Sally's GF3 thread

[fuzzi]

We had a bad year for stink bugs here, as well.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Very good info, thank you for that!

I've definitely read about adding pest deterrent type plants as part of the permaculture design, I'm skeptical about how well they'll work (probably better for some pests and not so much for others), but will be incorporating them nonetheless.

I like the idea of multiple modalities - like the "Swiss cheese" method. Many lines of defense. I'm sure it will be a lot of trial and error, but I'm glad to be here - learning a ton before I even get started.

 

[Sally PB]

Stink bugs! Last year must have been a light year for them, or something. I'd read that they don't like the smell of marigolds, so I've been planting those around the tomato bed.

This year, something is different. Maybe the marigolds bloomed too soon (and I didn't dead head them enough?), or there were more stink bugs and they didn't care...? GOBS of stink bug damage on the tomatoes, and on my sweet peppers! They left the jalapeno and habaneros alone. So do I. Those are for hubby.

I'd read that garlic spray is a deterrent. I didn't make a spray, but I sprinkled garlic granules on the tomato plants. I think (?) that might have helped a bit. Since big containers of garlic granules are cheap at Costco, I'll do that again next year.

I made one of the homemade "stinky" sprays a few years ago. Oh, man! Did that stuff reek! It was suggested that I not make it again, so I haven't. Yeah, it was bad.

 

[drstratton]

Stink bugs! Last year must have been a light year for them, or something. I'd read that they don't like the smell of marigolds, so I've been planting those around the tomato bed.

This year, something is different. Maybe the marigolds bloomed too soon (and I didn't dead head them enough?), or there were more stink bugs and they didn't care...? GOBS of stink bug damage on the tomatoes, and on my sweet peppers! They left the jalapeno and habaneros alone. So do I. Those are for hubby.

I'd read that garlic spray is a deterrent. I didn't make a spray, but I sprinkled garlic granules on the tomato plants. I think (?) that might have helped a bit. Since big containers of garlic granules are cheap at Costco, I'll do that again next year.

I made one of the homemade "stinky" sprays a few years ago. Oh, man! Did that stuff reek! It was suggested that I not make it again, so I haven't. Yeah, it was bad.

Sorry, had to react with a laugh. Garden pests are no fun.

 

[cavemanrich]

The deer got into my tomato garden and ate just about everything. I still had loads of green tomatoes, and was planning to make mild salsa out of them. Nope.

I pulled up all the plants, found about 5 green tomatoes fist-sized, and maybe another half dozen ping pong ball sized. Not nearly enough to make salsa. I had to use some half ripe and fully ripe 'maters to get enough. Thus:

Sally's "This Is What The Deer Left For Me" Salsa

Green tomatoes and some red tomatoes
6-8 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup of onion, chopped
2 medium sweet peppers, chopped
Hot peppers, if you like, in the amount you like
3/4 teaspoon salt (I should have used about double that)
1/3 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon black pepper (could have used 1/4 t)
1/2 t ground cumin (could have used 1 t)

Wash and core the tomatoes. Chop them in a food processor. I had about 3 1/2 quarts.

Put all the ingredients in a large stainless steel pot and bring to a gentle boil. If you have lots of green tomatoes, it won't be as watery. If the deer ate most of them and you're using some ripe tomatoes, you'll need to cook it down to a more sauce-like consistency. Taste for seasoning.

Pour into hot pint jars, and water bath process for 20 minutes. This made 5 pints.

Ripe tomatoes will change the flavor, and you may want to use more vinegar or lime juice to counter their sweetness.

I gave a reaction not because of the deer, but for the recipe

I have a fence around the garden, but some of it fell down. It's back up now, that's for sure! It had been a few days since I'd been up there. That garden is not visible from the house, so it was out of sight, out of mind.

There are a few things you can do to protect your plants, all variations on these:

Keep the animals out
Trap/eliminate them if they get in
Make your garden less desirable so that they don't want to get in.

