Backyard Garden Tips?

[Im going home Donny]

This question isn't gardening but I'm thinking that the folks looking in this thread might have an answer to my question. Sooo..it is the middle of the day and I just saw a huge fox run across our yard. It was running right towards me until I gave it a shout out, then it veered and hightailed it into the woods. Think we should be concerned that it might be rabid? Friendly says it is unusual to see one in the day like this. Hope not..it was a beautifull looking creature..size of one of those small black n white collie dogs..I think it's a collie I'm thinking of.

[Asparagus]

Does anyone know where I can get seeds or plants for heirloom tomatoes in Ottawa?

Greta's Organic Seeds. She has something like 300 varieties of tomato, among other things.

Edited May 10, 2013 by Guest

[ollie]

We were at Home Depot today and noticed some heirloom tomato plants in their garden centre. Bought 2 each of brandywine and rainbow blend.

That seed place looks awesome though... so many varieties! Is there a store front or just mail order?

Edited May 12, 2013 by Guest

[HMike]

The fox showed fear so I really don't think its rabid. I've seen lots of foxes during daylight.

[AD]

I've seen plenty of foxes in the daylight too, unless you have other reasons to suspect rabies I wouldn't worry too much about that guy. Probably just took a wrong turn somewhere on his/her travels.

[Asparagus]

Is there a store front or just mail order?

She's got a little farm that she sells her seeds from and also a greenhouse that she raises seedlings for sale in. Not quite the same variety as the seed catalogue, but large nonetheless.

[phishtaper]

http://www.richters.com/

[Im going home Donny]

You foxy folks are right. Normal to see foxes in the day according to Ontarios Ministry of natural resources.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Rabies/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_166318.html

[Davey Boy 2.0]

better buy yourself a shotgun anyway, just to be safe

[Im going home Donny]

I might need one to be gettin' me some booze this weekend! :chug:

[Northern Wish]

Despite the cold, rainy weather that has dominated the past few weeks I am seeing progress!

Thanks for the tips.

Edited June 16, 2013 by Guest

[Davey Boy 2.0]

[Im going home Donny]

Wow...a work in progress for sure! Still missing some herbs, flowers, trellises and the fence is half way done but all in all...this gardening shit is the shiznitballz!!! Something..we think is slugs are eating our beans...word on the street is that we should put out cups of beer overnight...anyone else heard of this? I'd hate to waste good beer!

[SaggyBalls]

if you're doing the beer thing use a saucer.

I would suggest that you get a couple of ducks. They lay eggs that are - by all accounts I've heard - delicious. Ducks think that slugs are delicious.

And they're adorable animal cohabitants.

Just remember: If you don't eat eggs your neighbours probably do. They just might have a few extra brews for you now and then for it.

But for now...a saucerful of beer will attract slugs and you can drink the rest of the beer for good measure. No waste at all.

[Asparagus]

Don't waste good beer, use something like PBR.

Better yet, use diatomaceous earth or copper wire. The diatomaceous earth works by cutting the soft underbelly of the slug, thereby desiccating their bodies and they don't like to cross copper because they can feel an electrical current on their skin when they touch it. Plus, you can't get drunk on diatomaceous earth or copper wire.

[Im going home Donny]

Great tips! Thanks. My father in law brought over a bag of apparrently,eco-animal friendly Slug B Gone. It's selling point I'm told is the ferric phosphate. Fingers crossed and I'm going to go rummaging through the basement for copper...neat tip science man!

[Im going home Donny]

I missed the ducks tip. Maybe one day...duck eggs are pretty good.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

We bought a bag of that one time when Del was couch surfing around town. Next thing I knew he had moved into Booche's place.

[Im going home Donny]

Funny..Del has been popping into my brain here and there latey. Hope he is doing well.

I see this copper tape at Home Depot.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Corry-s-15-ft-Slug-and-Snail-Copper-Tape-715/100662157

Might just wrapp our entire gardens border with it. Why not? I wonder if it keeps out the good bugs though..hmmm...I'll google it later...

[Asparagus]

That's actually what we did in the backyard. It's a smaller space and we have beds raised with 2x6s. We ran a thin copper wire along the length and width of the bed and it has worked very well for the passed couple of years.

Keeping the brush and shady, moist areas around the garden to a minimum also helps. I don't think slugs are apt to travel long distances so keeping things short in the area works as well.

Also, I don't thing the copper will keep anything else out as it's the salty nature of slugs' skin that causes the current and I don't think there are many (any?) other garden allies that have the same type of exterior.

[Im going home Donny]

Cool stuff. Yeah..'now' it is obvious..the two shorter ends of our garden don't have a dirt path edging them. Then to boot I put some big, nice looking rocks on those edges...big nice slug palaces I understand now and yes..these are the areas getting slugged. Good news is this all seems fixable! :content:

Here is a link with 2 recipes for 'piss off aphids spray' I found...

http://organicgardening.about.com/od/pestcontrol/a/spraysforaphids.htm

Edited June 20, 2013 by Guest