SuperT, SuperT, How Does Your Garden Grow?

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skcreidc

Social climber

SD, CA

Jun 13, 2017 - 05:52am PT

How do you people get rid of rats, or other small varmints eating your hard gained tomatoes and veggies? I've killed 6 youngsters off already with rat traps and still have 2 adults and 1 youngun left (estimated). It's pissing me off, I've had it with these f*#ks. Show me what you use! Of course this all happens between midnight and 4am.

These rats are used to the T Rex traps and just ignore them now.

Flip Flop

climber

Earth Planet, Universe

Jun 13, 2017 - 06:08am PT

skcreidc

Social climber

SD, CA

Jun 13, 2017 - 06:13am PT

I've used that same construction to grow strawberries Flip Flop. Worked like a charm

Flip Flop

climber

Earth Planet, Universe

Jun 13, 2017 - 06:42am PT

Thanks SKredic for the boost o' confidence. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to growing but no time like the present, right? If I don't grow a garden this year....I'll be a year older when I do. (Apologies to Warren Miller).

The little dude is in a Farm School program this summer. 8 is fun

micronut

Trad climber

Fresno/Clovis, ca

Jun 13, 2017 - 11:34am PT

Ok Supertopo Gardeners. Long time lurker on this thread....first time poster. My wife and I know nothing about gardening. She had been asking for years, so I finally tilled a small area on our property, poisoned the weeds, graded it a bit, made up some boxes and built her a pretty gate (which I'm quite proud of honestly).

I have tons of questions but thought I'd start with a few photos before bombarding you with questions on pests, watering and all kinds of other issues. Looking forward to engaging on this thread for once!

Scott

skcreidc

Social climber

SD, CA

Jun 13, 2017 - 03:43pm PT

Thanks for the response Tami. Where I live the yards are relatively small, and the rays live in the neighboring yards. And to make matters worse, we have a chicken: the last one of a batch of 6 and is still producing eggs at 7 years old. Our yard is relatively clean, but still could use some work.
Rats were stripping my pepper plants down to nothing so I saved some with this cage. Also some old chard on there.

So I'm growing everything in raised beds, especially since there is no natural soil and very poor drainage where we are. These beds are 6 yrs old now.

Flip flop, it's cool your son seems interested in growing food. Only one of my kids really got into it. Hope he has fun.

I like the gate Micronut! And especially the rest of the garden.

skcreidc

Social climber

SD, CA

Jun 13, 2017 - 03:49pm PT

So Tami, what do find the rats don't eat? Okra is one that seems to work here. I have it growing in the hottest part of our garden and the rats have left it alone for 4 years now.

Chaz

Trad climber

greater Boss Angeles area

Jun 13, 2017 - 07:36pm PT

My wife and I know nothing about gardening

Can't argue with success, Micronut. Looks like you and your wife got it going.

skcreidc

Social climber

SD, CA

Jun 14, 2017 - 06:11am PT

Thanks for the thoughts on the subject Tami. The motion activated sprinkler and chumming the neighbors yard a bit I have not thought of. Its giving me some ideas that may work on our rattus rattus's.

The raspberries and tomatillos are something I will have to try next year. The raspberries in particular I will need room for. When the chicken passes, we might be finished raising them which would free up a nice chunk for the raspberries (and other things). Interesting about the Russian Blue potatoes. Maybe your rats have sensitive pallets?

Patty and I have been talking about getting a cat. Our dog up to recently has been our rat catcher, her hunting drive is so strong. Kills wise she has 2 possums, 28 rats, and 2 pigeons to her record, along with chasing off most the cats and raccoons. She was pretty psyco in her youth and she is paying for that now that she is 10, so maybe she would put up with a cat. Maybe.

