happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Jul 7, 2022 11:12:28 GMT -5
There’s also flying squirrels that can glide quite a ways. You don’t see them much because they’re active at night. I know we have them here because my cat got into a nest of them and proudly brought a baby home, still alive. Had to take it to the wildlife rehab center.
My problem is raccoons and possums and I suspect an armadillo or wood chuck living under our gas storage container. Two years ago we made a wire fence around the raised beds and so far, the tomatoes and cantaloupe are only getting eaten by bugs now.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2022 17:02:54 GMT -5
Before I left for work this morning, I saw a critter had gotten to another tomato. I was so disgusted I told Mister I give up. Throw the whole tomato plants away and I’m not growing shit else!
So now he’s talking about making me a space in the yard to grow vegetables, enclosed with some kind of wire on the sides and top, to keep rodents out, and with a door. Neither of us have the first clue how to build something like that though.
It looks like the tomato I saw this morning was the only one that got bothered today. I’m still kind of pissed though lol. The stupid squirrels have a whole pecan tree to gather food from, leave my darn tomatoes alone!
In other news, my little lemon tree is growing a bunch of new leaves again. It doesn’t look at all like the pitiful looking tree I brought outdoors in the spring. When I bring it inside this year, hopefully the new grow light will help it survive winter indoors.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jul 7, 2022 17:32:34 GMT -5
Before I left for work this morning, I saw a critter had gotten to another tomato. I was so disgusted I told Mister I give up. Throw the whole tomato plants away and I’m not growing shit else! So now he’s talking about making me a space in the yard to grow vegetables, enclosed with some kind of wire on the sides and top, to keep rodents out, and with a door. Neither of us have the first clue how to build something like that though. It looks like the tomato I saw this morning was the only one that got bothered today. I’m still kind of pissed though lol. The stupid squirrels have a whole pecan tree to gather food from, leave my darn tomatoes alone! In other news, my little lemon tree is growing a bunch of new leaves again. It doesn’t look at all like the pitiful looking tree I brought outdoors in the spring. When I bring it inside this year, hopefully the new grow light will help it survive winter indoors. Not that you can do a darn thing about it, but I wonder if our heat and total lack of any rain for a while is sending animals to your tomato plants where they get moisture from eating them. Maybe put a shallow bowl of water by the plants and making sure there is water in it at all times especially at night.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2022 17:50:48 GMT -5
Before I left for work this morning, I saw a critter had gotten to another tomato. I was so disgusted I told Mister I give up. Throw the whole tomato plants away and I’m not growing shit else! So now he’s talking about making me a space in the yard to grow vegetables, enclosed with some kind of wire on the sides and top, to keep rodents out, and with a door. Neither of us have the first clue how to build something like that though. It looks like the tomato I saw this morning was the only one that got bothered today. I’m still kind of pissed though lol. The stupid squirrels have a whole pecan tree to gather food from, leave my darn tomatoes alone! In other news, my little lemon tree is growing a bunch of new leaves again. It doesn’t look at all like the pitiful looking tree I brought outdoors in the spring. When I bring it inside this year, hopefully the new grow light will help it survive winter indoors. Not that you can do a darn thing about it, but I wonder if our heat and total lack of any rain for a while is sending animals to your tomato plants where they get moisture from eating them. Maybe put a shallow bowl of water by the plants and making sure there is water in it at all times especially at night. When I was reading about it yesterday, I saw it mentioned a few times that if it’s been hot and dry, squirrels are more likely to go for tomatoes, even the green ones. So you are likely correct about that. We have a water bowl on the deck that I fill every day for Newbie if she’s hanging out with me. But we usually empty the bowl and turn it over every evening before we go back inside for the night. I purposefully didn’t empty it last night because of what I’d read about the stupid squirrels. Maybe that’s why they only got one tomato for today? Idk.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Jul 7, 2022 18:20:48 GMT -5
Before I left for work this morning, I saw a critter had gotten to another tomato. I was so disgusted I told Mister I give up. Throw the whole tomato plants away and I’m not growing shit else! So now he’s talking about making me a space in the yard to grow vegetables, enclosed with some kind of wire on the sides and top, to keep rodents out, and with a door. Neither of us have the first clue how to build something like that though. It looks like the tomato I saw this morning was the only one that got bothered today. I’m still kind of pissed though lol. The stupid squirrels have a whole pecan tree to gather food from, leave my darn tomatoes alone!
