San Diego Tomatoes in Lath Houses - Page 3

LDx4 · February 25, 2013

Tonio,

We're just across the street from Mission Trails Regional Park, that large open space preserve. We're next to the wilderness! Coyotes regularly cruise up and down our street, no one has outdoor cats and there aren't any feral cats around here - all eaten by the coyotes or owls. The coons have already started their spring visits. Yesterday I found a row of kale and lettuce shredded by them and they like to break off the snap pea vines and rip them out. If we were living out in a rural area I would expect there to be wildlife, but we're in a subdivision in the city limits! Luckily, it's been a few years since we've had the rats in our attic, but they always find a new way in sooner or later.

Lyn

Rockporter · February 25, 2013

The area of San Diego that you are in and where I grew up, Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon, etc is all about wilderness and living in the country but city if that makes sense. I love the east county of San Diego because of the wildlife living among us there.

Believe me, I grew up out there and I will take all those problems you talk about to get rid of the wild pigs, feral cats, dogs, and all the poisionous snakes out here. When I walk out in the garden on a daily basis I am looking for the next snake to be laying out on the patio. Scary.

In your area I think you probably see many more snakes and wildlife than I did out there in the east county. I don't honestly think I ever saw a tree rat out there.

Tonio · February 26, 2013

Lyn,
I suppose you would see coons earlier than my previous uptown area. Have much deer out there? I hike the Mission trails occasionally.
On a weird occasion some foxes have come through. I couldn't believe they were foxes just hopping along a metro street

I thought they were coyotes, but they were orange/brown unlike coyote's grayish fur color.

I've moved to southbay a few years ago, and do not see much of any wild life anymore.

Good luck with your lath tom houses !!

LDx4 · February 26, 2013

Thanks Tonio!

We never see any deer around here, for some reason. We do get a couple of rattlesnakes in the yard each summer and we've got rabbits, hawks, owls, coons, other snakes, possums and the dreaded rats. No foxes though, but I'm sure they're out there. I lived in Chula Vista for about 10 years and the only wildlife I remember is some possums trying to get in the garbage cans.

Lyn

LDx4 · February 26, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockporter

The area of San Diego that you are in and where I grew up, Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon, etc is all about wilderness and living in the country but city if that makes sense. I love the east county of San Diego because of the wildlife living among us there.

Believe me, I grew up out there and I will take all those problems you talk about to get rid of the wild pigs, feral cats, dogs, and all the poisionous snakes out here. When I walk out in the garden on a daily basis I am looking for the next snake to be laying out on the patio. Scary.

In your area I think you probably see many more snakes and wildlife than I did out there in the east county. I don't honestly think I ever saw a tree rat out there.

Believe me, I grew up out there and I will take all those problems you talk about to get rid of the wild pigs, feral cats, dogs, and all the poisionous snakes out here.

Rockporter, I do believe you! I spent 9 months living in Beeville TX many years ago, out on the edge of town, and I saw the wildlife you mention first hand. Luckily, I wasn't gardening at that time! It was also my first exposure to armadillos and dead cow carcasses in the fields. We get a little heat here in the summer, but it's nothing like the heat and humidity you get down there!

Crandrew · February 26, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDx4

Tonio,

We're just across the street from Mission Trails Regional Park, that large open space preserve. We're next to the wilderness! Coyotes regularly cruise up and down our street, no one has outdoor cats and there aren't any feral cats around here - all eaten by the coyotes or owls. The coons have already started their spring visits. Yesterday I found a row of kale and lettuce shredded by them and they like to break off the snap pea vines and rip them out. If we were living out in a rural area I would expect there to be wildlife, but we're in a subdivision in the city limits! Luckily, it's been a few years since we've had the rats in our attic, but they always find a new way in sooner or later.

Lyn

Guess who just had to set a trap last week due to them, coons, ripping out my lettuce 2 times in 2 weeks for the grubs. UGH, I hope it deters them a bit. They are becoming more and more daring.
Your lath houses must help you a ton with keeping them out. I noticed when i had my row covers on they just passed on by those beds.

