Format Change & The Gorilla Bunny

By: Ron Cusano           Aug. 13, 2010                             Vol. 2  Article 1016

     It was my desire to be able to post gardening articles here and also maintain an ongoing, garden centered blog, but try as I might, I just don’t have the time for both. Things like running my business and life keep getting in the way! This website I do because of my passion for gardening, and my business pays the bills. 
     So I have decided to discontinue the separate blog on Workpress, and use this space for both timely articles and frequent blog-type posts - which is what today’s post is about!
     It has been a strange and challenging garden season for me. My Spring crops did well, especially the sweet peas, sugar snaps, lettuce and romaine. Then by late Spring, the dreaded
verticillium wilt that devastated my garden last year, reared it’s ugly head.  This nasty fungus lives in the soil, and can remain their for several years. Even though I planted resistant varieties, it did sever damage to my tomatoes and cukes. I eventually found a product that was recommended by Johnny’s Selected Seeds which temporarily arrested the progression of the infection, but it needs to be reapplied every couple of weeks. I was able to harvest a crop, but it was small and the tomatoes were small.
     In Spring, I noticed a small, newly born bunny that was so cute.  He nibbled on a few things, but didn’t do too much damage. This tiny little bunny grew up and became the “Gorrilla Bunny from Hell”!  I tried two products sold by the Safer Company. One was called “Critter Ridder” and the other was called “Deer Off”! Both seemed to work when first applied, but as soon as there was rain or I watered, they became completely ineffective.   Gorrilla Bunny ate quite a few of my carrot tops, but fortunately, they survived and are thriving. Mt green beans did not fare as well. He destroyed the entire crop, He ate every single bean as soon as it started to form, plus the tops of the plants.  I replanted, and again he started eating the tops off the plants. He was also fond of my spinach and romaine. When I found the tops of my Fall brussel sprouts and cabbage were on his menu, I decided to build a makeshift fence using some old plastic netting I had in the shed. So far it seems to be keeping him at bay!
     As far as a long term solution to the bunny problem, I seem to have two choices.  One would be to dispatch him to “bunny heaven”, but I am sure the rest of his family would return in the Spring, and I think they hold a grudge.  The other choice is to put a 2’ tall “bunny fence around each raised bed, made from chicken wire, next Spring. It will take a little bit of work, but it needs to be done.
     As far as the verticillium wilt, Johnnys Selected seeds sells a product that is supposed to prevent it from attacking the plants, and it’s organic.  For some strange reason, there are 2 or 3 states where that are not allowed to sell it, and NY happens to be one of them.  It also has a shelf life of about 6-months.  I am considering having some sent to a NJ relative for me.  You add this stuff the the soil the seedlings are growing in, and them also to the garden soil when you plant.  I will be posting more about this product come Spring!
     Fall Garden:  I just set out my brocolli and my cabbage has been out for a few weeks. Today i also seeded some spinach, and reseeded some bare spots in my bran planting.  The acrrots and beets will hold in the ground until Oct. o Nov.  So many gardeners quit growing at Summers end, but the time between Labor Day and first hard frost is some of the best growing weather of the year!

Blessings,

Ron
“The Garden Guy”