In other news, my little lemon tree is growing a bunch of new leaves again. It doesn’t look at all like the pitiful looking tree I brought outdoors in the spring. When I bring it inside this year, hopefully the new grow light will help it survive winter indoors. The squirrels don't want to get scurvy.
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cooper88
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Post by cooper88 on Jul 7, 2022 19:11:13 GMT -5
I think DH is getting tired of the fresh tomatoes (they have been very abundant this year). I don't have the heart to tell him we're having zucchini with dinner.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2022 17:48:12 GMT -5
This morning, not long after I got to work, a damn squirrel set off the camera on the deck. I pushed the button to speak and started yelling at it to go away. Later, I learned that Mister got the same alert and made the alarm on the camera go off for a second. We were both thinking the same thing, just different methods lol. I only lost one tomato today, and it had already been half eaten when I watered them this morning before I went to work. I am going to tell Mister that if he wants me to keep growing vegetables, he’s gonna have to build an enclosed area after all. I’m pretty sure if I just put the raised beds out in the yard, I’ll have even more problems with critters and I’m not trying to do all that work just to feed raccoons and squirrels and whatever else. It doesn’t have to be big. Maybe his friend that built the table for us would be willing to help us build it. Once it cools down some. It’s way too hot to be working outside if you don’t have to. It got up to 100* today and it’s humid…… it almost feels like you can barely breathe outside. I got 5 green tomatoes off yesterday to meet a friend after work to give them to her. She ended up not being able to meet me, so I gave them to a coworker that has said she’d like some green tomatoes. Yesterday I was so disgusted with the squirrels, I was ready to just give all the darn tomatoes away and be done with it. Today, I took 3 or 4 orange ones in the house. I guess I won’t get a chance to let any of them ripen on the vine.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jul 8, 2022 18:06:29 GMT -5
Poor little pepper plant didn't make it. It snapped off during one of the storms. I think it got way over watered.
Trying to get the cucumber to grow up instead of over. I wrapped a second branch around the trellis. I might need a second one.
My cherry tomato plant is huge bit not a ton on it yet. Still waiting for beans to appear on my wax bean plant.
I have random lettuce everywhere.
The carrots and sweet potatoes won't be ready till fall.
I've only lost one plant not bad considering this is my first try.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jul 8, 2022 20:29:11 GMT -5
Freaking rabbit ate the biggest lettuce to date. Need to get some peppermint oil and coat the wood with it.
Think I need another trellis now the sweet potatoes are trying to take over. I read their leaves can also be trained to grow up instead of out.
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Jul 9, 2022 11:53:56 GMT -5
This is NOT a good gardening season here. My plants seem stunted this year, and it isn't just me, as my neighbors who put in gardens around Memorial Day are having the same issues we are having. At least with the current heat wave, the vine plants are starting to get bigger. But the tomato plants seem "stuck", as they just aren't getting any bigger. With the heat I'm reluctant to add fertilizer, as I don't want to burn the plants, so we'll just wait & see... Only one neighbor is seeing good growth, but he has a greenhouse to start his plants, and he uses fertilizer like I use water. But, he's also one of those guys who grows those giant pumpkins, then enters them in the State Fair competition every year. His best pumpkin took either 4th or 5th place, so he knows how to grow 'em.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2022 18:19:00 GMT -5
At least 6 more tomatoes lost today. I didn’t even look at the other plants after I saw those. Fuck it, I give up. It’s not even fun anymore.
