What did you do in the garden today?

[TJAnonymous]

I'm seeing first squirrel in my big Maple tree this year. Oh yeah, I'll be trapping the critter and helping him go over the rainbow bridge. I've had squirrels eat up my garden at another home and I am disinterested in having a squirrel family here.

I have dozens...I mean DOZENS of squirrels on my property which is surrounded by giant oak trees. I've never had a single squirrel in my garden. I'm not sure why they ignore it....but I'll take the blessing.

 

[alwaystj9]

I have to screen any radicchio, romaine and some other bunchy, head-forming greens because squirrels eat the hearts of them. They eat the whole middle and leave the outer leaves.

 

[jerryse]

Good morning! Im a bit perplexed at my garden. My radishes look great, but have no actual radish going on; my lettuce bolted before it came to any real size, like less tan a finger long; my pak choy did nothing but go straight to seed; my strawberries and eggplants arent bearing fruit after flowering and lastly my potatoes in the barrels are sopping wet and turning yellow and brown, the ones in the bag look fine though. Im at a complete loss as to whats going on.

Some plants are day length sensitive . Pak Choi is one , lettuce, radishes to some extent . Fall planting is best . The old saying about turnips is to plant the 25th of July wet or dry . Shortening day length prevents bolting . We are not told much about these .

 

[TJAnonymous]

Depends on the type. Do you remember what type you planted? Mine were planted in late February to early March and I harvested in June so about 90-120 days from planting.

I planted Yukon Gold around late March/early April. I started them in 3 grow bags and a tall homemade "barrel" made from plastic poultry fence. The ones in the grow bags sprouted pretty quickly. These are the ones that have generally died back. I went ahead and grabbed the bag that looked the worse (about 90% dead) and went digging for potatoes to see what I'd get. I got 3 large, fully developed potatoes, 2 small-to-medium potatoes, 2 tiny pearl potatoes, and 1 smashed one. I haven't harvested anything from the other 2 grow bags yet.

As for the poultry fence "barrel," these sprouted many weeks after the grow bags. Not sure why it took them so long but they are still trucking right along in their full green, lush, flowering glory. Depending on how these ultimately turn out, I may use this method permanently moving forward. I didn't use ANY soil with these potatoes.... Instead, I used 85% dead leaves and 15% compost.

 

[Sally PB]

Holy cow the Japanese beetles! I walked into the garden & they were EVERYWHERE!

I'm on the lookout for the first ones. Last summer, I spent about an hour a day hunting the things down. I knocked them into a jar with about an inch of water (no soap) in it. Then I'd take them to the chickens. They LOVED them! I hope they do again this year. I am on a mission to eradicate Japanese Beetles in my area.

I have dozens...I mean DOZENS of squirrels on my property which is surrounded by giant oak trees. I've never had a single squirrel in my garden. I'm not sure why they ignore it....but I'll take the blessing

me too! I didn't realize they even liked gardens.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I planted Yukon Gold around late March/early April. I started them in 3 grow bags and a tall homemade "barrel" made from plastic poultry fence. The ones in the grow bags sprouted pretty quickly. These are the ones that have generally died back. I went ahead and grabbed the bag that looked the worse (about 90% dead) and went digging for potatoes to see what I'd get. I got 3 large, fully developed potatoes, 2 small-to-medium potatoes, 2 tiny pearl potatoes, and 1 smashed one. I haven't harvested anything from the other 2 grow bags yet.

As for the poultry fence "barrel," these sprouted many weeks after the grow bags. Not sure why it took them so long but they are still trucking right along in their full green, lush, flowering glory. Depending on how these ultimately turn out, I may use this method permanently moving forward. I didn't use ANY soil with these potatoes.... Instead, I used 85% dead leaves and 15% compost.

Sounds like the ones that died back are ready for harvest. There always seem to be a few tiny ones.

 

[Acre4Me]

've never had a single squirrel in my garden. I'm not sure why they ignore it....but I'll take the blessing.

me too! I didn't realize they even liked gardens

Lucky!

We lived in town, older, established neighborhood. Many mature trees, so many squirrels. We had a garden, in the middle of the yard - not under any trees, and a small fence around it. The #@*! squirrels would eat the tomatoes, but leave a pristine side facing the house...so we would think "Yay, a ripe tomato" then walk over an see hollowed out tomato- completely eaten out on one side, but perfect on the side facing the house...every single one.... Clearly they had honed their methods over the years of various homeowners and gardens, and passed the knowledge down thru the many generations of squirrels. Yeah, I'm not a fan.

 

[Elyrian1]

I think squirrels have to acquire a taste for the garden before they'll bother it. If they never try it, probably out of desperation in a bad year, then they never find out how good our food is.

 

[alwaystj9]

They don't eat my tomatoes. I hate the fuzzy little buttheads.
They tear up my garden hiding pecans. I have a hard time starting my fall plants because the squirrels dig so much. Then the little $h!t$ sit back and laugh at me.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Had to take my dog to the emergency vet. Pretty sure she ate something she shouldn't have and now she has an obstruction.... They are keeping her overnight and will check her again in the morning. She already has a fan club at the vets office. Before we even left, the vet said her fiance was cuddling with our dog in the back.... Not counting all the vet techs and kids who were fawning over her in the lobby.... Spoiled pup....

Anyway, I am feeling a bit bummed out tonight and don't feel like battling the garden. Just going to deal with it tomorrow....