Slept in the garden to figure out what's eating my rutabaga

Hi all! I'm new to vegetable gardening and am starting big. I thought it would be fun to chronicle my trial and error in a video blog. That way, people watching can learn from my mistakes and hopefully some gardeners who know what they're doing will leave advice in the comment section.
I'm on my third episode and went to some extreme measures on this one. Linked below... Would love to get your thoughts!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9BGf0rYiC0&feature=related

Bob

P.S. Not selling or promoting anything. Just doing this as a fun weekend project.

Bob, have to give you kudos for camping out. Personally, I don't want to know what's going on out there at night. I leave it to the owls and coyotes to take care of the voles that plague my own garden.

As to your cold weather, the broccoli and cauliflower will be okay. I don't grow lettuce, but I think it likes cold weather, too.

HB - who has never camped out in the 59 years I've been gardening.

I'd beglad to campout if there was a nice hotel or B&B. Lol. Even if stayed out there, there is no way of knowing if I'd stay awake.

quite interesting, it shows you care! :) and yes, those leafy things like lettuce like coller weather and are said to taste better in those conditions.

Honestly don't know whether to laugh or cry for you and the huge effort you are prepared to put into making a veg garden, from childhood I was always told that you get out of your garden what you put in, that was said to be work, use the best seeds you can afford, keep the garden tidy, be vigilant to disease, insects and don't put anything in /on your garden you wont want to have in your home like chemicals etc.

I always tell people to relax more and learn to enjoy your garden as you soon loose interest if gardening becomes a chore rather than a pleasure or way of relaxing /forgetting life's worries. IF it were myself who chose to sleep overnight in the garden I would genuinely have to question my sanity and ask myself what type of gardening requires this method of research, but it is also true that gardeners come in all shapes and sizes, different views, different methods as much as there are different climates, soils, problems etc, so I am not in the least against new ideas for any gardening and knowing that as time goes by there are lots of new ideas regarding how we should garden, I just cant believe there is a need for a sleepover being a priority.
When it reaches 8:30 -9:30 PM and still in the garden working, I have to admit, I just want a shower, a coffee, a seat to watch the world news and then bed knowing I am truly shattered from working in the garden all day long but happy that I've done so and thankful I have had the energy to do so.
I want to wish you many happy times in your garden and hope your example or research is not likely to become compulsory for future gardeners ha, ha, ha.
Good luck WeeNel.

guessing skunks, racoons, or deer if you are having significant damage. Had skunks eating tomatoes last year

Bob in the Garden - kudos for you for sleeping in the garden.

I'm doing something similar as far as a blog geared towards my region. I figure it's also a way to document and journal all my gardening experiences.

keep up the good work.

Thanks for all your feedback everyone! Good to hear from you. And thanks for watching the video blog... Weenel made some very valid points about not being a crazy person in the garden. So I'd like to clear up my status as a crazy person. This video blog is a fun weekend project that I came up with. During the week I'm standup comedian, actor, and script writer. I spend most of my time on stage or in front of a camera or in my office engaged in silliness... So in an effort to keep the video interesting (especially for non gardeners) I went to the extreme measure of camping out in the garden - but would not have even considered it if I didn't have the camera on me. I did hope to find out what was getting in, but also knew it would be fun to do for the video... Gardening silliness.
In reading over this post, I realize I have failed to clear up my status as a crazy person. But I hope you enjoy the videos!
Bob

Heheheh, when I watched it, Bob, I thought it was going to be comical when you mentioned something about "using chemicals is totally disgusting, so I'm using POOP" and the look on your face! *grin

But, sure wish the ending wasn't so anti-climactic. I really wanted to see what was eating your garden.

Shoe (wishing you the best)

I did too, Shoe! If I had a production crew and a budget, I'd set up cameras all over the place. ;-)

How come I cant hear it? Yes, I checked the volume on my computer.

Bob, maybe you should try a large Hav-a-hart trap next...maybe that'll expose the culprit.

Lisa, sometimes videos have a lag time to them. Maybe hit the volume control and wait a second or two, or more if you are on slow-mo/dial-up. Sometimes I have to hit my computer volume switch as well as the YOu-tube volume to get sound.

Shoe

You sure have patience!!!

Had you figured out who is eating them? It might be squirrels!!! They eat everything here!!

Belle

I know people who have set up a camera in there garden to watch wildlife in the dark of night and would be unable to film the creatures as the animals would smell the people.

