Thoughts on the gophermole

Has anyone tried burying a large sheet of chicken wire, etc., a foot or so
under the patch in the off-season?
Just a thought.
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Bob Troy
  To: pumpkins@hort.net
  Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 12:45 AM
  Subject: 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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