Two weeks ago my husband and I put in our little vegetable and herb garden. In the desolate wasteland you see in the photo above, we had eggplants, several types of peppers, tomatoes, a couple of squash, and a lovely assortment of herbs. We were so proud. We were watering it lightly a couple of times a day, and eagerly rushing out each morning with our coffee cup in hand to see if things had grown during the night.
Except what was happening is that each day there would be one less plant. Not a nibbled down to a stub plant, but nothing. No sign that a plant had even been there. The veggies were disappearing into thin air. The basil was the first to go, then the cilantro. It was a systematic destruction. Each day there was a plant or two missing.
One early evening, my husband watered the few remaining plants and we went inside to prepare dinner together. We discussed the mystery of what was getting our plants. On a whim, I went back outside while I waited for my pasta water to come to a boil. There in the garden was a round wet circle showing where my husband had watered an eggplant ten minutes before. The wet spot was there, but the eggplant was totally gone.
As I stood there and watched, one of the pepper plants started shaking as if it was having its own private earthquake. It wiggled and thrashed about violently, then was pulled completely down beneath the soil right before my eyes.
It was slow to dawn on us, but yes, gophers were the culprit. They had made a tunnel right below the vegetable garden and for two weeks had been feasting on our produce. Evidently they do not care for thyme, as they have left that. There is also one sad little veggie plant left, and I bet you my next paycheck it will be gone when I get up in the morning. Any of you have any success stories for dealing with gophers? FYI, at this point I am not considering setting a humane trap and transporting them to a new home in the countryside.
So that's my vegetable garden for the summer. Apparently, I have no vegetables. I wonder if the gopher family will move out now that they have eaten everything?
Well, if I can't garden, I can sew.
The Moda BlockHeads block of the week is out. It is a sweet Bow Tie block by Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles Quilts. I had to work yesterday, but my plan for today is to get the block put together.
Hope you are all having a great week. I do not have much to show for my time this week, but hey, it is the first day of June and that is something to celebrate!
57 responses to “Let’s Talk About My Garden”
Your garden story was quite the mystery. Almost like a funny cartoon. Are you going to start over? Enjoy your sewing. No gophers there to take away your newest blocks.
Your garden story was quite the mystery. Almost like a funny cartoon. Are you going to start over? Enjoy your sewing. No gophers there to take away your newest blocks.
Your garden story was quite the mystery. Almost like a funny cartoon. Are you going to start over? Enjoy your sewing. No gophers there to take away your newest blocks.
Oh how disappointing with the garden. It would be labor intensive to remove all the soil, put down wire or screen, and return the soil. Probably the only way to keep the critters out.
Fabric you can control.
Oh how disappointing with the garden. It would be labor intensive to remove all the soil, put down wire or screen, and return the soil. Probably the only way to keep the critters out.
Fabric you can control.
Oh how disappointing with the garden. It would be labor intensive to remove all the soil, put down wire or screen, and return the soil. Probably the only way to keep the critters out.
Fabric you can control.
I have the same problem with rabbits from the field behind our house. They also like Hosta and other tender flowers. I have used various repellants – peppery stuff. I put it in the runs of a vole once and it gave up after eating all my lily bulbs. No help here.
I have the same problem with rabbits from the field behind our house. They also like Hosta and other tender flowers. I have used various repellants – peppery stuff. I put it in the runs of a vole once and it gave up after eating all my lily bulbs. No help here.
I have the same problem with rabbits from the field behind our house. They also like Hosta and other tender flowers. I have used various repellants – peppery stuff. I put it in the runs of a vole once and it gave up after eating all my lily bulbs. No help here.
How bizarre! At least you witnessed that one disappearance so you had a clue what was happening.
Good reason to spend more time indoors
At least you have “thyme” on your hands–sorry, couldn’t resist that one.
How bizarre! At least you witnessed that one disappearance so you had a clue what was happening.
Good reason to spend more time indoors
At least you have “thyme” on your hands–sorry, couldn’t resist that one.
How bizarre! At least you witnessed that one disappearance so you had a clue what was happening.
Good reason to spend more time indoors
At least you have “thyme” on your hands–sorry, couldn’t resist that one.
Yep, many a gopher in my past. Even when I planted a sweet apple tree, the root painstakingly wrapped in chicken wire, with tall stakes around the top with plastic mesh over the top to protect from the deer…the gopher or somebody! snuck in through the top mesh and chewed the tree almost like a beaver wood. It didn’t topple over but surely died from the abuse. Maddening!