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cooper88
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Post by cooper88 on Jul 9, 2022 19:49:56 GMT -5
busymom My garden is pretty dismal this year too. Something is eating my geraniums. Lots of things that I direct sowed just didn't come up. I had to hold some things back for transplanting due to excessive heat, and they got rootbound and stunted. Oddly, the tomatoes are usually struggling by now or just plain dead from blight. This year they are flourishing. Go figure.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2022 17:39:46 GMT -5
Mister just went to get some coyote urine or some animal’s urine, to try to deter the squirrels that are eating my tomatoes.
My question was will I be able to smell it too, because that sounds like something that will stink.
The mistreated plant, that had the most tomatoes, has none now. That seems to be the favorite plant. A couple of the other plants had been nibbled on when I got home from work today, at least 5 more tomatoes lost today.
i went to Home Depot yesterday looking for chicken wire, but my research says I need at least 16 gauge steel because squirrels can and will chew through metal, and all I could find was 20 gauge.
It’s safe to say now, that I hate squirrels.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2022 18:00:03 GMT -5
Mister just went to get some coyote urine or some animal’s urine, to try to deter the squirrels that are eating my tomatoes. My question was will I be able to smell it too, because that sounds like something that will stink. The mistreated plant, that had the most tomatoes, has none now. That seems to be the favorite plant. A couple of the other plants had been nibbled on when I got home from work today, at least 5 more tomatoes lost today. i went to Home Depot yesterday looking for chicken wire, but my research says I need at least 16 gauge steel because squirrels can and will chew through metal, and all I could find was 20 gauge. It’s safe to say now, that I hate squirrels. Coyote urine will not stink and it won't work on Texas squirrels either. I don't know if I'm going to try a fall garden because who the hell knows what fall is or when it will occur anymore? We're breaking new temp records daily and no plants are performing as they have in the past because of this. Even the obnoxious but ever blooming lantana didn't bloom. I've always loved planting stuff but this climate crap gives me no hope.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Jul 11, 2022 8:32:10 GMT -5
Mister just went to get some coyote urine or some animal’s urine, to try to deter the squirrels that are eating my tomatoes. My question was will I be able to smell it too, because that sounds like something that will stink. The mistreated plant, that had the most tomatoes, has none now. That seems to be the favorite plant. A couple of the other plants had been nibbled on when I got home from work today, at least 5 more tomatoes lost today. i went to Home Depot yesterday looking for chicken wire, but my research says I need at least 16 gauge steel because squirrels can and will chew through metal, and all I could find was 20 gauge. It’s safe to say now, that I hate squirrels. I used garden fencing for mine, vinyl coated, but I think the openings would be too big and squirrels could slide through. I don’t have squirrel problems, I have raccoons and possums, and the garden fence is great at keeping those critters out. Had to pick some tomatoes yesterday that were only partly ripe because they got so big they were dragging the plants down. I took pictures, I’ll try to post later. One is an interesting mutant that looks like two or three tomatoes grew together. I’ve been better about remembering to fertilize this year, plus I put in a bunch of cow manure last fall, which is why I think the tomatoes are doing well. Squash and zucchini not so much. Potatoes have died back and need digging but it’s just so horribly hot, who can stand it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2022 11:08:08 GMT -5
It didn’t work. They got to least 2 more tomatoes. I don’t even want to look anymore.
Mister tried to get me to look at it as nature doing what nature does, and the squirrels don’t know they are “stealing” from me. I understand that, but it’s still very aggravating and discouraging.
