Edit: Something has been destroying my seedlings past the size the snails usually go for them.
All the marigolds and some of the sunflowers in the dust bowl got stripped to sticks or straight up eaten. I traitorously wondered if the bird bros did it.
Then very early yesterday morning something got one of the pumpkin seedlings. I wondered, possum or cat? I put a protective milk crate over the spare I replanted in its place.
But then I found the moment on the camera and while I can’t see what the animal was I saw the seedling bend and dip as if something pulled it down. It could have bent under the weight of a very big snail crawling up the stem but it doesn’t look like snail damage. It was stripped too thoroughly and quickly, yanked down too fast.
Yeah good idea. The 2l bottles might be a bit small but if I gently fold the leaves upwards and in it might protect them until the next growth spurt
Edit:
The largest boi looked like a baby being x-rayed.
He has been allowed to shelter under the milk crate. The rest have been ensconced under drink bottle domes.
I see a cherry tomato blushing so I need to see about buying some bird net. That special kind that doesn’t tangle wildlife, it’s been legislated or something
dives in
Edit: Something has been destroying my seedlings past the size the snails usually go for them.
All the marigolds and some of the sunflowers in the dust bowl got stripped to sticks or straight up eaten. I traitorously wondered if the bird bros did it.
Then very early yesterday morning something got one of the pumpkin seedlings. I wondered, possum or cat? I put a protective milk crate over the spare I replanted in its place.
But then I found the moment on the camera and while I can’t see what the animal was I saw the seedling bend and dip as if something pulled it down. It could have bent under the weight of a very big snail crawling up the stem but it doesn’t look like snail damage. It was stripped too thoroughly and quickly, yanked down too fast.
Honestly I’m thinking rats.
I’ve been clearing out the shed and saw a rat in the backyard yesterday. Gawd I hope they don’t come in the house, particularly as we are sans cat now
Sounds like dem mousies all right.
I’ve got a wire basket over the lettuce seedlings because the birds’ll dig them up.
little buggers
cover seedlings with a cut down inverted plastic bottle
Yeah good idea. The 2l bottles might be a bit small but if I gently fold the leaves upwards and in it might protect them until the next growth spurt
Edit:
The largest boi looked like a baby being x-rayed.
He has been allowed to shelter under the milk crate. The rest have been ensconced under drink bottle domes.
I see a cherry tomato blushing so I need to see about buying some bird net. That special kind that doesn’t tangle wildlife, it’s been legislated or something