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Post by davidjp on May 22, 2015 21:10:43 GMT -5
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Post by tendingmygarden on May 22, 2015 23:00:31 GMT -5
When I read about Mumsey planting onions to deter voles from eating the peas I couldn't help but think that voles (like people) must have different preferences for food.
The first time I ever had trouble with voles (some 36 years ago) was when I went to garden to pull a large onion for lunch. It was like a bugs-bunny cartoon. I reached for the onion and the stem was yanked down the hole below. When I picked up the stem it had no onion at the end.
Some years are worse than others of course, but I've lost a good number of onions to voles. Here, they consider it one of their favorite foods.
For the last 3 years they are suspect in the disappearing of half the peas I plant.
DW, I was very interested in your good results with castor oil spray and new GardensAlive product you mentioned. Sounds like something worth considering.
Theresa
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Post by gakaren on May 23, 2015 8:33:02 GMT -5
About castor bean plants...since they were mentioned, I went looking and found this interesting q/a at Garden's Alive.
www.gardensalive.com/product/should-you-grow-the-castor-bean-plant/
We always had castor bean plants when I was a kid. We all knew NOT to eat the beans and none of us did. I don't remember what my grandmother used them for but she made some kind of home remedy from parts of the plant. I was just too young to remember what she did with it and how she used it. But from this article, planting them won't deter moles/voles....just the castor oil we can purchase and spray onto the soil.
AND, I have some this year...3 plants that I transplanted into 3 different flower beds.
ETA....A gal on another board told us a long time ago that planting chives near roses and other flowers will help to keep aphids off those plants. I have never tried it so don't know if it would work for me, she lives in Wi.
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Post by farmerkevin on May 23, 2015 9:30:58 GMT -5
Just a quick addition.
A friend of mine owns a nursery/orange grove. They plant a plant called "gopher purge" to keep underground critters out. Seems to work, and the city does it too. I doubt the city would spend the money if it didn't.
And for what it's worth, I planted a couple a year or two ago, and I do not have gophers where the plants are. Everywhere else, yes haha.
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Post by desertwoman on May 23, 2015 10:18:19 GMT -5
Thanks Kevin! I've never seen this plant, but I'll do more research.
A quick search brings it up as Euphorbia Lathyrus,, reseeds readily. It is not a repellant but, rather, the milky substance is a poison that makes the critter ill or die. Many people swear by it. A "Master Gardener" stated that it does not work (just as, he said, castor bean plants do not work) and that that is the reason we don't see it in nurseries any longer. But I would like to try this plant, if I can find some.
Karen- I have chives planted around some fruit trees. Mature trees tend to have less of an aphid problem, so I don't know if my trees are currently aphid free because of the chives or their age. But the chives did seem to help when the trees were young.
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Post by davidjp on May 23, 2015 10:58:33 GMT -5
This statement is taken from the UC IPM notes but whether its true or not who knows, whatever works for you "No repellents currently are available for successfully protecting gardens or other plantings from pocket gophers. Plants such as gopher purge (Euphorbia lathyrus), castor bean (Ricinus communis), and garlic have been suggested as repellents, but research has not substantiated these claims." www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7433.html
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Post by OregonRed on May 23, 2015 15:28:09 GMT -5
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Post by claude on May 23, 2015 19:32:33 GMT -5
Hang in there Thomas! We're rooting for you.
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Post by lisaann on May 23, 2015 20:22:02 GMT -5
How long does thomis have to wait before he sees them getting out of his garden?
Is that castor oil going to do it tonight?
Should he set up a chair to watch the departure?
Dang, I wish I was down there to see this stuff.
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Post by claude on May 24, 2015 17:18:38 GMT -5
Idk lisaann...maybe the voles will give an interview
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Post by claude on May 24, 2015 17:23:25 GMT -5
Voles are so frustrating because they undo all your hard work..and gophers make me want to buy a gun....
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 24, 2015 19:26:54 GMT -5
There's a parade with a marching band!!!!!!
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Post by brownrexx on May 24, 2015 19:36:07 GMT -5
I was telling hubby about this thread and saying how I though that pocket gophers were like groundhogs. He said "No they are like our rats". Yuk!
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Post by lisaann on May 25, 2015 11:18:53 GMT -5
Thomis,
What's happening?
Claude,
hahahahah, but I want to know if this is working. Get me an interview with one of those pesky creatures!
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