Yep, many a gopher in my past. Even when I planted a sweet apple tree, the root painstakingly wrapped in chicken wire, with tall stakes around the top with plastic mesh over the top to protect from the deer…the gopher or somebody! snuck in through the top mesh and chewed the tree almost like a beaver wood. It didn’t topple over but surely died from the abuse. Maddening!
Yep, many a gopher in my past. Even when I planted a sweet apple tree, the root painstakingly wrapped in chicken wire, with tall stakes around the top with plastic mesh over the top to protect from the deer…the gopher or somebody! snuck in through the top mesh and chewed the tree almost like a beaver wood. It didn’t topple over but surely died from the abuse. Maddening!
We had a mole show up right after we went to navelts and ordered sod for our front and back yards. Fortunately we were able to postpone delivery of the sod. Such a drag and so frustrating. Our vegetable planter is raised, so we haven’t had an issue in that part of the yard. I feel your pain.
We had a mole show up right after we went to navelts and ordered sod for our front and back yards. Fortunately we were able to postpone delivery of the sod. Such a drag and so frustrating. Our vegetable planter is raised, so we haven’t had an issue in that part of the yard. I feel your pain.
We had a mole show up right after we went to navelts and ordered sod for our front and back yards. Fortunately we were able to postpone delivery of the sod. Such a drag and so frustrating. Our vegetable planter is raised, so we haven’t had an issue in that part of the yard. I feel your pain.
Sorry, but I had to laugh when I read your story. Perhaps you can ask in your local nursery if they have an advice for you? We don’t have gophers here in Germany so I can’t help you.
Did you see the ‘mistake’ block Betsy Chutchian made? She sew the blocks wrong way together but I like the look so much I’ve shamelessy copied her.
Sorry, but I had to laugh when I read your story. Perhaps you can ask in your local nursery if they have an advice for you? We don’t have gophers here in Germany so I can’t help you.
Did you see the ‘mistake’ block Betsy Chutchian made? She sew the blocks wrong way together but I like the look so much I’ve shamelessy copied her.
Sorry, but I had to laugh when I read your story. Perhaps you can ask in your local nursery if they have an advice for you? We don’t have gophers here in Germany so I can’t help you.
Did you see the ‘mistake’ block Betsy Chutchian made? She sew the blocks wrong way together but I like the look so much I’ve shamelessy copied her.
Sorry ‘bout the garden. I love the leaf fabrics.
Sorry ‘bout the garden. I love the leaf fabrics.
Sorry ‘bout the garden. I love the leaf fabrics.
OMG, your poor garden! I had to chuckle at your telling of it, but the destruction is pretty sad! Concentration on beautiful fabric should ease the pain!
OMG, your poor garden! I had to chuckle at your telling of it, but the destruction is pretty sad! Concentration on beautiful fabric should ease the pain!
OMG, your poor garden! I had to chuckle at your telling of it, but the destruction is pretty sad! Concentration on beautiful fabric should ease the pain!
We had that issue too. Raised beds were the answer. These were also much easier for this older body to work with. 🙂
We had that issue too. Raised beds were the answer. These were also much easier for this older body to work with. 🙂
We had that issue too. Raised beds were the answer. These were also much easier for this older body to work with. 🙂
Egads, sorry, I know that’s so frustrating, but it is also funny, & laughing is also healthy for us! In-laws battled those naughty thieves for years, and it was always a challenge….growing veggies & coming up with ways to eradicate them! Good thing you have sewing to ease your distress!
Egads, sorry, I know that’s so frustrating, but it is also funny, & laughing is also healthy for us! In-laws battled those naughty thieves for years, and it was always a challenge….growing veggies & coming up with ways to eradicate them! Good thing you have sewing to ease your distress!
Egads, sorry, I know that’s so frustrating, but it is also funny, & laughing is also healthy for us! In-laws battled those naughty thieves for years, and it was always a challenge….growing veggies & coming up with ways to eradicate them! Good thing you have sewing to ease your distress!
damn! you’re screwed! gophers are impossible to get rid of. 🙁
damn! you’re screwed! gophers are impossible to get rid of. 🙁
damn! you’re screwed! gophers are impossible to get rid of. 🙁
We’ve been battling gophers for some time now and we did find one product that usually works. It’s called the Black Hole Gopher Trap. We ordered it from Amazon. It’s not cheap ($20.00) but it has worked for us.
Just a thought!
