by Alicia is probably posting about her kids! H.
Member since:
April 11, 2009

Try, Try Again

June 08, 2010 12:47 PM UTC
views: 0 | 13 people recommend this | comments: 52

I came back from vacation to find a very sad state of affairs in my garden. The first thing I noticed was the spot where my peppers used to be.

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d958/d391/d746/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

 

I suspect the squirrels ate them.

 

My green beans produced a grand total of two green beans,

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d955/d391/d746/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

 

which we picked,

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d910/d391/d746/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

 

 

and ate at lunch.

 

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d913/d391/d746/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

I still have some onions that, for all I know, may be flourishing underground. Let's hope so!

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d957/d391/d746/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

And I have one lovely spinach plant.

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d954/d391/d746/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

 

 

At least I still have my pears!

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d953/d391/d746/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

 

Since we have such a long growing season here, and I want to teach my children the importance of persistence, we are trying again.

We planted some seeds directly in the raised bed. Carrots, spinach, green beans and onions. Cross your fingers for me that they grow! While we were in the gardening mood, we sowed a bunch of perennial seeds in the front flower bed. Aren't these the cutest little gardeners you ever did see?

 

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d909/d391/d746/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

 

 

Wish us luck! We need it....

 

Comments: 52

Paul Heidke Jun 8, 2010, 1:12pm UTC
sounds like a wire fence might help. Not too expensive....Sometimes there are natural ways to reduce the pilferage by varmints, like planting certain other things that actually keep the pesky critters away...
Someone suggested red pepper flakes, I may try that.
Paul Heidke Jun 8, 2010, 1:52pm UTC
sounds logical. I'm sure there is something online about this problem.
Renee Johnson Jun 8, 2010, 1:12pm UTC
I think the green beans have to be trained to climb up poles or a trellis or something. The weight of the beans keeps the plant from continuing to produce when they're flat on the ground. check a gardening book, though, I may be talking out my @$$.
Maybe, but it does make sense. Now to nag Thairyan into building me a trellis....
Paul Heidke Jun 8, 2010, 1:55pm UTC
Look online for this too. I don't think it is very complicated. A pole (a piece of scrap wood up to a certain height) in the ground next to the plant and then the plant will climb it by itself....I'm pretty sure there is something online.
MrsRoadRunner . Jun 9, 2010, 5:25pm UTC
There is two different kind of beans, the pole beans and the bush beans. Bush beans grow in a bush, close to the ground :0) The pole beans, well grow in vines.
Kevin (''The SiteWizard'') V. Jun 8, 2010, 1:53pm UTC


I'm glad that you have such a long growing season. It doesn't take long for squirrels and other animals and pests to wreak havoc on a garden.
Yes, we are lucky here in VA to have sun and 80 degree weather well into October and sometimes November.

My yard, however, seems to be a haven for squirrels and birds, who like all the free food they think I have out there for them!
Tory H. Jun 8, 2010, 2:11pm UTC
Good luck! I found my best basil seedling vanished today. I suspect the squirrel pulled it up and the wind blew it away :(
grrr, squirrels!
Tory H. Jun 8, 2010, 2:21pm UTC
I'm tempted to start booby trapping my balcony...
☃ Shannon K. Wendt Jun 8, 2010, 2:36pm UTC
I'm jealous! We have no green beans growing at all yet. I just checked a little while ago.
did you get blossoms? we got purple blossoms before we got the green beans.
☃ Shannon K. Wendt Jun 8, 2010, 8:00pm UTC
No blossoms yet.
christine heidke Jun 8, 2010, 2:40pm UTC
yes your little gardeners are adorable!
Yeah, Mom, you're not biased!
Janie E. Jun 8, 2010, 6:32pm UTC
Love your little gardeners!!! Good luck, Alicia!
Thanks, Janie! And thanks for wishing me luck, I need it!
Janie E. Jun 9, 2010, 12:46am UTC
You're very welcomed!!
RedBird. B. Jun 8, 2010, 7:06pm UTC
Alicia, That's the Spirit! Don't give up. I would have been very up-set to find my Garden Crops eaten also,and then just have started over. And your Right, this will Help Teach your Daughter's Persistence! The photo's here are Nice and Green, what was not eaten, so it looks like you got really good soil to work with!
Good-Luck! Between You and the Girl's, You can do it!
Thanks for the encouragement, RedBird!
RedBird. B. Jun 9, 2010, 5:16pm UTC
Alicia, Your Welcome! I look forward in ,seeing your New Garden soon! :)
Denise L. Jun 8, 2010, 8:33pm UTC
I've gardened for many years and have never heard of squirrels damaging pepper plants. I suspect something else happened to them....rabbits or deer or groundhogs maybe. They all think a garden is a special smorgas board. Time to get out the repellents!
It could be groundhogs-I've seen their trails around the yard...
Denise L. Jun 9, 2010, 6:59pm UTC
If it is groundhogs, you have trouble! :( It is hard to keep them out of the garden unless you have a good guard dog. You might spray your plants with a solution of hot pepper sauce and water, or sprinkle cayenne powder on the plants, but of course you would have to repeat that. Otherwise, it seems that they will eat just about anything.

