<p>I must be crazy but I spent the afternoon cleaning out one of my raised beds.I have three good sized raised beds in another part of my yard. It is where I used to attempt to grow a garden. In spite of wired bottoms I still battled the gophers and the dog. I am not sure what I am going to plant. Or reality attempt to plant. I think I am being fooled by a few days of nice sunny weather. I should enjoy it while it lasts because it sure won’t last all spring and summer.
A basket- my H loves being able to pick a pepper off the jalapeño plant and throw it on the grill. I have had pretty decent luck with them and one plant gives plenty of peppers. H wanted to try a Serrano this year as he wants a hotter pepper. </p>
<p>That’s it. I give in. I’m going back to that shop, buy the compost, and get my soil ready for some seedlings.</p>
<p>How’d the shopping go, LW??</p>
<p>We are having a cold snap tonight. I hope the plants are ok. they’d be just as cold if the were still at Home Depot. At least thats what I tell myself. Side question- whats the best way to cut/use dill and not damage the plant?</p>
<p>Something is digging in my tomato and dill pots. Cant tell what. I sprayed some seriously nasty smelling stuff around the plants. Any idea what would be making little digging marks in the pots?</p>
<p>Sounds pretty scary…could be anything getting in your pots. Growing tomatoes is hard work and is not for the faint-of-heart. Maybe do a stakeout watching your plants round-the-clock to you see what’s disturbing plants…get up in a tree by your plants at night with some night vision binoculars and keep an eye on your plants to determine what is digging in the pots… </p>
<p>I had trouble with squirrels digging in my pots. I basically had to surround each plant with rocks or large shells to protect them until the roots were well established. I left the rocks there, since the squirrels will dig if they see 3 square inches of bare dirt! </p>
<p>Great plan, lizard. I’ll be sure to go right out and buy a tree stand and night goggles. Maybe hire an armed guard while I’m at it </p>
<p>Didn’t you have chipmunks getting in your stuff in the past? Hard to tell what could be getting in your pots without actually witnessing culprit in action. </p>
<p>You have a good memory! Was also suspecting chipmunks. Or squirrels. Tome to reconsider that chipmunk swimming pool… <a href=“Jungle Ghost's Chipmunk Control Solution. Effective and Squirrel Proof.”>http://www.jungleghost.com/chipmunk_control_trap.shtml</a></p>
<p>We’ve got a semi-problem with gopher turtles at our home. The turtles don’t bother our tomatoes, but we have four big burrows in our yard where the turtles live. The turtles are protected and we can’t legally touch them without a permit from state. The turtles can live up to 60 years so we’ve got to either be good friends with them, us move, or move them after getting a permit.</p>
<p><a href=“http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles-and-amphibians/reptiles/gopher-tortoise/”>http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles-and-amphibians/reptiles/gopher-tortoise/</a></p>
<p>Those are some big turtles!! A friend is having a major problem with moles. She is beside herself! Having major trouble getting rid of them.</p>
<p>The squirrels in our neighborhood invaded my front flower basket and THREW OUT the pansy plants I had installed before I left for my trip to GA. They were scattered around in the grass. They do this every year when I start turning over soil in the pots and in the beds – we have lots of oak trees and the smell must make them think “acorns here – MUST DIG!”</p>
<p>jym, I didn’t make it to back to the compost sale because of other errands that demanded my time this weekend. The very warm and comfy weather around these parts just got that little voice in my head jabbering again about preparing my pots. The temperature is supposed to drop about at least 15 degrees in a day or two, so maybe I will continue to wait to plant…</p>
<p>Oh my, CD!! The critters threw the dirt around and left holes, but the plants are thys far intact (except for the basil, that did not take kindly to the cold snap)</p>
<p>Happy gardening everyone! I’ve been eating my favas and sugar snaps this week, and have 8 tomato seedlings in gallon pots to go ibto earthboxes. Biscayne and serrano peppers sprouted, but couldn’t get aji dulce, scotch bonnet, and Ancho 101 to sprout. I’ll probably order plants from Cross County, but shipping to California is very expensive. Anyone know where else to order aji dulce or scotch bonnet plants closer to California? </p>
<p>Check out an outfit called ‘swallowtail seeds.’ The sell online and I think they are located on the west coast. Bought seeds from them a couple of years ago.</p>
<p>Thank you! Looks like they have seeds, but not plants. It’s to late for seeds now!</p>
<p>Grrrr! ITs going below freezing tonight (it was 80 degrees the other day!!) so had to drag those pots inside. THey are HEAVY!!! ANd my gigundo pot that I just bought-- practically gave me a hernia!</p>
<p>My enthusiasm has lessened. After a few weeks of sunshine I was reminded by overcast weather that I live near the coast. My tomatoes slowed down their growth and my Serrano has barely grown. I am not sure I will attempt to plant one of my raised beds after all. Today should be sunny for a bit but only low 60s.</p>
<p>My dill plant is not doing well. Help please?? </p>