The Vegtable Garden Thread (16 Viewers)
- Thread starter rusty_tlc
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We may even have a crop of peaches and a couple of apples if I can keep the birds away for the next 3 weeks..
That's my problem as well, damn finches have discovered my garden. During cooler months, they seem to find food elsewhere, but it's war all summer. My main garden has a pergola and is easily netted. But my peach tree is out in the open. It's a dwarf but is still tough to protect.
I learned this year that peaches ripen pretty well in a paper bag. By pulling them a few days earlier, I seem to avoid most of the bird damage.
Other than a barrier, the best trick I've found is to put up a bird feeder well away from the tree. It seems to distract them to some degree.
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Some years are worse than others also, if it's not the house finches, then these guys will wipe out a crop.
Some years are worse than others also, if it's not the house finches, then these guys will wipe out a crop.
Haven't had those guys, of course, you're in a little different world down there. Overall, I can't complain to badly about pests, rodents can't get in my yard and insects are limited. Geckos and lizards keep the bugs in check.
rusty_tlc
Dain Bramaged Member
- Thread starter
- #125
We've been doing pretty well with biological controls for the pest. There is a healthy population of lady bugs and other predators in the garden. The squash had aphids pretty bad so I gave them a dose of insecticidal soap and now that under control.
Not much problem with birds once everything is up and growing other than a few nibbles on the tomatoes. I can live with that we just cut those bits out after we harvest.
One thing that gives me fits is blossom rot, the soil is very alkaline. I keep pumping organic material in hoping to neutralize the pH. Next year we switch from composted cow poop to organic compost which should help. There is finally a local source for bulk organic compost, well kind of it's 40 miles away. I think the salts in the cow poop weren't helping lower the pH.
Not much problem with birds once everything is up and growing other than a few nibbles on the tomatoes. I can live with that we just cut those bits out after we harvest.
One thing that gives me fits is blossom rot, the soil is very alkaline. I keep pumping organic material in hoping to neutralize the pH. Next year we switch from composted cow poop to organic compost which should help. There is finally a local source for bulk organic compost, well kind of it's 40 miles away. I think the salts in the cow poop weren't helping lower the pH.
Soil sulfur is your friend. Also, it's a good idea to flood the soil once a year or so. Minerals in the water, such as salts are left behind and accumulate in the soil. Flushing out the soil periodically removes the excess salts.
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
This ^^^ and blossom rot is always a pita once the humitity kicks up. Salts can reak havok, a good flush and add some gypsum the next time we till, it will help tying those up.
On a funny note, I tried this a couple of years ago to keep the birds off;
http://www.hayneedle.com/product/deeroffdeersquirrelrepellent16ozconcentrate.cfm?source=placpc&mr:trackingCode=A46A6421-5FB9-E111-9598-001517B1882A&mr:referralID=NA&origin=pla&kw={keyword}&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=18935695665&mr:keyword={keyword}&gclid=CNak8_zXuLECFcsHRQodKF4A1Q
After some research, I found birds can't taste capsaicin and ended up with spicey garlic flavored peaches.
On a funny note, I tried this a couple of years ago to keep the birds off;
http://www.hayneedle.com/product/deeroffdeersquirrelrepellent16ozconcentrate.cfm?source=placpc&mr:trackingCode=A46A6421-5FB9-E111-9598-001517B1882A&mr:referralID=NA&origin=pla&kw={keyword}&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=18935695665&mr:keyword={keyword}&gclid=CNak8_zXuLECFcsHRQodKF4A1Q
After some research, I found birds can't taste capsaicin and ended up with spicey garlic flavored peaches.
This ^^^ and blossom rot is always a pita once the humitity kicks up. Salts can reak havok, a good flush and add some gypsum the next time we till, it will help tying those up.
On a funny note, I tried this a couple of years ago to keep the birds off;
http://www.hayneedle.com/product/deeroffdeersquirrelrepellent16ozconcentrate.cfm?source=placpc&mr:trackingCode=A46A6421-5FB9-E111-9598-001517B1882A&mr:referralID=NA&origin=pla&kw={keyword}&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=18935695665&mr:keyword={keyword}&gclid=CNak8_zXuLECFcsHRQodKF4A1Q
After some research, I found birds can't taste capsaicin and ended up with spicey garlic flavored peaches.
Blossom end rot is caused by calcium deficiency, salty soils inhibit the uptake of calcium. PH meters can be had for <$10, worthwhile investment.