G_Gnome

Trad climber

Cali

Jun 14, 2017 - 11:18am PT

Even if you have outdoor cats you will still have rats. In reality most cats sleep most of the night and the rats just wait until the cats are gone to come and eat. My cats do keep the population down some but they do not eliminate them. I also have raccoons and possums and squirrels. The raccoons are the biggest problem and prevent me from growing much fruit. They always ate the strawberries the day before I would have picked them. For me the critters don't much bother my tomatoes or tomatillos or my various kinds of chilies. I am also growing cucumbers this year and so far they haven't eaten those either. I still haven't eaten more than 6 apricots from my tree in any year, but then that is because of the squirrels.

skcreidc

Social climber

SD, CA

Jun 14, 2017 - 04:36pm PT

Yea, I've never had a dog quite like Tica, and I've had other hunting dogs. Made Patty cry in the first 9 months we had her. Hunts rats using her front paws similar to a cat, pouncing on them but using her 50 lbs to really mess them up, then gives them the standard coup de gras. She is a hunting dog through and through. Even this year she killed 2 rabbits so far, not in my yard tho. She's hell on lizards. I have LOTS of Tica stories.

There is a lot of clutter surrounding our yard, so eradication will never happen. But, the little suckers eat very young squash and cucumbers, and the new growth on my peppers.

G_Gnome

Trad climber

Cali

Jun 15, 2017 - 03:58pm PT

Here is how my garden grows this year in SoCal. Really well actually.

My wall of tomatoes, with one volunteer tomatillo growing in the middle.

Here is my other planter with cucs, peppers and more tomatoes.

Lots of basil coming soon.

And lots of jalapenos, especially for so early in the year.

Ghost

climber

A long way from where I started

Jun 15, 2017 - 09:35pm PT

Seattle was once known as Rat City, and I live not far from the area that gave it that name. But they've never hit my garden. Or the huge pile of spent grains (from brewing) that I've dumped on the ground to compost.

There are a lot of coyotes (we live by a 5-mile green belt bordering a river), so sometimes I think maybe that's what's keeping the rats in check. But probably not, or else the f*#king rabbits would all be dead too.

So I don't know why I don't have a rat problem but do have a rabbit problem. Fortunately, the current rabbits are so stupid that they won't eat anything but kale and collards, so I've fenced off a small area for that, and can leave everything else, including lots of lettuce, in the open.

I see squirrels chowing in the spent grain pile from time to time, but they don't bother the garden, so that's okay.

And, back to rats, I've killed a couple in the house, but that was only after a coyote got our cat, and I've never had a problem with them outside.

guyman

Social climber

Moorpark, CA.

Jun 16, 2017 - 09:41am PT

DMT.... you are so cruel.

:>)

Fritz

Social climber

Choss Creek, ID

Jun 16, 2017 - 10:06am PT

Heidi had suffered various attacks on her garden by deer, raccoons, & rabbits, before we fenced it with 5' tall horse fencing 15 years ago. The deer could jump it, but it apparently has offended them, so they don't.

However, 10 years back, we discovered young Rockchucks, aka Yellow-bellied Marmots, could squeeze through the horse fencing to eat the garden. We added a lower layer of chicken-wire and extended it down 3 inches into the ground to keep the Rockchucks from digging through the wire.

That worked until 3 years ago, when we came home from a trip to find the garden nearly destroyed by young rockchucks who had dug through the now rusted & weakened chicken wire.

We then added a solar electric fence-charger & ran a wire about 2" off the ground. That worked like a charm, until this spring. We hadn't seen any rockchucks near the garden & I hadn't taken the solar charger out of winter storage.

Then I noticed a gang of 5 local thugs had broke into the garden. I ran for my rifle & dispatched 3 of the thugs, while the rest ran in circles, trying to remember where they had dug into the garden. The solar-charger was once again installed & we haven't had a problem since.

The garden quickly recovered from the damage & Heidi started pea harvest this week.

skcreidc

Social climber

SD, CA

Jun 16, 2017 - 10:26am PT

DMT's dogs have definitely earned their keep. Keep up the carnage! Looks like they know how to snap necks with the best of them.

Fritz's E-lectrified fence thingy has given me another idea! I just have to remember to keep the dog inside when I turn it on.

Garden looks really nice Gnome! I might have to try tomatillos sooner than later if they naturalize. I love salsa verde anyway...

Fritz

Social climber

Choss Creek, ID

Jun 16, 2017 - 10:43am PT

skcreidc! Re keeping your dog inside. The fence delivers one heck of a shock, but doesn't injure or kill. Harley (the cat) used to like hanging in the fenced garden with Heidi, while she was weeding or harvesting. He touched the low wire at the entrance 3 years back & has not gone near the fence since.

It's quite likely your dog would learn too, with just one shock.