Morning Stroll in the Garden
Watch the video
This is a video of a walk in my garden.
Music: Antonio Vivaldi, Guitar Concerto in D Major, Part II
Watch the video
John Hershey on why the cool kids should be doing it
Grounds for Your Garden
Hannah in Cleveland, Ohio, who has a blog called This Garden is Illegal, reminded me about the Starbucks Grounds for Your Garden program, where they give away free 5-lb. bags of used coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are great for side-dressing plants in need of a little nitrogen and there’s some evidence that snails and slugs are repelled by caffeine. At high enough concentrations, it kills them. The amount of caffeine in used grounds might be enough to repel them, which is all I ask. Either way, I’m feeding my soil. The worms in my kitchen worm bin love coffee grounds, so maybe “outside” worms will too. Worm activity is good for the soil!
Corporate giant or not, I love Starbucks.
The Snail Battle Escalates
The copper-colored Plant Defender base had me hoping it would repel snails and slugs. Now, I know it’s the chemical reaction between snail slime and copper metal that produces a mild shock for the snail, like an electric fence would, but what’s up with this painted base because snails don’t seem to mind traveling on it?
While I wanted to believe the bases were painted to repel snails, they didn’t repel the small snails and slugs that sailed on in to eat my basil. My sweet peppers are being left alone now, but the new basil plants are in need of help. To show the depth of my devotion to basil, I added copper sheeting to the Plant Defender cages. Let’s hope this does the trick.
I wonder if you can buy paint with real copper in it? Then I could spray the base of the cages with something that actually repels those slimy gluttons.
News flash! I just re-checked the description of the cages on the PVFS website and it states the cage bases are “copper-plated”!!! This, I assume, means they have been sprayed with a metallic copper paint. Why, then, did snails cross the barrier?
Here’s the description– “Protect plants from browsing birds, snails, slugs, raccoons, deer, and rabbits with this effective barrier. Safe and humane method of protecting young seedlings without resorting to poisons, traps or ineffective repellents. Allows for overhead watering. Cut top off to allow plant to grow taller while maintaining base barrier. Made of molded plastic with copper-plated base.”
Apart from the issue with small snails and slugs, these cages have effectively blocked larger snails, cats, dogs, squirrels and birds (the main threats to my veggies and herbs). Additionally, I now have the option to apply Sluggo inside the cages and not worry about my dogs eating it. Since I added copper sheeting around the base, no snails or slugs have reached my basil seedlings.
I’m happy enough with the results that I plan to order more cages and more copper sheeting. The Plant Defender really is a clever invention that’s inexpensive, reusable, allows for easy watering, and reduces or eliminates the need for trapping, poisoning and smashing (Ew). Organic gardeners will love this.
There are more helpful hints for controlling snails and slugs in UC IPM Pest Note 7427.
Basil and Peppers, Take Two!
Since my basil and pepper plants were decimated by snails, I decided to order some Plant Defender cages from PVFS. They must have sensed my desperation because the cages arrived lickety split. I figure since I’ve already lost about 20 bucks feeding snails organically grown Genovese basil and gourmet bell peppers, an additional $2.99 per plant for a reusable Plant Defender cage still makes good sense.
Yesterday, I picked up some new plants at Capital (Sunrise) and planted them in the early evening. When I checked on them during my morning ritual of taking the kid to school, feeding the canines and felines, making coffee and going out back to check on my plant babies, this is what I found.
Though smaller snails could probably fit through the cage (didn’t see any inside) and clever snails like this one can nibble the edges of my basil leaves, it’s no longer going to be the plant carnage it once was. I may order more cages for my seed-raised breadseed poppies and zinnias, which are also under attack.
Coffee grounds and leftover cold coffee are also being employed as deterrents, but I don’t really have enough for all my plants. Cages and coffee are a good combo. Wish I’d known about the cages sooner, though.
May 3rd P.S.– Remember how I was saying I have a hard time, physically and philosophically, killing snails and slugs and so prefer to block and deter them rather than poison them or smash them? Well, put me in the freak category because this GardenWeb thread makes it apparent many, many gardeners have no qualms about killing slugs and snails as they smash, smother, drown, hurl or poison with a not-so-subtle hint of glee.
