Vegetables Gardening - Growing Organic Vegetables

Hi Jim,
Here are a few pictures (IN the Photos Section) of two methods that we use to protect from squirrels, rabbits, birds, rats and field mice. This year more than most others, the squirrels have become more educated and actually lift the netting to access the vegetables. So, I merely take newspapers, roll them into rolls, tape and put along the netting at ground level and they can't lift the net. They are cute but crafty. Rabbits can be deterred by a mere 2 foot high fence of some sort, like chicken wire. They cannot get over a two foot fence.
MY GARDEN NETTING METHOD

BROCCOLI BED
Notice the rolled newspaper all along the soil line. The hoops are masonry ladders which can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes and you can cut to the length you want. I have actually connected two to make a very high hoop to accommodate the broccoli.
No rolls of newspaper here because they weren't bothering the cabbage.

ANOTHER METHOD USED BY SOME MEMBERS
This member used pvc to make a frame and then covered the frame with the nylon netting that most of us are using. Netting available at dry goods stores and some Walmarts. Also on line at the Jo Ann shops or her local shops. This member also has used chicken wire to go around the perimeter of their entire garden.
Another view inside their garden. They are very new so don't have much growing this late in the winter season.

We are all gearing up for the spring planting in late March. That is about 5 weeks from now. Our last frost date is usually March 17th. Notice I said usually. Hard to tell what Mother Nature has in store for us. Life isn't going to be easy this year. Due to all the rain, farmers are being alerted to Late Blight for the tomatoes so I will be spraying with wettable sulfur every two weeks starting in early May. This will also prevent the russet mite from taking over the tomatoes. So many things to watch out for here. Squash will be a challenge because of last year's virus outbreak. We are battling so many things.

There is a new bug this year and don't know if you will be impacted or not. It is called BAGRADA. Here is a link to google for a look at the pictures of it. I think it was active last fall in our gardens and really did a number on my seed beds. They are small. Look up the write up on Google if you are interested. bagrada bug - Google Search

We have had loads of rain here. I checked our water table at the gardens on Tuesday and eight feet down, we are still dry. That is because we have had drought conditions for about 5 or 6 years.

Please, Jim, use the above information as you wish. You have my permission. Guess that is all that is going on here.

I almost forgot. Something new. I don't know if members have aphid problems on their Brussels sprout plants but we do. I stopped growing them because I didn't want to deal with them. I read somewhere on the Internet that if you would put some aluminum foil under the plants, it deters the aphids. They become confused by the reflection of light on the foil. So, being a lady who tries just about everything to see if it works, I cut some pieces of card board, about 12 inches by 6 inches and covered them with foil. Did this to give the foil some weight so it would not blow away. Placed several under the broccoli and sprouts.
So far, no aphids!!!! Then, while browsing in one of the seed catalogs, I saw where they were actually selling a silver reflecting mulch by the rolls to "deter insects." I was amazed. Will try and use it next winter season.

Broccoli did get flea beetle, by the hundreds. I could not eat any of my broccoli. Even after washing it 10 times, the flea beetles were present so I gave up on it. Next winter, I will try and use the same method I use for egg plants to deter the flea beetle.

Sometimes I wonder if it is worth all of the precautions and work we have to do to get a harvest. It is such a challenge. We did get the grasshopper population down by using the NOLO Grasshopper Bait.
It is a biological control so doesn't harm anything.

I guess I can close for now. Have said quite enough for today.

I hope all is well with you and yours. I admire the wonderful work you do and learn so much from your posts in the e mails.

Will be in touch if anything new comes our way that can be of interest.

Most sincerely,
Joanne

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