Peas pulled, some watering and another bug

 When I water, I water really well. It also helps that the soil holds water for a longer time due to the clay content. North bed was still damp, not bothering with the potato bed and the south bed...needed water. The June gloom drifted in last night before dark and didn't drift back out again until the sun was well up in the morning. Hence why the soil was still good for water in some spots. 

The Marigolds are coloring up!

That was taken before watering! Soaked the heck out of it so it'll be good for another day or two or until I decide to plant something.

The tall peas are doing fantastic! One pod was ready so I picked it and tested the peas, they were much better flavored than the other ones. the lower leaves and mildew is getting worse of course but I don't dare spray Neem with the weather getting warmer. Have to hold off on that until evening for sure.

When I was getting pictures of this plant I noticed something on one of the pods and, if I'm not mistaken, I think it's a Glassy Winged Sharpshooter. Not a good bug.

Unfortunately I disturbed it too much and it flew off before I could destroy it. Here's why it's a bad bug..

"The main problem associated with the glassy-winged sharpshooter is that it can transmit the plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa from one plant to another. This bacterium has a broad host range, able to infect hundreds of plant species in dozens of plant families."

"The main problem associated with the glassy-winged sharpshooter is that it can transmit the plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa from one plant to another. This bacterium has a broad host range, able to infect hundreds of plant species in dozens of plant families. Although infection by X. fastidiosa does not lead to disease in many of these host plants, it does cause several important, often fatal, plant diseases in California. This includes Pierce’s disease of grape, alfalfa dwarf, almond leaf scorch, and mulberry leaf scorch. Other diseases caused by this bacterium in landscape plants include oleander leaf scorch, sweet gum dieback, and cherry plum leaf scorch. Other strains of X. fastidiosa cause phony peach disease, plum leaf scald, bacterial leaf scorch in a wide range of shade trees (sycamore, elm, maple, oak), citrus variegated chlorosis, coffee leaf scorch, and olive quick decline disease, but these diseases have not been confirmed in California. It should be noted that the strain of X. fastidiosa that causes oleander leaf scorch will not cause Pierce’s disease in grapes and the strain of X. fastidiosa that causes mulberry leaf scorch does not cause disease in oleanders or grapes. At this time there is no cure for any of these diseases. For more information on oleander leaf scorch, see the Pest Notes: Oleander Leaf Scorch."

 This is why it is a kill on sight bug.  I should have just taken the one picture and killed it immediately. If it were feeding on my plant (which I think it was due to the spots I saw on some of the pods) it needed to be dealt with immediately. Unfortunately there is no spray that is effective against them as they move quickly away from view. I'll have to give the lemon bush a good looking over to see if there's any damage or signs of feeding.

Anyway... watering was done, can't plant anything still since no seeds or plants. I've got all my cool season seeds and the red pepper seeds but I already have four pepper plants. In the cupboard I have pinto beans, rice and lentils. Still have two small tomatoes that I harvested but again, I want a different variety of tomato that doesn't crack. Going to look on maybe Craig's list or look for a local seed swap. I don't have any valuable seeds to swap unfortunately so that may be a dead end.

Before and after watering. The soil in that north bed was still pretty good but I pulled the peas and then cultivated around everything and watered lightly. The south bed got soaked well, again. This coming week I will be getting my retirement money and will plan my budget carefully and allow a measly ten dollars for garden. (If all I'm getting is $20 from the county for additional food money we have to consider it no extra money and budget and pinch accordingly).