LDx4 · February 26, 2013

Crandrew,

Actually I had all the greens outside of the lath houses -- I figured the rats would leave everything alone -- and so far, they have. But I didn't realize that the coons would be attracted to the greens! So on Sunday I moved several tubs of lettuce and cabbage into one of the lath houses to save them. The peas are too big and tall to move (plus heavy, since they're in earthtainers) and the kale is just about destroyed.

Did you have any luck catching them in your trap? Good idea with the row covers! I had everything covered last month when we had that cold weather, so if I recover them maybe that will work.

Crandrew · February 26, 2013

Well I just put the trap out on Sunday night, so nothing yet. They seem to come around on trash night, go figure, so I will know later on this week. I really hope it helps, it sucks to have your greens ripped up just so they can have a go at the grubs in the soil. So where they actually going after the greens or something in the soil. The way it works at my house is they first go to the compost pile for the worms and then move onto the beds themselves for round 2, the damage to my crop seems to be indirect.
I will deff be using the row covers next fall and winter season, but need to figure out a way to vent them properly.

Tonio · February 27, 2013

rockporter, you grew up in east co- what a coincidence

Lyn- I don't even see possums out here.

Small world eh??

Drew, yeah the coons know when the trash day is to rummage- they are definitely smart. Sadly - they were looking for grubs in you garden= rotten rascals

Vent row covers? I don't follow? The sun and rain & air goes right through them- to a lesser degree. Wish I could vent the aphids torturing my mesclun, frisee, arugula and mizuna -under row covers.

Rockporter · February 27, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonio

rockporter, you grew up in east co- what a coincidence

Vent row covers? I don't follow? The sun and rain & air goes right through them- to a lesser degree. Wish I could vent the aphids torturing my mesclun, frisee, arugula and mizuna -under row covers.

Tonio, yes I gew up in East County, went to elementary, junior high and high school out there and graduated El Capitan High School. I definitely miss home.

Instead of using a row cover that cannot be closed up completely I purchased some White Tulle to make some row covers out of. Just need to get better organized so I can sew mine up.

http://www.tulleshop.com/108-Inch-Tu...-Bolt-s/72.htm

Crandrew · February 27, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonio

rockporter, you grew up in east co- what a coincidence

Drew, yeah the coons know when the trash day is to rummage- they are definitely smart. Sadly - they were looking for grubs in you garden= rotten rascals

Vent row covers? I don't follow? The sun and rain & air goes right through them- to a lesser degree. Wish I could vent the aphids torturing my mesclun, frisee, arugula and mizuna -under row covers.

Oops I'm a bit mixed up on the jargon, I meant my small hoop house.

Tonio · February 28, 2013

rockporter, I hear tulle is good row cover-easier to see inside. Not much in aiding on temperature, though I don't need that here.

Those prices look good for 50yards, guess + shipping? I got a good deal for remay - the light one 118"x250' for about $65. That'll last me a life time.

drew- gotcha ! don't cook the veggies

Rockporter · February 28, 2013

[QUOTE=Tonio;330685]rockporter, I hear tulle is good row cover-easier to see inside. Not much in aiding on temperature, though I don't need that here.

Those prices look good for 50yards, guess + shipping? I got a good deal for remay - the light one 118"x250' for about $65. That'll last me a life time.QUOTE]

I guess I meant to tell you about the tulle to stop the bugs like aphids and moths that leave worms from getting onto the greens or young plants in the spring when a row cover for heat isn't really needed. Tulle also works well to provide a small amount of shading in the hot summer without blocking too much sun but won't last too long out in the hot and humid south. I don't know how long it would last in California during the heat of summer, it just works well as a temporary solution.

The cost of the tulle from the link I posted is the best I can find unless you can get a great deal for tulle at JoAnn's with a coupon. I do believe the tulle from the link is higher quality for wedding dresses and veils.

Crandrew · February 28, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonio

rockporter, I hear tulle is good row cover-easier to see inside. Not much in aiding on temperature, though I don't need that here.