Keeping them out usually means a fence of some kind. High and sturdy for deer. Small openings to prevent smaller animals from getting through. Subterranean barriers to keep the diggers/tunnelers out. I can't keep voles out, and they eat the roots of some of my plants, stunting them. An enclosed raised bed with half inch hardware cloth on the bottom might work... Plus, not all the thieves are ground-bound. Birds got all my cherries and blueberries this year!

Eliminating them if they get in usually means a trap. I have caught several opossums, rabbits, wood chucks and raccoons with live traps. I do not relocate, I shoot them and bury them either in the garden to enrich the soil, or out in the field if I don't have a big enough area to dig a 2-foot deep hole.

Making your garden less desirable usually means putting some kind of odiferous something around that keeps critters from wanting to come in. People have used human and dog hair, bars of soap, and sprays or granules in organic or non-organic formulations to keep animals away. One of my big pests this year was stink bugs. I'll be looking at ways to keep them out next year.

It is a battle, that's for sure.

Stink bugs! Last year must have been a light year for them, or something. I'd read that they don't like the smell of marigolds, so I've been planting those around the tomato bed.

This year, something is different. Maybe the marigolds bloomed too soon (and I didn't dead head them enough?), or there were more stink bugs and they didn't care...? GOBS of stink bug damage on the tomatoes, and on my sweet peppers! They left the jalapeno and habaneros alone. So do I. Those are for hubby.

I'd read that garlic spray is a deterrent. I didn't make a spray, but I sprinkled garlic granules on the tomato plants. I think (?) that might have helped a bit. Since big containers of garlic granules are cheap at Costco, I'll do that again next year.

I made one of the homemade "stinky" sprays a few years ago. Oh, man! Did that stuff reek! It was suggested that I not make it again, so I haven't. Yeah, it was bad.

These 2 postings, are quite complete in defensive actions against garden vandals.
Only thing you may have left out
Have a party, and get 2 kegs. Then lock up your bathrooms, except for dire emergencies.
Most men will handle with no problems.,, Some of the ladies can also manage
You would be surprised how good of a deterrent it is for many critters.

 

[Sally PB]

You would be surprised how good of a deterrent it is for many critters.

Yes! I had read that! Especially men's urine. The testosterone levels.... I think?

I don't mind a bit when the neighbor's male dog "marks" around my garden!

 

[Sally PB]

Actually, human urine is a great fertilizer.*
TMI ALERT!

One summer I collected mine in a gallon jug. I had a pine tree that was out of sight of the house and neighbors. I kept the jug there, along with a funnel to help with... uh... aiming accuracy. I'd dump some of that into my watering bucket.

But I didn't keep notes as to whether it helped with either the tomato production or keeping the critters away.

*Assuming the human is healthy. And drugs will show up in urine, prescription or recreational. I wonder how they would affect plants...?

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Actually, human urine is a great fertilizer.*
TMI ALERT!

One summer I collected mine in a gallon jug. I had a pine tree that was out of sight of the house and neighbors. I kept the jug there, along with a funnel to help with... uh... aiming accuracy. I'd dump some of that into my watering bucket.

But I didn't keep notes as to whether it helped with either the tomato production or keeping the critters away.

*Assuming the human is healthy. And drugs will show up in urine, prescription or recreational. I wonder how they would affect plants...?

You would be surprised how good of a deterrent it is for many critters.

There's a young man on YouTube (Fast Gardening Michigan) who does something similar. He's a permaculture gardener who lives in Hartland, MI (which is quite close to where I am), so I like much of his content.

I'm not sure I could attempt this particular method (we have cameras surronding our house and the last thing I need is for my kids or mother-in-law to see me drop trow and....well...you get the picture ), but desperate times call for desperate measures. Never say never, I guess....

 

[Sally PB]

we have cameras surronding our house and the last thing I need is for my kids or mother-in-law to see me drop trow and....well...you get the picture

Surely the cameras don't cover ALL locations...?

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Surely the cameras don't cover ALL locations...?

Let's just say they cover all the locations where I'd be safe from getting mosquito bites/ticks where the sun don't shine (literally amd figuratively).