| Author |
Garden Gate:  What would you do?  |
|
|
Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 15 2011 : 11:49:37 AM
|
My husband and I have worked so hard the past few years building up our soil and we finally have a decent garden that is producing alot.
The past 2 evenings, deer have been dining out
I harvested our onions (even though they weren't as large as we would like) the green beans (that I could salvage - to freeze), and cucumbers. The tomatoes didn't even make it to ripening yet. (everything the deer have been feasting on)
My question:
I still have about 20 pumpkins and several spaghetti squash and some jalapenos, serranos and banana pepper plants that aren't quite ready to harvest (a few more days).
~Should I harvest them now in hopes that they will continue to ripen? (before the deer get to them)
or
~Should I place tarps over them at night?
I want to save as much as I can from what we have left. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance!
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory
http://merryheartjournal.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2011 : 12:41:58 PM
|
Put bars of original Dial soap around your plants and the deer should leave them alone. I have my whole garden surrounded with bars hanging from stakes and the deer stay out! I simply drill a hole through the middle and string it on a piece of twine, then tye it to a nail I have in the top of a stake. Ta-Da! Deer repelant!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
 |
|
|
nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2903 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2903 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2011 : 12:48:32 PM
|
Sharon
If you have a dog, brush him around the garden. Dog hair repels deer & bunnies. Also (ahem) if you live in the country with no close neighbors, & hubs is up to it. have him pee the perimeter of the garden. My hubby is none too shy to do this & this is the 1st year the bunnies have not decimated my beans. But if you live in the suburbs...Maybe not. |
|
|
|
acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2011 : 1:02:19 PM
|
Due to the weather and getting a new garden put in, we planted late so I'm in the same position as you as far as having unripened produce in my garden. We were due for a cold snap last night so DH and I covered up the tender plants that we were worried about. There always seems to be several warm weeks after the first killing frost so we try to help our plants thru that frost so they can continue to produce for a while longer.
Lisa, I may try your (ahem) suggestion. We aren't worried about bunnies but we do have ground squirrels that seem to think the garden is their personal buffet! So far the antelope don't appear interested so I'm not too worried about them.
Audrey
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more! |
|
|
|
mydakota
True Blue Farmgirl
152 Posts
kristi
redmond
oregon
USA
152 Posts |
Posted - Sep 16 2011 : 10:06:11 AM
|
We use netting. Lots and lots of netting. It can be unsightly at times, but it is very effective. The deer are absolutely thick here, and manage to gobble up most everything, but since I started netting it all they have gotten nothing.
HearthCricket Farm. Where the door is always open, and the coffee is always on. |
|
|
|
Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
Posted - Sep 17 2011 : 4:10:13 PM
|
Thank you everyone for your tips:)
I have placed a tarp on everything they have not gotten into for the past couple of nights. The night before last we had the sprinkler going. That seemed to deter them a bit.
My dog likes to roll in the garden I would think that they could pick up on her scent. My honey's not up for the other option. I like the netting idea until we can get a deer fence. There's a possibility that we may move in the next 6 months so I don't want to put one up yet. My husband does landscaping and has tried the soap thing in the gated communities but it hasn't deterred the deer there.
Ground squirrels, yes them too! I had been smelling melon in the evening but didn't see any evidence of it chewed upon UNTIL we decided to turn over a small melon. Aha! those little stinkers!
Anyway, thanks again everyone for your tips. I appreciate you all! 
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory
http://merryheartjournal.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Sep 17 2011 : 5:33:54 PM
|
Also putting plastic grocery bags on a string around your garden perimeter works.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet--Dr. Kioni
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
|
|
|
Beverly Gill
True Blue Farmgirl
1114 Posts
Beverly
Marlborough
USA
1114 Posts |
Posted - Sep 17 2011 : 5:43:33 PM
|
as does putting old dvd's on a string stringing them around the garden.
...no animals for me last year or this.
Beverly Gill
There's no place like home |
|
|
|
oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Sep 17 2011 : 6:35:23 PM
|
predator urine, you should be able to buy it at any sporting goods/feed store or hardware store...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
|
|
|
ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13647 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13647 Posts |
|
|
Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
|
|
Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 06:43:13 AM
|
| None of these things are going to work long term. They may deter for a day or two. I suggest harvest asap on the peppers and cover the squash at night then invest in your garden by putting up a fence this winter! Fencing is truly the only thing that is going to keep the deer out. If you don't you will be in for heartache. |
|
|
|
walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2011 : 11:09:13 AM
|
Usually you can put green tomatoes in the sun and they'll redden up, FYI :)
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
|
|
|
| |
Garden Gate: What would you do? |
|
What would you do?
