RE: 659 Troy 03
Toby ,,,
Sorry to hear about that .... I have been battling gophers for years and
here are a few things that work ..
Plywood or heavy fiberglass type material for under the Pumpkin.
For the vines I've done a couple of things.
I bought a roll of chicken wire and cut it about one foot wide and three
to six feet long. I folded the one foot wide part over so it was about
six inches wide. I laid the strips of chicken wire ahead of the main
vine so as the vine grew, the chicken wire would be buried under the
vine. It's a lot of work but it definitely worked. A gopher chewed a tap
root up until it hit the chicken wire and then it stopped. It didn't get
rid of the gopher but at least it saved the vine. It is however a lot of
work and doesn't get rid of the gopher.
Another thing gophers don't like is dry blood meal. It's a territorial
thing but it also adds nitrogen to the soil. I used it and it does work.
At least it drives them away from the pumpkin plants.
A sure thing is a chemical called "Fumitoxin". It's bad stuff and
requires a license to buy and apply. (At least in California). It last's
about two months or so but it definitely works.
I have also had some luck with a trap called "The black hole". It's a
black plastic cylinder about the size of a coffee can with a wire snare
in it. You put a carrot in one end and burry it wherever there is a
fresh hole. It works for me about 75% of the time.
I'm glad to hear the plant was doing well for you. If you would like
some more seeds, I'd be glad to send them to you..
Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf
Of Toby
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2004 2:00 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: 659 Troy 03
Sometime over the past few days, a gopher dug under my 659 Troy, came up
under the main vine, and chewed through it about 2' from the base. Its
a goner.
I loved that plant! (boo hoo boo hoo)
I have 7 other AG vines (only 1 looks as nice as the Troy) that are in
jeopardy of vine-a-cide via gopher. Any ideas on how to get rid of
gophers without poisoning the rest of the patch? Ya know, if it takes
dynamite, I'm there... as soon as I harvest the last plant. What about
RIGHT NOW?!
Signed, the groundskeeper from Caddy Shack (Toby)
mr-sprout@sbcglobal.net
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