for hybrids to plant I did pay close attention to what was said about them regarding taste...if it produces good but tastes like cardboard what's the use, eh?
So, I decided rather than trying to save seed that I'd rather have some good vegetables to eat. As I said, seed is cheap.
As for the cucumber beetles...I dunno. It will be interesting to get your report on how your plantings worked.
Oh, and I'm just a second-year gardener that just kind of bumbles his way along, so take what I say with a grain of salt (and lots of pepper if you're having a 'mater sandwich!).
Best wishes,
Ed
