Re: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #813
Gophers can be a real battle, but the key is persistence. This
year I found the water method the most effective. I usually
try it first, then traps, then poison. The poison I have found
to be the most effective comes in the form of granola bars
which you bury in the tunnels so pets are safe.
I have had no luck with the poison pellets. I have also had no
luck with gas and burying chicken wire is useless since the
gopher will travel overland to get into your patch.
I would recommend, however, that you place chicken wire
underneath your Styrofoam under the pumpkin to prevent them
from tunneling up from underneath. I use chicken wire and a
layer of sand under the pumpkin for the same reason and it has
never been breached.
good luck,
--- Sue Hartman <shartman@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> I began growing Atlantic giants five years ago when I met
> Chris Anderson who
> was wonderful to give me seeds
> from his award winning pumpkin. each years crop is grown
> from our best pumpkin.
> this years crop was grown from the great great grandson of
> his pumpkin. I love the shape
> and color... I need your help....
> Gopher despair...
> this years crop has been totally devastated by gophers.
> I've tried road flares, car exhaust, traps, vibrating/beeping
> devices, and water flushing of the tunnels.
> I can't bring myself to use poison as we have small pets at
> risk.
> my last ditch effort was to use long bamboo steaks every two
> inches around the vine and the pumpkin.
> we used two hundred steaks around our last surviving plant.
> although the
> gopher did some chewing on three parts of the vine,
> we were able to produce about a 75lb pumpkin, so we could
> have seeds for next ear.
> the one thing I did not plan for was the determination of
> this gopher, as I
> checked on the pumpkin yesterday and noticed softening on the
> bottom.
> (we have successfully placed our pumpkins on Styrofoam boards
> every year for
> the past five years without any issues). Well...
> I turned the pumpkin over to find this hungry gopher had
> eaten thru the Styrofoam and into the cavity of the pumpkin.
> seeds and all. Now I'm beginning to wonder if I can ever
> grow pumpkins in our yard again. Someone suggested chicken
> wire over the entire yard... I would love your thoughts on a
> solution for next year... including where I can get new
seeds.
> thanks for your help, PumpkinSue
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