Really, guys, I don't mean to gloat but...

14 years ago

...I can't recall a BETTER summer for growing those glorious globes of juicy goodness here in the Pacific Northwest. A super hot ('80's and '90's, oh my!) and dry June means I will be harvesting ripe tomatoes within a matter of days. Yes!!!

Truth be told, and to in some way make our friends across the country feel better about their tales of tomato woe, I confess to having a need to find some way to keep the resident mole/gopher/vole/tunneling d*mn varmint of unknown province from tunneling under my bushes and digging up the roots. If we finally get enough heat to grow some monster maters at long last this year, only to have the varmints kill them off at ground level, I might have to switch from my customary gentle - nay, genTEEL, organic ways to some pistol-packing, rifle-racking, mole trap-toting, cherry-bomb smokin' action. NOHING shall come between me and my 'mates.

Varmints, you have been warned.

With a glimmer of steel in her eye,

Rain

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Comments (8)

elskunkito
14 years ago
I agree. Phenominal summer here in PNW.
Its going to make up for the last 2 bad ones for sure.

As for Varmints, this year 80% of my plants are in
rnewst's earth 'tainers.

also check out ciscoe morris's Mole Blaster.
Its earth crunchy hippy genteel.

http://www.ciscoe.com/garden/topics/moles.html
blameitontherain
Original Author
14 years ago
Hey, thanks elskunkito (little skunk?)!

I just happen to have a bunch of mint running rampart through the rose garden. Think I'll forego the summer Friday night fresh strawberry daiquiri ritual and use my blender for a big batch of "Mole Mojito", instead. Thanks for the link and may our summer sun keep on blazing.

Now craving a mojito of her own,

Rain
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avid_hiker
14 years ago
Go for it!!! I'll back you up 100%. I finally have a great, and I do mean great, crop of maters coming on strong and I will do whatever it takes. I am so looking frorward to my firs BLT of the year. I have been doing everything, from foliar feedings of aerated compost tea and molasses, to just talking to them every day. Whatever I am doing it seems to be working just great.

For some odd reason my neighborhood has been overrun with rabbits. I mean I have at least four groups in just my little yard. So far they have pretty much left my tomato's alone, but if I start seeing damage I am going to get very aggressive. If they cross the line and become a pest I am going to treat them like I would the horn worm. I have spent too much time, money, effort, etc to see it all to waste from bunny rabbits. That is just the way it is. I rid my garden of pests, no matter what they are.

Keep it up Blameitontherain and you will be enjoying the fruits of your labor (love) sooner than you know it.

Tom
blameitontherain
Original Author
14 years ago
Hey, Tom.

I have had rabbits in my yard, too, ever since my sweet dog passed away. Not fuzzy bunnies with powder puff tails, but dun colored, red-eyed, small eared and skimpy tailed rodents. So far, so good -- veggie garden is fenced and presided over by one of those realistic plastic owls. Hope that is enough to keep the critters away.

Blended up a bunch of mint a la Cisco last night. While it bubbled up on the stove looking green and nasty, found myself muttering about eye of newt, etc. Nice way to get in touch with your inner witch! Will soak down the tunnels this morning and see how it goes.

Cackling uncontrollably,

Rain
mockapple
14 years ago
Rain - here's hoping the noxious concoction works for you. Stubborn little buggers, just can't take a hint.

Yes, excellent tomato weather this year. And in yesterday's Seattle Times (ah, newspaper, I'm really going to miss those...) UW scientists predict that the dry trend will continue throughout the summer, with "Northwest lowlands being some of the driest locations in the entire US in July and August." What state is this again?

MA
avid_hiker
14 years ago
Rain,

I am sitting here trying to imagine you in a black pointed hat chanting some kind of rhym that will give your potient more power.

Unfortunately I have to fence in the garden now. They have gotten into my peppers and just gutted a couple of them. I am going to try the chicken wire and one of those big plastic owls first. But they are in the process of digging up my front lawn and I am getting really pissed. Especially since I live in one of those housing tracts that has an association. They tell me I have to repair the grass soon or I will get a fine. Yep those cute little floppy eared bunny rabbits. Just doing what nature taught them to do. Well, Iam going to do what my larger brain mass has taught me to do. If the pellet rifle does not get them then I will use something that does. And I am not into live traps. I'll just dispose of the evidence so that any PETA nut jobs don't give me hard time.

Money is tight enough as it is, I don't need those so called cute little sweet bunnies terring up my yard - ESPECIALLY MY VEGGIE GARDEN!!! You get my drift?

tom

Tom
yardenman
14 years ago
Glad you are having a great tomato season. I just picked a big ripe Cherokee Purple today here in Z7. :)
blameitontherain
Original Author
14 years ago
MA, thought I was going to have to change my GW "handle" before the big storm swept in on Sunday!

Tom, I look quite fetching in my pointy black hat, dontcha know. Talk about your HOA adding insult to injury! I can only hope that channeling your inner Elmer Fudd leads to success.

Don't know yet if the Mole Mojito has worked. Am a bit concerned that I have voles, rather than moles, so that might mean having to set traps, yes? A potions master I am, a bait setter (snap! ouch!) I most assuredly am not.

Yardenman, understand that we here in the State of Moss are exclaiming so far (at least I am) over GREEN tomatoes, but ones that promise to ripen soon. There have been summers where the only tomatoes that ripen by the end of August are the cherries. You, sir, are lucky to be enjoying your CP, with undoubtedly a big ol' grin on your face. We'll be joining you soon!

Rain

Really, guys, I don't mean to gloat but...

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