Those prices look good for 50yards, guess + shipping? I got a good deal for remay - the light one 118"x250' for about $65. That'll last me a life time.

drew- gotcha ! don't cook the veggies

oh yeah tonio, I had to pull it off 3 weeks ago cause I was hitting over 100 for a few hours during the day. I was picking steamed lettuce

Deborah · February 28, 2013

LDx4, I grew up in Chula Vista, off Telegraph Canyon Road. I went to Bonita Vista High.
It was beautiful then, a few houses and all canyon.

February 25, 2013	#32
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	The area of San Diego that you are in and where I grew up, Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon, etc is all about wilderness and living in the country but city if that makes sense. I love the east county of San Diego because of the wildlife living among us there. Believe me, I grew up out there and I will take all those problems you talk about to get rid of the wild pigs, feral cats, dogs, and all the poisionous snakes out here. When I walk out in the garden on a daily basis I am looking for the next snake to be laying out on the patio. Scary. In your area I think you probably see many more snakes and wildlife than I did out there in the east county. I don't honestly think I ever saw a tree rat out there. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

February 28, 2013	#43
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	[QUOTE=Tonio;330685]rockporter, I hear tulle is good row cover-easier to see inside. Not much in aiding on temperature, though I don't need that here. Those prices look good for 50yards, guess + shipping? I got a good deal for remay - the light one 118"x250' for about $65. That'll last me a life time.QUOTE] I guess I meant to tell you about the tulle to stop the bugs like aphids and moths that leave worms from getting onto the greens or young plants in the spring when a row cover for heat isn't really needed. Tulle also works well to provide a small amount of shading in the hot summer without blocking too much sun but won't last too long out in the hot and humid south. I don't know how long it would last in California during the heat of summer, it just works well as a temporary solution. The cost of the tulle from the link I posted is the best I can find unless you can get a great deal for tulle at JoAnn's with a coupon. I do believe the tulle from the link is higher quality for wedding dresses and veils. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

February 28, 2013	#45
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	LDx4, I grew up in Chula Vista, off Telegraph Canyon Road. I went to Bonita Vista High. It was beautiful then, a few houses and all canyon. Last edited by Deborah; February 28, 2013 at 06:03 PM. Reason: Typos...

February 25, 2013	#31
LDx4 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 321	Tonio, We're just across the street from Mission Trails Regional Park, that large open space preserve. We're next to the wilderness! Coyotes regularly cruise up and down our street, no one has outdoor cats and there aren't any feral cats around here - all eaten by the coyotes or owls. The coons have already started their spring visits. Yesterday I found a row of kale and lettuce shredded by them and they like to break off the snap pea vines and rip them out. If we were living out in a rural area I would expect there to be wildlife, but we're in a subdivision in the city limits! Luckily, it's been a few years since we've had the rats in our attic, but they always find a new way in sooner or later. Lyn

February 26, 2013	#33
Tonio Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 148	Lyn, I suppose you would see coons earlier than my previous uptown area. Have much deer out there? I hike the Mission trails occasionally. On a weird occasion some foxes have come through. I couldn't believe they were foxes just hopping along a metro street I thought they were coyotes, but they were orange/brown unlike coyote's grayish fur color. I've moved to southbay a few years ago, and do not see much of any wild life anymore. Good luck with your lath tom houses !!

February 26, 2013	#38
Crandrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: asdf Posts: 1,202	Well I just put the trap out on Sunday night, so nothing yet. They seem to come around on trash night, go figure, so I will know later on this week. I really hope it helps, it sucks to have your greens ripped up just so they can have a go at the grubs in the soil. So where they actually going after the greens or something in the soil. The way it works at my house is they first go to the compost pile for the worms and then move onto the beds themselves for round 2, the damage to my crop seems to be indirect. I will deff be using the row covers next fall and winter season, but need to figure out a way to vent them properly.

February 27, 2013	#39
Tonio Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 148	rockporter, you grew up in east co- what a coincidence Lyn- I don't even see possums out here. Small world eh?? Drew, yeah the coons know when the trash day is to rummage- they are definitely smart. Sadly - they were looking for grubs in you garden= rotten rascals Vent row covers? I don't follow? The sun and rain & air goes right through them- to a lesser degree. Wish I could vent the aphids torturing my mesclun, frisee, arugula and mizuna -under row covers.