Just a little update on the various vermin crawling in our garden. I had a record find of 11 tobacco hornworms in a twelve hour period. I had trimmed the tomato plants several days ago and was more clearly able to see some completely denuded branches. I knew there had to be some big hornworms in there somewhere. As my favorite teacher of all time Doctor Jerry Langham (my college botany professor) knows, I can really spot a tobacco hornworm. It didn’t take me long. I found 6 in the evening and 5 the next morning. They were all 3 inches or bigger. I tossed them over the deer fencing so the birds could get them. Cycle of life, man, cycle of life.
As for the mole problem. Although I appreciate the moles providing me with a lovely underground canal system for watering straight to the roots, I don’t appreciate them eating my earthworms (their favorite food) and destroying my plant roots in the process. A client suggested MoleMax, a non-toxic, organic caster bean product, which is safe for dogs and humans, but moles, gophers, voles and skunks hate the smell. Well, the morning after I sprinkled and watered in the MoleMax I went to the garden. It looked like the ground was boiling there were so many mole trailings. I guess as the moles try to leave the area their activity increases. Yikes! After a week the activity has drastically decreased, but has not stopped completely. I might have to trap the last ones if they don’t leave of their own accord. Gabby can’t wait to get out to the garden every morning. She goes straight for the new mole activity and listens with her big Chihuahua ears, then starts digging. Then she stops, listens again, digs, listens, goes to the other end of the trailings, listens, then digs. It is hysterical. Makes my morning!
Tomatoes, and herbs are still going strong. Have prepared one of the beds for a fall planting of Snap Peas and Butternut Squash. Happy Gardening!
If anyone has any advise on moles, please leave a comment. Or just tell me about your garden. 