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Season Starting 2009 (part II)
Posted: 02 Mar 2009 Posted: 01 Mar 2009 Posted: 25 Feb 2009 Posted: 20 Aug 2008 Posted: 16 Aug 2008 All Entries |
...fighting back in the veg plot!...The long-range forecasters were proved right; April was unusually cold, unusually wet and unusually windy, all of which got our first season in our newly-established veg plot off to a slow start. Outdoor crops which were sown: carrots, broccoli and beetroot just didn't appear and the potatoes (second earlies) which went in refused to appear, too. I was blaming the birds; thinking maybe they'd snaffled the newly emerged seedlings? I still don't know if that was the case, it may have been rabbits or a simple failure of the seed to germinate in the unseasonally cold snap but I do know that one of these first two caused carnage with my little pea plants, before starting to have a go at the broad beans, too. There were no peas left to photograph but this was what the beans looked like...it was a bit of a knockback, really... 
For a week or so, the assorted Magpies, Pigeons, Crows and Rabbits had won. We had thought that trying to start growing veg in a plot from scratch would be by trial and error and the fact that our corner of reclaimed field is sited right next to a woods seemed to have made our hopes foolish. But then, we decided to FIGHT BACK!! Or, at least, try. The first thing we thought of was fencing what was left of the broad beans; we weren't altogether sure that rabbits were'nt to blame for the damage; there are lots of them about and to stop the birds too, we threw netting over the whole lot... 
Next we thought of using cd's suspended above other crops we were hoping to grow, like these tiny sweetcorn plants...farmers and gardeners have used 'scare' tactics for years! 
...and although they're obscured here a bit, cd's over the runner beans, too... 
And finally, after hearing - God knows where - how they could be used to protect lawns from predators, I had one final trick up my sleeve... [img] 
And I'm delighted to be able to say that with this combined defensive strategy, we have at this time of writing, succeeded in slowing down the onslaught although there are still many slugs to contend with. It has however, restored our hopes that we can last out this season and plan better for next year and most recently, the potatoes have come through; brilliant! 
Compared to the outdoor veg, the greenhouse crops have done quite well although everything was quite slow in establishing itself... 
Basically, we've got raddishes (red and white) bush tomato plants and cordon toms too and also, 2 types of lettuce... 
It's still very early days but so far, it's not going too bad and best of all, we haven't yet given up! Last edited: Fri May 16, 2008 10:16 pm This blog entry has been viewed 436 times
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It's looking good, Sharon, and I'm very impressed by all your tricks. My, I wouldn't have managed to think up half of them, well done!
Well done! Sounds like next year you'll be better prepared. This year has been saved, for now at least. Great ideas and best of luck to continue with the growing and much happy eating. :)
Its really looking good sharon.I have been wondering where you are.I'm sorry about all the problems with the animals.I do hope all is well now and your wonderful plants stay wonderful.Glad to see you on again.
Another great tactic to keep critters out is to get a fake owl and post it around the garden somewhere. This keep critters out of my garden. Login or register to leave a comment. |
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