PNW: Winter updates

Welcome to the forum Weonlycut! I had given up on the onions and forgotten that they were even there, so it was a surprise that they showed some little green tops. I think it was just to taunt me!

Plantoid that sounds good about using the tops of the onions. Can I use them after they bolt or should I do that before? That is a good suggestion about pounding something stout at the edges. I did pound some shorter pieces of things like broken handles, pieces of pipes, etc. into the edges of the beds but I realized later that they needed to be much longer and some of them stronger. My hose would go over the handle/pipe and sometimes even push it over. So now that I have a little more time to think and act on it, I can decide what to use.

Nonna that sounds like a good idea of a pipe rotating on the rebar, less chance of the hose sticking. I like cheap, its the best way to go! When I made my beds I think I should have spaced them out more to give me a bit wider isles. I spaced them so that I could kneel in between the beds but didn't allow for plants to hang over the beds at all. I would love to get the automatic watering system shown in the sfg store. I can understand how they can work in one bed but setting up for nine beds confused me. I will have to do more reading.

EggplantWizard wrote:We're expecting a high of 82 today with some small showers. lol I will be finishing up building my box and combining my mix today.

You can also make a "beer trap" by entrenching a small bowl or water jugs/bottles in your garden and partially filling the bowl up with beer. I hear slugs are attracted to the yeast. They'll climb into your trap and get themselves too hammered to climb out and essentially drown.

That is too funny how we have such different weather! We have at least 6" of snow and you have a high of 82.

Years ago I made a beer trap with beer in a bowl. I didn't have a fence around my garden yet and my dog went and started drinking the beer before I stopped him.

camprn wrote:
There was a previous thread where there was a bit of discussion about electrifying the tape with a battery and that should work.

Sounds like a good idea to me!

we did try beer in the fall and it didnt work but my hubby said he read some where that we need to use a beer that has a higher sugar count....since we are not beer drinkers we have no idea what kind to use....any suggestions?

hugs
rose

someone, perhaps on this forum, suggested adding some yeast to the beer to raise its alcohol content. Don't remember how much, or which brand of beer was most successful. Nonna

From what I've heard, the cheapest beer is the most effective

Kay

Well goodness look at all this activity! I go and get lost in the woods with my family whilst hunting for the perfect Christmas tree and my little PNW forum comes alive while I'm gone.

This past summer I used Bonide Bug & Slug Killer. Says it kills earwigs, cutworms, sowbugs, pillbugs, crickets, slugs, and snails. It's pelletized and you just sprinkle it the plants in your garden - it's for organic gardening and is effective for up to 4 weeks. I can attest to it working on the cutworms and slugs.

Was it Boffer that once posted a picture of a slug arching itself across a piece of copper tape?

Gwen did you get a good tree? I love the smell of a fresh tree!

I have to add that Bonide to my list for the Spring! That's amazing it takes care of so many pests!

Im having garden withdrawals

:fall: rose

You poor thing!

It's not the same looking at pictures but it helps a little I think!

So far the Fall/Winter stuff I planted are still alive despite the incredible munching slugs. Chard, kale, spinach, leeks, celery and lettuce are all ok. The garlic has sprouted and it seems a little early. I picked these a few days ago and they were good.

There are a few more beets but I don't think they will get any bigger until the weather warms up.

Triciasgarden wrote:

southern gardener wrote:Family Garden, we have had fairly good success with Sluggo for snails/slugs and Sluggo plus for slugs/snails/earwigs/sowbugs. It's organic too! Might want to give it a try. We have also had really good luck with Deadline OUTSIDE of the boxes. It attracts the slugs/snails and the are dead in their tracks! good luck!

I didn't know that Sluggo Plus could take care of earwigs and sowbugs! I could have used that during the Summer when I was overrun with earwigs! Thank you for this info. I will be proactive in the Spring with the Sluggo.

I planted onion bulbs in the Spring of 2012. Between cats and my garden hose, the tops got knocked over and I didn't get all of them pulled. While shredding leaves with my lawn mower yesterday, I noticed the onions were putting out fresh green tops. So what do I do with them? We have several inches of snow and expect 1-4 more inches before it stops. Will they be dead when the snow melts? If so, should I just leave them? Can the bulbs just keep growing, stopping, and growing again and still be good if I do manage to grow them to a reasonable size? What will they taste like, total yuck?

Sorry Tricia...I just saw your post. The sluggo PLUS works on slugs/snails/earwigs/sowbugs, but the "regular" sluggo only works on snails/slugs. Just want to be sure I clarify Have a good one!

Llama Momma, I love your Christmas avatar. Is that one of your llamas?

