Well, the materials may be standardized when they're brand new, but when the
bugs want you, they find you, and they laugh at whatever precautions may
have been taken. Meanwhile: How is the fertilizer applied with the system
you're using? Powder? Liquid? Sprayed? Poured? Lobbed in from 20 feet away,
like a basketball?

"D.D. Palmer" wrote in message
...
OK, you make valid points. But MY point is that at least with the
EARTHBOX, there is SOME expectation that the soil and fertilizer are at
least somewhat standardized. Anyway, my lower leaves seem all "dirty" but
the fruit continues to develop nicely.


"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
I didn't say that was what was going on. I simply responded to your
question about borers. :-)

And, the fact that you're capitalizing EARTHBOX repeatedly would seem to
indicate that you want us to think it's somehow isolated from certain
garden problems. It is NOT. You said the "soil should be OK" and the
"fertilizer situation should also be right". Why???


"D.D. Palmer" wrote in message
...
I don't think that's what's going on. I am growing these in an EARTHBOX
on my deck, about 10 feet off of the ground.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
It's a wormy thing that chews into the main stem near the soil line. By
doing so, it destroys the plant's means of drawing up water. The plant
begins to sag, as if it needs water. You water, but it makes no
difference, and the next day, it's dead. Some years, it doesn't happen.
This pest is a good reason to keep mulch a foot away from the plant on
all sides.

"D.D. Palmer" wrote in message
news What's THAT?

"Mel M Kelly" wrote in message
...
Check the stem close to the ground and see if there is a bad spot
with
some stuff ozzing out. Could be a cucomber borer.


From Mel & Donnie in Bluebird Valley