Linda
We’ve been battling gophers for some time now and we did find one product that usually works. It’s called the Black Hole Gopher Trap. We ordered it from Amazon. It’s not cheap ($20.00) but it has worked for us.
Just a thought!
Linda
We’ve been battling gophers for some time now and we did find one product that usually works. It’s called the Black Hole Gopher Trap. We ordered it from Amazon. It’s not cheap ($20.00) but it has worked for us.
Just a thought!
Linda
I can remember my mom putting the hose down a gopher hose and waiting for him to pop out another hole. She would then whack the life out of him. I can’t even believe all these years later she did that but she was pretty steamed. I got a roll of hardware cloth from home depot and used that under my grow boxes. I stapled it down. I am surprised your dog hasn’t gone crazy trying to get the interlopers. Good luck with the fight.
I can remember my mom putting the hose down a gopher hose and waiting for him to pop out another hole. She would then whack the life out of him. I can’t even believe all these years later she did that but she was pretty steamed. I got a roll of hardware cloth from home depot and used that under my grow boxes. I stapled it down. I am surprised your dog hasn’t gone crazy trying to get the interlopers. Good luck with the fight.
I can remember my mom putting the hose down a gopher hose and waiting for him to pop out another hole. She would then whack the life out of him. I can’t even believe all these years later she did that but she was pretty steamed. I got a roll of hardware cloth from home depot and used that under my grow boxes. I stapled it down. I am surprised your dog hasn’t gone crazy trying to get the interlopers. Good luck with the fight.
We are having the same problem with grounds squirrels . Last year they would climb our fruit trees then sit near our shed and eat all the plums they had picked and left a pile of seeds !!!!!.. They also ate all of our tomatoes. We put a fine mesh screen under the dirt of your vegetable garden . It does keep them from ruining your garden .
We are having the same problem with grounds squirrels . Last year they would climb our fruit trees then sit near our shed and eat all the plums they had picked and left a pile of seeds !!!!!.. They also ate all of our tomatoes. We put a fine mesh screen under the dirt of your vegetable garden . It does keep them from ruining your garden .
We are having the same problem with grounds squirrels . Last year they would climb our fruit trees then sit near our shed and eat all the plums they had picked and left a pile of seeds !!!!!.. They also ate all of our tomatoes. We put a fine mesh screen under the dirt of your vegetable garden . It does keep them from ruining your garden .
I had to give up planting green beans because all I was doing was feeding the friendly neighborhood rabbit population.
I had to give up planting green beans because all I was doing was feeding the friendly neighborhood rabbit population.
I had to give up planting green beans because all I was doing was feeding the friendly neighborhood rabbit population.
Oh, yes. I have watched disappearing pepper plants, etc. Amazing. I do not do the humane trap thing either. I have a good eye and a good shovel. I also have a good garden. Neither do I transport the tomato worms, squash bugs, etc.
Good luck!
Don’t Mess With My Garden Linda
Oh, yes. I have watched disappearing pepper plants, etc. Amazing. I do not do the humane trap thing either. I have a good eye and a good shovel. I also have a good garden. Neither do I transport the tomato worms, squash bugs, etc.
Good luck!
Don’t Mess With My Garden Linda
Oh, yes. I have watched disappearing pepper plants, etc. Amazing. I do not do the humane trap thing either. I have a good eye and a good shovel. I also have a good garden. Neither do I transport the tomato worms, squash bugs, etc.
Good luck!
Don’t Mess With My Garden Linda
We had moles like crazy. My husband bought some traps but what seemed to work was some poisoned worm bait you put in a new tunnel. This year, no moles!
We had moles like crazy. My husband bought some traps but what seemed to work was some poisoned worm bait you put in a new tunnel. This year, no moles!
We had moles like crazy. My husband bought some traps but what seemed to work was some poisoned worm bait you put in a new tunnel. This year, no moles!
I think I would be sick if all my plants disappeared like that. At least you know the cause, but no veggies😩 We grow basil year round on our kitchen window and then plant outside as it gets too big, so you may want to try a few indoor herbs as they’re so delicious.
I think I would be sick if all my plants disappeared like that. At least you know the cause, but no veggies😩 We grow basil year round on our kitchen window and then plant outside as it gets too big, so you may want to try a few indoor herbs as they’re so delicious.
I think I would be sick if all my plants disappeared like that. At least you know the cause, but no veggies😩 We grow basil year round on our kitchen window and then plant outside as it gets too big, so you may want to try a few indoor herbs as they’re so delicious.