Got some nice cool weather this weekend. Still warm enough that the transplants won't die from the cold, but cool enough that they won't die from the heat, either! My kind of gardening weather!! So I got outside, and transplanted some squash & beans, a couple "rabbit eye" height blueberry bushes, and got some horseradish roots planted in a pot. Since I rent, these days, all my gardening is in pots. Blueberry bushes in the front pots (two varieties, so when it comes time for pollination, I should have good results). Back left is a 5 gallon bucket with the horseradish. Next pot has crookneck summer squash & the Anasazi beans I mentioned in another thread. And the pot sitting up on the cement block has gold nugget squash, and Anasazi beans. All I have to do now, is remember to bring my cordless drill & bit out back, where they're planted, to drill some drainage holes a few inches up, on the sides of those pots (bucket already has some).
I love the stuff is all I have used for the last 4 years (I also sell potted plants so use A LOT of it) I bought 6 pallets of it at Menards 4 years ago and am down to my last half pallet this year. I got the 6 pallets for $9.99 per bag. Started looking to restock on it this year and can't find it for less than $40 per bag. I sure would like to know where that 7.5% inflation is so I could shop there!!! Still the best bang for the buck since it highly compressed and one bag fills a lot of 4 and 5 inch pots. Link is to walmart not sure why it says robot or human LOL Robot or human? No problem with warm here...... Dry Enough to plant anything has been our malfunction whether in the fields or in the garden.
What's a good deer repellent-- they are eating my strawberries, Swiss chard, beans blackberries ? Never had a problem before
The local greenhouse has them for $37 per 60lbs bag. I think this was the memorial day price because Campbell's has them for $50/bag. I'll go check and see if it changed. I may need a few more. I'm trying hanging strawberries this year. Got a few different varieties to see what likes to hang. With the crazy weather this year it is surprising that the orange and lemon trees are doing well but they just launched into turbo mode... in fact, headed out to the garden right now.
10' tall fence I have had decent luck with a few things Cotton balls with Coyote or Wolf urine soaked in and put on post around an area. A scare crow that you can move around with strong human scent, I tie a sweaty T shirt to it and pee on the scarecrows leg. Aluminum pie tins or empty can tied to twine that blow in a breeze and rattle. A radio under a 55 gallon plastic barrel with talk radio playing at a fairly high volume. Coyote range targets placed around the garden or orchard. Really anything that in a deers mind that that should not be there or appears to be a threat. Over time they get conditioned and desensitized to anything that is constant and does not change. Predator Urine and Human Urine are really powerful weapons in the war of deer vs garden. Can get predator urine from any trapping supply outlet. And one thing they never adapt to is a Great Pyrenese that patrols the area. Finally depending on state and local but usually if you have enough acreage you can get nuisance permits and shoot a few of them legally. They tend to avoid areas where their fellow deer die. Urban and suburban deer are a whole different critter mentally than Rural Deer and neighbors may take exception to you putting up a scarecrow and taking a leak on its leg
. Human hair is a great Deer Repellant… Just hit up your local barber shop, and spread it around the area… You will be surprised how well it works…
Just been using Miracle-Gro potting mix, mixed in with some compost-manure, and some perlite, to keep it from getting swampy. I'm able to get 2 cubic foot bags from my local Walmart, for $12/bag. Pots are from Big Lots (always shop when they're offering a 25% discount, or dollar-off coupon from previous purchase!). .30-06 works okay for deer, unless you have a nosy neighbor or game warden. Then the crossbow is a better choice, by far!
FYI, if anyone's looking for a decent deal on perlite soil amendment, this is what I've been using. 2 cubic feet (BIG bag!) for $18 + tax, at Home Depot. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-2-cu-ft-Organic-Perlite-Soil-Amendment-100521091/205655210 They normally also carry vermiculite (good for holding water in your soil), but seem to be suffering supply chain issues with that, here. No biggy, as I've stocked up on coconut coir, which will accomplish the same thing.
Most of my garden has been in since the end of April/beginning of May. I've got a couple of cucumbers almost ready, some green tomatoes and broccoli and cabbage just about ready for picking. Onions are going really well this year. So far, knock on wood, the damn squash bugs haven't shown up yet. Last year at this time I was already going out to the garden with the vacuum to suck all those bastards off of the plants. Green beans are vining up the trellis (16' cattle panel made into an arch), peas are doing well. Had a small asparagus harvest in the spring then stopped as this is the 2nd year for them, also planted a few more asparagus crowns to fill in some gaps. slowly expanding the garden, SWMBO thinks' it's too big as it is, but I want to get a few more rows in.