You can now buy, quite cheaply a small camera that is triggered by movement, it is set to film when a movement sets it into life and stops when there is no movement, a bit like your outdoor sensory lighting we have at our homes.
If you use this type of contraption, I am sure you will be able to sit in front of another camera indoors and commentary on what is happening outside, the outdoor film comes onto TV in your home, this is also another way of getting attention to yourself Bob, from what you say, you really are hell bent on an acting career and I can see the day when all the little creatures get to know what your up to and come to sit in the garden watching whatever your up to, now that would be an Oscar performance eh, ha, ha, ha.
Keep up the good work Bob, there has to be a lesson coming in the next episode, "will Bob find the huge animal that likes carrots" or what about "The Cat burglar Caught by a whisker" in the night garden, anyone else got any titles for next episode of Bob's night garden antics, funny stuff only, Good Luck Bob, I will be thinking off you while I'm under my Warm duvet. you have made my day.
WeeNel.

Thanks Shoe Ill mess with it later or try the ipad. Hey, I have High speed internet I live out in the sticks but not that far. lol
Bob its getting cold there are you still going to be sleeping outside? Im Flying in to Burbank tomorrow. Glad I checked the weather report its supposed to be really cold, have to repack.

Horseshoe, have-a-heart traps are a good idea. I looked at them at the garden store the other day. I may have to do that if I can't come up with a good deterrent.

Bellieg, I'm almost sure it's ground squirrels. We have them everywhere. I don't think the rabbits can get in so it's got to be those little critters. I've had people tell me to get an electric fence. I don't want to be shocking squirrels and bunnies though.

Weenel, motion sensor cameras are a good idea. That might be fun to do at some point... I don't think anyone should be "hell bent" on an acting career. I sort of fell into an acting career as an extension of being a standup comic and it's just what I do now. The garden blog is different for me, in that I'm hosting something that's supposed to be informative rather than just doing a comedy bit. It's a fun weekend project right now but I'm thinking about ways to restructure it so is more of an actual gardening show rather than just a video blog. I'm only 3 episodes in, so I'll do a few more and then look at maybe evolving it. ;-)

1lisac - That was just a one night deal. I know you haven't seen it, but I set up a tent in the garden and spent a very sleepless cold night trying to catch something on camera. My biggest problem was that I didn't have powerful enough lights to be able to see anything... It took the entire day before I warmed up from sleeping out there... Was it worth it? Probably not. ;-)

You can get cats, & if the squirrel ever comes out of the ground, which they do when they can't find any roots underground, the cat will get it. I have planted everything in raised beds with black plastic underneath to deter this problem of roots being eaten by voles. last evening my cat caught a vole. I also feed my cats in the garden to get them coming to my garden.

Cats would be a great idea if they weren't such a terrible allergen for me. That's smart that you feed them in the garden so they stick around.

I camp out in my garden,yard quite often. Live in National Forest. Am always making campfires and cooking out. It can be fun camping out in cold weather if you are prepared.
I only garden in large containers anymore. When we did have a large garden. We used electric fences to keep deer out. I can't imagine it keeping small animals out. Have used small animal live traps for them. Word of warning,you will also catch angry cats.
Vickie

Hi Bob I am sorry if you have taken my comments as a slight on you for the way you want to fix a problem in your garden, please believe me that was never even in my mind, and if I can say most sincerely, please dont allow anyone to put you off what you want to do, us gardeners all have our own ways of doing what is best for us and try pass these hints and tips on to others by way of helping, but it dont for a moment mean we are doing things the right way and anyone who dont do it that way is wrong. Please keep doing your own thing and keep up entertaining us by sharing it with all who are in need of a whole new meaning to night gardening ha, ha, ha.
Best regards, WeeNel.

WeeNel, noooo! I didn't feel slighted at all. I just wanted to explain where the idea of sleeping in the garden came from so people wouldn't think I was crazy. Pitching a tent in the garden is a ridiculous thing to do, but makes for an entertaining video blog ;-)... The whole idea of the blog is to get advice from experienced gardeners, and to hear what I might be doing wrong. That way, other newbee gardeners who watch the videos can learn along with me. Hints and tips from you are the whole purpose of the show - I'll never feel slighted by receiving some advice. ;-)

I don't pitch a tent but camp out in my garden all the time and I don't think I'm at all crazy for doing it. Maybe you ought to try it sometime!!
Vickie

Sounds like you've got a great spot to sleep outside Vickie!

Thank you Bob, Yes I do.

Your Video's are Hysterical Bob, if you still wanted to Plant something I would suggest a ton of Garlic, get some bulb's Locally, Organic, seperate the Clove's root side down and poke holes in the garden 4 inches deep 6 inches apart, water and Mulch, I'm doing the same right now...

Thanks MrPappyG! Glad you like the vids... I just planted a bunch more as you'll see in my next video. I wish I had done garlic. That's a great idea. Maybe I'll find some room and plant a few garlic next week. Thanks for the tip!