John, I could have told you about birds and capsaicin, little bastids decimate my chilies on the summer.
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
John, I could have told you about birds and capsaicin, little bastids decimate my chilies on the summer.
I would blame that on their winter hangout (depending on species of course), do they occationally sing mariachi tunes?
I would blame that on their winter hangout (depending on species of course), do they occationally sing mariachi tunes?
So now you're suggesting that we are getting invaded by undocumented finches?
It's weird, I thought they migrated here for the summer but after watching them, they're here year around. In the cooler months, I see them up high in the trees. As it gets hot, they seem to hang out near the ground and forage in the shrubs and the garden. Until the temps hit triple digits, they don't give me any trouble.
rusty_tlc
Dain Bramaged Member
- Thread starter
- #131
The winter snow pack usually floods the soil here and gives it a pretty good flush.
Gypsum is a short term solution, more organic matter helps acidify the soil and neutralize the alkali. Eventually the natural microbes and such will develop and I'll have healthy living soil. Then I can cut back on the amount of organics I dump into the ground each spring.
I garden by the motto "Feed the soil, not the plants." Once you have healthy soil everything else falls into place. This is the second year we have had this garden, I suspect it will take at least two more years to build the soil up. Considering we started with what was basically mineral soil that's not to bad.
Gypsum is a short term solution, more organic matter helps acidify the soil and neutralize the alkali. Eventually the natural microbes and such will develop and I'll have healthy living soil. Then I can cut back on the amount of organics I dump into the ground each spring.
I garden by the motto "Feed the soil, not the plants." Once you have healthy soil everything else falls into place. This is the second year we have had this garden, I suspect it will take at least two more years to build the soil up. Considering we started with what was basically mineral soil that's not to bad.
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Exactly, we tell people to invest in the hole, not the tree. Microbes are a must. Earthworms are my indicator for healthy soil.
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
The severe thinning has paid off. I am so happy this old dude gave us a crop this year.
Suspect we will be paper bagging before the usual mid August date (Jesse's birthday). The birds will discover them soon.
Suspect we will be paper bagging before the usual mid August date (Jesse's birthday). The birds will discover them soon.
rusty_tlc
Dain Bramaged Member
- Thread starter
- #134
Next spring I think I'll switch from manure to compost and add about 1000 earth worms to the soil. The goal is to let the worms take over tilling duty for me.Exactly, we tell people to invest in the hole, not the tree. Microbes are a must. Earthworms are my indicator for healthy soil.
rusty_tlc
Dain Bramaged Member
- Thread starter
- #135
Umm Peaches. Too bad they are so iffy here, half the time we get warm weather and they blossom then we get a freeze that kills the fruit.The severe thinning has paid off. I am so happy this old dude gave us a crop this year.
Suspect we will be paper bagging before the usual mid August date (Jesse's birthday). The birds will discover them soon.
Is it warm enough where you are for citrus fruit?
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Keep trying they are iffy here also. We are at 4500' and get those hard freezes into April as well. I remember a snow May 6th 1991..
Key is, pick some late blooming varieties and a hopefully stumble into a microclimate (i.e. next to the shop) like I did. Crop fails do happen but not the norm. I would love to have a mexican lime, but way too cold.
This one is a "Fay" or late Elberta btw, and a Gala apple.
X2, research the various types and find one that will work best in your climate. I have the opposite problem here, we don't get enough cold nights for most varieties, but the ones with low chilling hours do very well.
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Read back a few posts for critters. Sounds like you have some older trees. What part of the country do you live?
And it's the "other" fishing weight.
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Re; paper bagging.
Trying somthing new this year. Jess and I just picked and wrapped each peach in it's own personal bag, a week early because of the birds. Hope this will eliminate the group rot and the fungus gnat problem. We ended up with 90+ baseball to softball sized this year, quite the score off one old tree.
Partake while pickin'
Most of these will go to family and friends, some will get canned, and hope there is a cobbler involved.
Someone showed up to check us out.
Trying somthing new this year. Jess and I just picked and wrapped each peach in it's own personal bag, a week early because of the birds. Hope this will eliminate the group rot and the fungus gnat problem. We ended up with 90+ baseball to softball sized this year, quite the score off one old tree.
Partake while pickin'
Most of these will go to family and friends, some will get canned, and hope there is a cobbler involved.
Someone showed up to check us out.
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