Thanks a bunch, he's a really good boy, our best PR animal. Rick and I love him so much. I wrote a little about him in the christmas avatar thread, at the bottom of the page.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t14159-monthly-avatar-theme-december-christmas#144493

southern gardener wrote:
Sorry Tricia...I just saw your post. The sluggo PLUS works on slugs/snails/earwigs/sowbugs, but the "regular" sluggo only works on snails/slugs. Just want to be sure I clarify Have a good one!

Don't even worry about it, you can't see every post! I appreciate the information, thank you!

We're still enjoying carrots, radishes, spinach and lettuce. Cold frame got down to the mid 20s when the low was 10, but everything still survived. Have a row cover, in addition to the window.

cyclonegardener wrote:We're still enjoying carrots, radishes, spinach and lettuce. Cold frame got down to the mid 20s when the low was 10, but everything still survived. Have a row cover, in addition to the window.

Wow that is wonderful you can still grow so much! Nothing froze? How long was the temp down that low? This helps me understand how long I can extend the growing season and I realize how much more I could be growing and not give up so soon!

llama momma wrote:Thanks a bunch, he's a really good boy, our best PR animal. Rick and I love him so much. I wrote a little about him in the christmas avatar thread, at the bottom of the page.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t14159-monthly-avatar-theme-december-christmas#144493

He is one amazing Llama visiting nursing homes. I sure can see why he is so popular being so well mannered, friendly and of course beautiful! You take such good care of him!

Triciasgarden wrote:

cyclonegardener wrote:We're still enjoying carrots, radishes, spinach and lettuce. Cold frame got down to the mid 20s when the low was 10, but everything still survived. Have a row cover, in addition to the window.

Wow that is wonderful you can still grow so much! Nothing froze? How long was the temp down that low? This helps me understand how long I can extend the growing season and I realize how much more I could be growing and not give up so soon!

Nothing was destroyed. It probably was below 15 degrees outside for a couple of hours at least. The cold frame low was 24 degrees and below 30 for a couple of hours. I planted my radishes October 15. A majority didn't make it, but a few did. If I wanted to I could eat lettuce into January, but won't because I'm greedy and ate most by now. I also planted some lettuce the first part of October and I will cover it and watch it grow next March and eat it then. I don't have any protection from the side of the house on one and the only heat for my cold frames is the sun during the day and the soil at night. If you really like lettuce and carrots, you want to grow it for fall/winter harvest. Carrots are SWEET and out of this world.

I didn't know lettuce, carrots and some radishes could withstand still such cold temps. I learn so much from other people on this forum, so thank you for sharing your experiences! I will have to get a cold frame going at some point. I would love to have lettuce and carrots from my garden this time of year. Did you get spinach planted?

Triciasgarden wrote:I didn't know lettuce, carrots and some radishes could withstand still such cold temps. I learn so much from other people on this forum, so thank you for sharing your experiences! I will have to get a cold frame going at some point. I would love to have lettuce and carrots from my garden this time of year. Did you get spinach planted?

Yes, I almost forgot. I planted spinach in with the lettuce.
You need to try it. I got my windows for free (they are insulated glass) and just built a raised bed around them. I get the windows (called 'lights') out in late September, or when the threat of the first frost is and slip them into the hinges and I am in business. You can use them in the spring, too and I take them off in early May. It took me two years to get used to what works and what doesn't. But, it's the best thing I ever did.

I have a used shower glass door (with the frame) I have been wanting to use. I am not sure of the exact dimensions of the shower door. Do you think that would keep the heat in well enough? My beds are 4' x 6' x 8" because that is the length of the wood I got for super cheap. Do you think it would be ok for the shower door to hang over a bit if the shower door is a bit bigger than the box? Should the frame of the shower fit snug around the wood frame of the box or is a little bit of gap between the glass/frame and the wood of the bed ok? I have been wanting to investigate to see if the shower door would be ok so this will be a big help! Hope I am not asking too many questions.

Triciasgarden wrote:I have a used shower glass door (with the frame) I have been wanting to use. I am not sure of the exact dimensions of the shower door. Do you think that would keep the heat in well enough? My beds are 4' x 6' x 8" because that is the length of the wood I got for super cheap. Do you think it would be ok for the shower door to hang over a bit if the shower door is a bit bigger than the box? Should the frame of the shower fit snug around the wood frame of the box or is a little bit of gap between the glass/frame and the wood of the bed ok? I have been wanting to investigate to see if the shower door would be ok so this will be a big help! Hope I am not asking too many questions.

No problem Tricia. I don't think there would be too much problem if the door to hand over a bit, but I don't think it's a good idea to have a gap between the glass/frame and the wood.

Thank you, that seems right!

Just a lil more info about covers for winter gardening.....some company makes a 4'x4' square plastic winter cover.....I saw 4 of them in BIG LOTS a discount store......for $20 and when I went back to buy one....they were all sold out... I could have used one for more delicate plants here in Southern Calif.....Tabletopper