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Jul 11, 2022 12:32:16 GMT -5
I was shocked to discover one ripe cherry tomato on one of our plants today. The plants are still stunted in size, but suddenly have a ton of yellow flowers on them, so we're hoping for more soon. Among the biggest plants we have now are the 2 broccoli plants given to us by one of our neighbors. They're growing on the fast track, but everything else is still stalled.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Jul 11, 2022 18:21:35 GMT -5
It didn’t work. They got to least 2 more tomatoes. I don’t even want to look anymore. Mister tried to get me to look at it as nature doing what nature does, and the squirrels don’t know they are “stealing” from me. I understand that, but it’s still very aggravating and discouraging. Have you tried throwing a bird net over them? Garden stores have them to cover over fruit trees and fruit bushes to keep the birds from stealing all the fruit. If you weighted down the bottom edges around the plants (maybe a hose would do it? ) I wonder if it could keep the nut goblins out. A temporary fix before you get the fence? I don’t know how big the holes are, though.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2022 11:08:15 GMT -5
It didn’t work. They got to least 2 more tomatoes. I don’t even want to look anymore. Mister tried to get me to look at it as nature doing what nature does, and the squirrels don’t know they are “stealing” from me. I understand that, but it’s still very aggravating and discouraging. Have you tried throwing a bird net over them? Garden stores have them to cover over fruit trees and fruit bushes to keep the birds from stealing all the fruit. If you weighted down the bottom edges around the plants (maybe a hose would do it? ) I wonder if it could keep the nut goblins out. A temporary fix before you get the fence? I don’t know how big the holes are, though. I think I’m going to try wire hardware cloth. I’m so disgusted I’m losing interest. 2 more tomatoes lost today. The mistreated plant that had the most tomatoes, over 20, doesn’t have a single tomato now.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2022 11:11:01 GMT -5
Tennesseer my tuberose is getting ready to flower. I’m anxious to see how it smells lol.
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azucena
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Post by azucena on Jul 12, 2022 11:50:22 GMT -5
Pink - I'm so sorry to hear you lose interest. I'm realizing that my neighbors acorn tree is likely saving me the same heartbreak.
It could be worse, my mom has fruit trees in her yard. The neighbors have no problem picking them clean. It astounds me every year. My brother has been known to stop by, see someone up in the tree, and scare them away by yelling and chasing. Only to have someone back within the hour. Sad part is, my mom would likely pick it all, take her share, and set the rest out in a free basket.
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jerseygirl
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Post by jerseygirl on Jul 12, 2022 12:35:53 GMT -5
azucena Astounded that neighbors are stealing fruit from the trees! Children? Hoping not adults But even if kids what about their parents ?!?
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jul 12, 2022 12:35:57 GMT -5
Tennesseer my tuberose is getting ready to flower. I’m anxious to see how it smells lol. You have had better luck than me with the tuberose. My mistake was planting them in a garden bed which the cats liked disturbing, I have heard the tuberose has the nicest scent of any blooming flower. Enjoy (I'm envious).
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azucena
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Post by azucena on Jul 12, 2022 13:47:31 GMT -5
azucena Astounded that neighbors are stealing fruit from the trees! Children? Hoping not adults But even if kids what about their parents ?!? Adults. She'd have patience for children. It really was unbelievable the first summer after she moved there and it happened. Now we mostly just laugh about it. She works full time so it's not like she can babysit the trees. She put up no trespassing signs, even added one in a different language (I forget which one). Doesn't matter. Pears, apples, peaches, apricots. They take them all. She went out and made a big production of putting fake pesticides on them for several days hoping that might help deter it...nope.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2022 14:23:23 GMT -5
Tennesseer I have this single flower variety that is sprouting. I have 2 more. Would you like to have it? Pot and all. The doubles are all in the same pot (which might be a bad idea lol) and I’d have to dig one up. But I will, if you prefer one of those. I’d hate for you to miss out this season if yours don’t act right, since you’re the reason I have some or even know anything about them.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2022 14:32:12 GMT -5
Pink - I'm so sorry to hear you lose interest. I'm realizing that my neighbors acorn tree is likely saving me the same heartbreak. It could be worse, my mom has fruit trees in her yard. The neighbors have no problem picking them clean. It astounds me every year. My brother has been known to stop by, see someone up in the tree, and scare them away by yelling and chasing. Only to have someone back within the hour. Sad part is, my mom would likely pick it all, take her share, and set the rest out in a free basket. That would really make me angry! The squirrels are bad enough, but at least they are just doing what squirrels do. But humans KNOW better, and they are not just trespassing, but also stealing. That’s crazy! I think I’ve said before that my Grandmother stopped growing vegetables because someone came in her fenced in backyard and stole all her tomatoes out of her last garden. She was so upset, she never grew any more vegetables. Whoever did it, I’m pretty sure if they’d just knocked on her door and asked if they could have some, she would’ve given them some. I would probably become known as the crazy lady if I had a situation like your Mom’s.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jul 12, 2022 14:36:03 GMT -5
azucena Astounded that neighbors are stealing fruit from the trees! Children? Hoping not adults But even if kids what about their parents ?!? Adults. She'd have patience for children. It really was unbelievable the first summer after she moved there and it happened. Now we mostly just laugh about it. She works full time so it's not like she can babysit the trees. She put up no trespassing signs, even added one in a different language (I forget which one). Doesn't matter. Pears, apples, peaches, apricots. They take them all. She went out and made a big production of putting fake pesticides on them for several days hoping that might help deter it...nope. Rock Salt and a bee bee gun.
