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Post by Mumsey on May 15, 2015 18:22:25 GMT -5
Brother just called me. Those 100 tomato plants that I grew for Dad got planted. All was well. They were protected with field tile.
Blasted ground hogs came and ate most of them. They either knocked over the tile or just put their grubby little claws on top and ate from the top.
You don't want to know what Dad is doing to rid the property of the critters. There is at least one less ground hog. He has never had this happen before.
I always get nervous when brother calls me, afraid he is going to tell me something happened to Dad. Recent stent in heart artery and he keeps going full speed ahead. So the call could have been much worse. Tomato plants can be replaced, we will have to buy some now.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on May 15, 2015 18:26:54 GMT -5
Wow! There must be some very hungry (and aggressive) groundhogs. What a shame that they got so many, and apparently didn't even consider the field tile as a barrier.
Since it's never happened before, I wonder if they had to find a new food source because of the severe winter - perhaps something else they fed on was in short supply?
I certainly understand the anxiety when you get a call and suspect it might be bad news. I hate those overnight, early in the morning calls the most - that's usually a bad sign. My heart starts pounding when the phone rings early in the morning.
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Post by Mumsey on May 15, 2015 18:34:33 GMT -5
Our winter was not that severe. There is plenty of vegetation around the quarry, guess they wanted tomatoes! The 2000 onions haven't been bothered, nor the rhubarb. LOL. Best he get them under control before the strawberries and raspberries ripen. Those critters can get quite large, nothing for them to knock over a field tile.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 15, 2015 18:38:52 GMT -5
oh, no.......How heartbreaking! Sure, they wanted to get a taste of the good stuff!...Those varmints! Your dad doesn't cover them like you. 100 is a lot to cover tho.
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Post by brownrexx on May 15, 2015 18:41:35 GMT -5
So sorry for your tomato babies. I really don't like ground hogs. They can really do a lot of damage. They don't call them "hogs" for nothing!
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 15, 2015 18:44:23 GMT -5
If they ate the tops, they will recover won't they? They will be late but 100 plants should give ya something, right?
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Post by brownrexx on May 15, 2015 18:48:22 GMT -5
That's true, If you water them, they should pop back up since the roots are still alive. Good luck with that.
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Post by desertwoman on May 15, 2015 21:01:13 GMT -5
Oh no!
After all the blow by blow accounts of those 100+ plants, even I feel invested! I can only imagine how your dad feels.
And yes, there has been a discussion about that in another thread. Chopped down tomatoes can/will revive.
This seems to be the year for weird gardening disasters around here.
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Post by Mumsey on May 16, 2015 4:10:41 GMT -5
Pea, they were protected. With heavy field tile made of clay! I suggested he wait and see if they recover, I am going there Monday to check out the disaster and decide whether to declare a state of emergency. Tomatoes are one of his biggest market sellers.
Won't need to be watering, plenty of rain here lately.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 16, 2015 4:36:15 GMT -5
Mums, I am having a hard time understanding the field tile. Any pictures? We got some rain last night and this morning but we are dry...There has been flash fire warnings here. Watering here a lot.
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Post by Mumsey on May 16, 2015 4:56:41 GMT -5
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 16, 2015 5:33:11 GMT -5
interesting So the tiles were surrounding the tomatoes?
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Post by Mumsey on May 16, 2015 6:01:18 GMT -5
Yes, just put them over the tomatoes. They are open on both ends.
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Post by tbird on May 16, 2015 8:37:20 GMT -5
so sorry to hear! Hope some recover.
What is your answer for protection? beside genocide on the varmints?
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Post by datgirl on May 16, 2015 8:43:37 GMT -5
Those darn critters. I know how it feels but I only lost a few to the raccoons. I can't imagine losing that many. Last year I kept losing spinach seedlings. They would sprout and then be gone the next day. I never figured out if it was birds, rabbits or some bug in the soil.
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