My artichokes have been looking particularly fantastic this year, and were fine yesterday. Today, I went to give someone a tour of the garden and discovered that two of my plants had fallen over -- one looked like it had been uprooted, the other looks like it just wilted.
Any ideas? I am baffled!
That has happened to me. One time, it was my cat sitting next to the plant and nudged it over. I think they get too top heavy sometimes and it doesn't take much for them to fall over. Maybe you could give some support to the ones still standing. As for the digging, that could be a skunk. We've been having problems with skunks digging up our yard and one of my hydrangeas. Apparently, they are looking for worms and grubs to eat. It was suggested to use Castor oil sprayed down on the ground to deter them. It is a scent thing. I haven't tried that yet. We had some luck with using some sort of critter ridder granular stuff you sprinkle down. Again a scent they don't like.
Thanks Jen- I will get some castor oil today... my husband said he saw a critter in the yard the night before, so maybe it was digging...
I had a large Artichoke fall over because a gopher chewed through the six inch trunk just below the ground. If the end of the trunk was tapered, it should look like it was chewed. The root was eaten on down. It happened fast, plant was beautiful and just fell over without any sign of sickness or weakness beforehand. I watch closely for gophers now.
Ernie
Happygirl
are those potato bins in front? If so do you mind if I ask you some questions about them? I don't mean to go off topic but just wanted to find out, as I'm about to try growing some in grow bags, but if you just start with them on top of the ground and then just keep adding filler as they grow?
Thanks
Jan
Hi Jan, Sorry it has taken me so long to respond... I get so busy in the summer I forget to get into Dave's unless I've got a problem. Yes, those are potatoes. I have four varieties: All Blue, Russet, Pontiac Red and Island Sunshine. I have now harvested the All Blue and Reds (yum!).
What questions do you have?
-Patty
(and I promise to check in!)
Patty
not a problem, hay you have to take care of a garden so it will bless you with its bounty...LOL
Your potato plants look like they are doing wonderful. I had though about using some old fencing and some old burlap to line it with to hold some of the soil in and plant my potatoes. So it is nice to see someone else have success with something I would like to try.
Jan
I've decided that next year I'm not going to use it... my potatoes don't produce any fruit above the original soil level, so adding more soil, etc. doesn't seem to do any good at all. As nearly as I can tell, all it does is hold the plant upright.
I've been harvesting -- the island sunshine were a waste of time -- I think I got 5 ounces from a whole plant! Phoey!
Pontiacs always do well... plus they are delicious!
