Gardening and Greenhouse

Green Thumb answers:

Good question,

Since anyone who has had a garden knows the answer, I am certain you will here it from everyone, a fence is your only real option. I had tried all the wives tales and so called tricks, but none worked, so the only real solution is a fence, and it does not have to be a six foot high one, four foot is fine, any mesh will work, but make sure the parameter is at least five feet from vegetables. Deer tend to stretch well into garden over a fence, and this can weaken fence and once that is achieved, deer will come back over and over again. You want to dis-wade them from garden from very start to break habit of visiting your garden.

Good luck,

Green Thumb answers:

First ,buy a good book on gardening. Are you growing your own seedlings or buying them.if starting inside start planning for tomatoes and peepers.figure your last frost day and work back.just use the amount of space you want to.lettuce can go in the ground as soon as it can be worked.potatoes and corn about 2 weeks before last frost.tomatoes after last frost and peppers 2 weeks after last frost because they dont like cold. I use regular black plastic for my tomatoes and peppers.this keeps the weeds down.moisture in and absorbs the heat.had a great garden last year.mulch after 2 weeks.probably will try it on other things this year.good luck

Green Thumb answers:

We use #3 vegetable cans from the local school, leave the bottom lid barely attached.
The can goes over the plant, tomato. Pepper ..cantaloupe..pole beans, etc….If there’s a chance of frost you, you close the lid….It protects the plant from high winds, and concentrates watering.

Corn and Potato’s, ..if you know the wind and rain is coming, you hoe, and pull dirt up all around the plant.

Green Thumb answers:

I’m assuming you don’t have a gopher problem. I have a gopher killing cat. So, I like him visiting my garden.

But, I don’t feed him in the garden. I have little cages that I can put around plants that I don’t want him near. Mine are made of hardware cloth but chicken wire or any kind of moveable fencing the can’t get through will work.

I’ve have some old strips of carpet tack that I lay under some plants like tomatoes and squash vines so there’s no place for him to stretch out and get comfortable. Carpet tack is pretty cheap at places like Home Depot.

If you leave out dog food and water they’ll come for that. Do you get mice, chipmunks, or gophers in your yard? Or have a lot of birds. Cats are hunters especially feral ones.

Is your garden fenced? If dogs, coyotes or foxes are chasing cats then they probably know it’s safe in your garden.

And the damp ground in your garden will attract cats.

Green Thumb answers:

Burlap! I just read about this and am going to use it. Cover it with some mulch as well, to keep it down and look nicer, not dyed though of course. I suppose you could use that plastic stuff, but burlap is biodegradable and organic.

Green Thumb answers:

First thing…give the tomatoes their own spot away from the others. It’s easier when they are young to place tomato cages or I use a fence to give them something to give them support when they get bigger. Otherwise they will be flopping all over the place or laying flat in the dirt which you don’t want.
The Cucumbers, Cow peas, Beans all are viners (unless you got bush variety–which it will say on the seed packet). I would put these toward the outer edges of the garden or run their vines up small fence or trellis. This will give you more room to spread out of the perimeter of your garden and will keep the vines off the ground.
The lettuce and carrots and broccoli I would put together in rows near the center…that way if you need to put a fence around them to keep rabbits away they will be close by and easier to contain.
The cantaloupe is also better on the edge as it’s a viner so that way it has some room to spread out and will keep it off your other plants.

Good luck and don’t be discouraged.

My favorite quote….by Thomas Jefferson
“Though an old man I am but a young gardener.”

I have been gardening for 15 years and still feel that way.

Green Thumb answers:

You can do it right now, but should keep your garden far from the house. 6 feet or 2 metres is good. The water you add to the soil will be attractive to termites, so the further the better (but not so far you can’t nip out for a herb). If this doesn’t work, grow your garden in raised tubs that you can see underneath.

Most perimeter sprays aren’t much good after 5 years, but it is best to leave them be. See: http://drdons.net/how-do-we-keep-termites-garden-away-eating-house

Green Thumb answers:

When I lived in Houston, I had great gardens. Do you have to work the beds if you have the gumbo soil like I did. I planted tomatos and peppers early in the spring for a spring/summer garden and in the fall it was more peppers and squash. I’m going to give you a great link to hook up with folks in your area so you can learn from them. I’ll also link you up to the Farmer’s Almanac site as they are great for planting times. Good luck, I miss gardening in Houston!