Hanging strawberries and tomatoes
Most of my strawberries and tomatoes are in the ground, but I wanted to try some in hanging baskets for fun and to see if they’re less affected by pests and diseases. I had some old wire baskets lying around that seemed like they’d be big enough.
The baskets held a surprising amount of Black Gold organic potting soil, so I don’t think they’ll dry out too quickly on hot days. I’ll still need to check them daily, but that’s true of all my pots.
The strawberries look a little sulky because I transplanted them from established beds. They should perk up in a day or two. I wouldn’t normally transplant strawberries when they’re forming fruit, but this was all done on a whim.
The tomato is ‘Sun Sugar’ and should cascade nicely over the edge of the basket.
Wind chime listening station
This is so cool… this is how online shopping should be… Wind Chimes Pavilion has provided clear audio clips with each wind chime they sell. This makes sense since they sell hand-tuned chimes to the tune of Brahms, Verdi, Bach and more.
Check it out. You’ll be impressed. I’m excited because I think I might actually be able to find one that doesn’t drive me bonkers.
Have a listen.
Tomatoes with sweet pepper and basil-infused escargot
Got most of my tomatoes planted yesterday and hope to finish today if it’s not raining. I also planted most of the plants I bought at Annie’s and B. Hort. I have to say, things are filling in nicely in certain parts of the garden. Gaps remain, but don’t they always?
Snails feasted on my bell peppers and basil over the last few days. Nothing left but leafless sticks. I checked on them first thing yesterday morning and found a large snail family sucking on the bones of my pepper plants. A couple older snails were leading the very slow getaway.
And no, I didn’t kill a single one. Why? Because I am cursed with a fondness for all things tiny and cute. Have you looked at a baby snail lately? Exceedingly cute with their tiny antennae… or eyeballs… or whatever those things are… innocently searching the air. I relocated them. I have used Sluggo in moments of desperation, but I don’t like witnessing the carnage and my dogs like to eat Sluggo pellets. Pet-safe or not, I really don’t want them to have to digest a belly full of iron phosphate.
The perfect solution for borderline Buddhist gardeners like me is the barrier method. The problem is, that nifty 100-foot roll of copper snail barrier I wanted to buy at Berkeley Hort. the other day was 50 dollars. 50 dollars for snail fencing? I don’t think I can justify that purchase at this juncture, so I’m trying to find something inexpensive around the house that will help my veggie and herb starts make it past infancy. I’m thinking bottomless milk cartons with the warning “Molluscs Beware!” written in dripping red letters. No… written in salt (if such a thing were possible). Large strawberry baskets might work too. I have none, but they might work. There’s got to be something we normally recycle or throw away that I can use. Any ideas?
Anyway, replacement peppers and basil are being arranged.
Great news! Peaceful Valley Farm Supply sells 20 feet of copper snail barrier for around 13 bucks. Sold!
Holy guacamole, look what else they sell! This is exactly what I was fantasizing about and they’re only $2.99 each! Just my luck that my only realized fantasy involves garden pests and not Liam Neeson, but oh well. At least I’ll have reality-based peppers and basil this year thanks to copper barriers and the new Plant Defender.
East Bay Nurseries Day Trip
Went to Annie’s Annuals and Berkeley Hort. Yesterday. Gardening nirvana… and a financial nightmare. I did enough Visa damage that I’m thinking it’s a good thing there’s an hour and forty minutes between me and my favorite East Bay nurseries.
I was expecting rainy weather so was pleased with intermittently overcast skies and a bit of wind.
The raised demo beds at Annie’s, amended with grape-seed compost, are looking incredible, as are the display pots at Berkeley Hort. Bought all kinds of fun stuff, traffic was a breeze and I didn’t get lost in lovely downtown Richmond this time. I didn’t even get lost in Berzerkely, city of invisible street signs.
New at Annie’s: a chicken coop with fancy chickens, a rooster, a bunny or bunnies and some other bird I can’t remember. Very cute. There seem to be more pinky/purply flower murals, as well as some new wagons with very cushy handles. Free cans of soda too!
A Flower Explosion
Sunshine has returned (for the most part), Spring is really here, and everything looks fresh and perky and colorful. Enjoy it, because the dusty dog days of summer are lurking around the corner.
