Tips for gardening amidst snakes?
5birdy
7 years ago
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Interesting Olde Time-y Garden Tips
Comments (7)Glib, I was trying to find more info. about melon-growing in my area and found some similar information in a historical treatise... Only they were talking about keeping melons away from cucumbers. They (the current writers, not the historical ones) said that while these don't cross, sometimes they can with the Serpent (Snake?) melon and are said to give a cucumbery flavor to the melons. Don't know how true all that is, but I thought it was interesting! The relevant info. is in the 2nd paragraph under the section Melons. Sunni Here is a link that might be useful: Historic melons and cucumbers...See MoreOrganic Gardening Best Learned Tips???
Comments (21)Elisa, OP did put a link to photos. If you started gardening using inorganic methods and have used chemicals on the same space that you are now trying to garden organically, I would agree there could be a lingering effect and you might have to be patient. Where is the source of your compost? Do you make it yourself? Are you buying bagged compost and where does the composted manure come from? To me, less is more. Organic gardening is not just a change of products, it's an ecological process that you try to understand so you can cooperate with it. The natural processes are at the root of organic gardening. I personally have not used any pesticides, or other chemicals, or any synthetic fertilizers in 25+ years of vegetable gardening. But I didn't have previous inorganic practices to correct. I don't find it too difficult. I have made my own compost, but only a passive pile that mainly had grass clipping and fall leaves in it, with a little bit of clean weeds thrown in. I add grass clippings and leaves as a thick layer of mulch on the bed for the winter and I've used cover crops sometimes, to increase organic matter and fertility. None of that is hard to do and the materials are right there on my own property for the most part. I have had my neighbors give me their leaves some years. Twice I've used bagged Coast of Maine compost for a specific reason, sparingly. I buy Fish Emulsion/Seaweed liquid fertilizer and use that. I'm using organic Alfalfa meal this year as an additive. And that's it. I've made up a home made spray of a few drops of liquid soap, garlic and red pepper flakes blended in the blender when I've had a really difficult insect issue, but rarely. I normally will hand pick. If I have a tomato plant that becomes diseased which has happened to me, I pull the plant then I try to determine what went wrong and see if I need to change anything for the next year. A lot of times, using disease resistant varieties is important. I've had heavy aphid infestation and have waited a week or two and suddenly find just a few lady bugs in my small yard, cleaning up the aphids. That didn't happen when I first started organic gardening, and at that point, I just sprayed them off the plants with the hose and that was good enough. The ecology in the garden had to develop and it is still getting better and better. I also focus attention on knowing which plants attract beneficial insects including bees to the garden and I try to plant enough of those to always have something in bloom. I would take each separate problem you are having and post photos of the plant along with a description of the problem and post that to this forum and ask for organic solutions and see what help everyone can give you with that problem and address them one at a time....See MoreGardening in Raleigh: Any Tips?
Comments (15)Hi lois! I wish you best of luck with your move! I was from Pittsburgh and in August we moved to Nashville . But believe it or not , Raleigh was one of my husbands choices along with Nashville and we chose based on his job. But anyway, I hear Raleigh is gorgeous and not far from the ocean! I also panicked about the different bugs, and they took some getting used to . I still inspect the garage before I step in for centipedes ! Those things give me the heebie jeebies ! also, I had to learn what brown recluses are. Yuck ! I know you will have days when you miss Pa, but it's such a new adventure and there's so much to explore! I miss Pa a smidgen but I love love love our home here and the weather is incredible . While my family back home has been dealing with snow, we've had days in the 50 and 60s and only a dusting of snow one time. Daffodils are blooming and the spring birds are singing. Just lovely. I think the thing I miss about Pa is my old garden but I know l will have a beautiful one here. Anyhow, lots of luck to you!! I hope you keep us posted on your move. One pleasant surprise here, is when I lived in Pa , I always wished to see eastern blue birds , but never did. Here in Tn, our next door neighbors have blue bird nesting boxes so I get to see them just about every day! Sometimes God gives you those little things in your heart when you take chances like these. :)...See MoreID-ing Snakes In The Garden - Coral Snake
Comments (54)Marcia, Please help me find out what kind of snake I came across today. While I was at the local dog park (near Orlando) I came across a yellow with black stripes snake. It looked to be between 3.5-4 feet long and did not appear at first glance (that was all I gave it out of fear) to be shiny. I was about 3 feet from it and didn't know it until my dog almost stepped on it. She obviously didn't see it either. The snake seemed a pit peeved about the whole thing but it decided not to attack and to slowly slither towards ME to get away from my dog. Needless to say, I took off in a different direction real quick and hollered for my dog to follow. I am not like you or others on this site. I am not a fan of snakes and am extremely afraid of them. Although, I don't mind the black racers that seem to have taken up permanent residence in MY back yard and they love to procreate often (or so it seems). I have seen a lot less field rats since the racers moved in and that makes me very happy. Anyway, can you help me figure out what this snake was? I have spent hours and hours online tonight trying to find it and just can't seem to find anything that looks like it. I am guessing that it is not dangerous to me or my dogs??? I am scared to take my dogs back through those woods that they so dearly love. As soon as I told them, "No more woods until the snakes are gone again," they "told" me to find it if it was dangerous or not and if it isn't that they want to go back again. So that is mostly why I am asking you for your help. We all love the walks but I am afraid of the snakes. Please help me feel safer about going back. Thanks in advance for your help....See MoreNil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
7 years ago5birdy thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)5birdy
7 years agoalbert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago5birdy thanked albert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.5birdy
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago5birdy
7 years ago
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