We trained our border collie to chase them off. She did it so well that once she chased one about 12 feet up a tree. It stayed there for hours, but never did come back to the garden as far as I know.
Sassy *bacon makes me happy* Cat Jun 8, 2010, 11:19pm UTC
I'm glad you planted some more seeds! Those pears look great!
Once I decide to do something, I don't give up! I am determined to grow something edible in my backyard!

I can't wait until the pears are big enough to pick!
Bridget Jean Jun 8, 2010, 11:25pm UTC
That's awful!

We are lucky not to have any rodent/animal issues in our garden. Our dogs keep all the animals out of our yard! :)
I need a dog! :)
That really sucks glad you still have time though to try again
Yes, at least I can keep trying!
Melody M. Jun 9, 2010, 9:53am UTC
You have adorable little gardeners! Keep trying - I think we got 1/4 of peas for our entire 6 x 8 Ft bed of plants! We stuck sticks in the ground and wound yarn between the sticks and over the plants like a maze for the pea plants to grab and grow. They did climb, but they dried out from too much sun and didn't produce. Now I have an umbrella ove my cucumber plants.
That sounds like a good idea. I've got to do something but don't really want to spend any money. Luckily we have a very shady yard so we don't have a problem with too much sun. I think I am going to plant bush beans next year so I don't have to worry about the trellis.
Heidi S. Jun 9, 2010, 10:27am UTC
Too bad about the mess in your garden, but I'm glad you're not giving up! You have the cutest little helpers I've ever seen!
Aw, thanks, Heidi!
Sandre M. Jun 9, 2010, 1:51pm UTC
This is such a great summer project for the family! They're learning a lot, getting lots of fresh air and sunshine, as well as enthusiastically eating vegies! I think your squirrels must be the cousins of my "upstairs neighbors".... mine seem particularly fond of spinach.
Thanks, Sandre! I am trying to get the girls to start at a young age, since I'm clueless about gardening! We'll learn as we go and someday they'll be teaching me.
Sandre M. Jun 9, 2010, 2:51pm UTC
I know what you mean! LOL. In the meantime, they look like pretty enthusiastic helpers.
Mary S. Jun 9, 2010, 1:56pm UTC
I was just going to say, you may have a dog-deficit. Nearly any kind of dog will do. My cats have also taken a young squirrel. You can also plant decoy things. Squirrels seem to love to play around in my fig tree. Maybe it would keep them out of other mischief. They are cute, but they are so voracious.
I do have a dog-deficit! I am going to add that to the list of reason my fiance needs to let us get a dog.
Mary S. Jun 9, 2010, 2:51pm UTC
Maybe is you rescue an old dog, that would help the sales campaign. Old dogs are over the eating-your-shoes thing. My sister rescued a dog whose owner had to go to war...
MrsRoadRunner . Jun 9, 2010, 5:21pm UTC
Oh wow!! Sorry to see this, it hurt actually!! This is one reason we do not leave for more then a day, and this is after Guy waters everything. Then if we are gone to long we will have the kids water again!!
Mind me asking, is that barkamalsh (sp) you are planting in??
You are VERY fortunate you have a long growing season!! ;0)
katrina i. Jun 12, 2010, 2:04pm UTC
Sorry about your peppers your next set will be beautiful.Those pesty lil squirrels.Your pears look good.My mom use a spray bottle with soapy water to keeps pests away.
Quinn (aka Entwife) Blackburn Jun 12, 2010, 8:32pm UTC
So many wonderful lessons we can teach little ones in a Garden, and they are the ones that will help see them through everything they encounter in Life! Delightful and inspiring photo essay, I particularly enjoy the last shot :o) wishing you laughter
elizabeth evans Jun 13, 2010, 9:27am UTC
Oh, this is so sad. But persistence does pay off. Your pears do look wonderful.
Thanks, we already have two more green bean plants coming up!
Nurse Nancy S. Jun 14, 2010, 2:47am UTC
When we lived in Georgia, we had a pear tree. I made a huge batch of Pear Butter. (like apple butter) Canned it and made homemade labels for the jars. Then I used them as Christmas gifts for friends and family.
What a great idea! Do you have a recipe?
Nurse Nancy S. Jun 14, 2010, 11:30pm UTC
Check out my post HERE for a simple but delicious recipe
Diane Huizenga Jun 14, 2010, 12:00pm UTC
good luck with that I to just returned from 2 week vacation and my garden is flourshing, with weeds will take me a week to weed the whole thing as it's 16 feet by 26 feet. My hands hurt just thinking about it.
Risa G. Jun 19, 2010, 11:17pm UTC
What a sad state of affairs! At least you have the spinach. Good luck trying to get that back in order. I still have to put down manure and top soil and plant the tomatoes and chiles in the bed along with cucumber seeds and put that trellis back in the ground.

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