Last year I had a tomato plant that self seeded in our mulch, I assumed it was courtesy of bird droppings. It yielded about 26 2 inch tomatoes. So this year I planted two in a similar area, with the tomatoes on the vines and flowers I counted at least 36 potential tomatoes in various stages. We enjoyed two and were waiting for others to ripen. Unfortunately two weeks ago, during the night, the deers decided to dine. They ate the green tomatoes, the leaves, and most of the flowering buds, in addition to partaking of the dropping crab apples which they always adore! They have to eat too, and they might become food for someone too! The funny thing is these tomato plants were literally 2-3 feet from our house. Oh well, I hope they enjoyed them! Lol.
I had issues with deer eating my ripe tomatoes for a couple years. I even used deer netting with poles to keep them away, but they walked right through it, knocked over the poles and ripped the netting. After much research I started putting down some wire fencing / chicken wire flat on the ground in front of the area with the deer netting. It's about 3-4' width of that fencing with weed fabric under it. They don't like walking on it, so they stay out of that area now. It worked so well last year, I set up a second area for growing more stuff this year. It's a hassle, but worth it!
I read that the organic fertilizer, Milorganite, will keep deer away. It's a bit expensive, but it's easy to just throw out on the ground. It's safe for vegetable gardens.
We moved into our new house in the country last year, and it was nothing to take the dog out at night, and see 5 or 6 deer in the yard. I spread Milorganite out in the yard to fertilize it, and didn't see anymore deer for quite a while.
I guess just about any organic fertilizer would work.
Also, putting out cut up chunks of Irish Spring soap is supposed to work. Anything that smells offensive to them will keep them away.
I like the idea of the chicken wire and fabric - makes sense.
I've shelled corn until my thumb blistered. That was one of my jobs when I was a child. My parents would save a really nice collard plant and let it go to seed. Then they'd pull a paper bag over the top to gather thousands of seeds. They put them in a cloth bag and hung it on the wall in the house.
Growing up, I would help my Dad tend 2 gardens in our backyard, as well as 2 and sometimes 3 down at my Grandma's house in the country. Unfortunately, he never cared about saving seeds. He would just run up the road to Scott Seed Co. and get what he wanted. This was well before the big box stores shut down all the smaller hardware and gardening supply stores.
Last year I had a tomato plant that self seeded in our mulch, I assumed it was courtesy of bird droppings. It yielded about 26 2 inch tomatoes. So this year I planted two in a similar area, with the tomatoes on the vines and flowers I counted at least 36 potential tomatoes in various stages. We enjoyed two and were waiting for others to ripen. Unfortunately two weeks ago, during the night, the deers decided to dine. They ate the green tomatoes, the leaves, and most of the flowering buds, in addition to partaking of the dropping crab apples which they always adore! They have to eat too, and they might become food for someone too! The funny thing is these tomato plants were literally 2-3 feet from our house. Oh well, I hope they enjoyed them! Lol.
I had issues with deer eating my ripe tomatoes for a couple years. I even used deer netting with poles to keep them away, but they walked right through it, knocked over the poles and ripped the netting. After much research I started putting down some wire fencing / chicken wire flat on the ground in front of the area with the deer netting. It's about 3-4' width of that fencing with weed fabric under it. They don't like walking on it, so they stay out of that area now. It worked so well last year, I set up a second area for growing more stuff this year. It's a hassle, but worth it!
The netting at least keeps other critters out.
I read that the organic fertilizer, Milorganite, will keep deer away. It's a bit expensive, but it's easy to just throw out on the ground. It's safe for vegetable gardens.
We moved into our new house in the country last year, and it was nothing to take the dog out at night, and see 5 or 6 deer in the yard. I spread Milorganite out in the yard to fertilize it, and didn't see anymore deer for quite a while.
I guess just about any organic fertilizer would work.
Also, putting out cut up chunks of Irish Spring soap is supposed to work. Anything that smells offensive to them will keep them away.
I like the idea of the chicken wire and fabric - makes sense.
Save some seed from the volunteer plants. You know they are survivors.
I didn't pick all my peas one year, and almost the whole row came back from seed the next year. I saved a bunch of seeds from those plants.
With what's coming in our future, knowing how to save seeds is just about as important has knowing how to raise a garden.
I've shelled corn until my thumb blistered. That was one of my jobs when I was a child. My parents would save a really nice collard plant and let it go to seed. Then they'd pull a paper bag over the top to gather thousands of seeds. They put them in a cloth bag and hung it on the wall in the house.
Growing up, I would help my Dad tend 2 gardens in our backyard, as well as 2 and sometimes 3 down at my Grandma's house in the country. Unfortunately, he never cared about saving seeds. He would just run up the road to Scott Seed Co. and get what he wanted. This was well before the big box stores shut down all the smaller hardware and gardening supply stores.