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haapai
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Post by haapai on Jul 12, 2022 15:44:53 GMT -5
The new tumbling composter has been assembled. It contained 58 screws, most of which went in easily but there sure were a lot of them. The resulting contraption is quite beautiful, parked in the sun, already cooking, and comically small. 42 gallons is not much. This thing can keep up with two people's kitchen scraps and shredded paper but not much more.
The electric wood chipper was much easier to assemble, just four screws and a tricky rod of washers, spacers and bolts. It may be a game changer for me. My yard is quite overgrown and getting rid of the trimmed shrubbery has been a constant problem for me. The wood chipper drastically reduces the number of bags of waste that any trimming project produces, which is pretty important when you are only supposed to put four of them on the curb each week. (Granger will pick up more, but putting sixteen out at a time, possibly on my neighbors curbs, and doing the same thing the next week, just doesn't feel right.) The chipper reduces the number of bags filled by at least a factor of 10 and since things are chopped up, the first produces a bag that stays open and does not tip over instead of a light tippy thing with branches sticking two feet out of the bag.
On the down side, the chipper is very loud, has an extremely short cord, and does not handle green wood well. It's not going to handle leaves particularly well either. Also, the chips that it produces are quite small. Enough of them piled deeply enough in one place will discourage weed growth but they will also break down quite quickly. It's an excellent tool for amending your soil but it does not produce weed-preventing mulch that lasts.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jul 12, 2022 17:03:39 GMT -5
Tennesseer I have this single flower variety that is sprouting. I have 2 more. Would you like to have it? Pot and all. The doubles are all in the same pot (which might be a bad idea lol) and I’d have to dig one up. But I will, if you prefer one of those. I’d hate for you to miss out this season if yours don’t act right, since you’re the reason I have some or even know anything about them. Thanks but no, PC. You enjoy them. Back around September, 2004, I attended a wedding and reception at the Memphis Botanical Gardens. Just outside the reception area there were some tuberose in bloom. Their scent was everywhere. Very nice. I'll plant tuberose differently next year: in planters (which I hope the cats won't sleep in them).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2022 17:20:39 GMT -5
Tennesseer I have this single flower variety that is sprouting. I have 2 more. Would you like to have it? Pot and all. The doubles are all in the same pot (which might be a bad idea lol) and I’d have to dig one up. But I will, if you prefer one of those. I’d hate for you to miss out this season if yours don’t act right, since you’re the reason I have some or even know anything about them. Thanks but no, PC. You enjoy them. Back around September, 2004, I attended a wedding and reception at the Memphis Botanical Gardens. Just outside the reception area there were some tuberose in bloom. Their scent was everywhere. Very nice. I'll plant tuberose differently next year: in planters (which I hope the cats won't sleep in them). Ok. If you change your mind, just let me know! I promise I don’t mind sharing with you. I will report back on the scent once the flowers bloom.
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