Seed catalogues and other questions

[Bunny McElwee]

I tried my hand at gardening last year and had some good results with a
few of the items I put in the ground. Blueberries, Jal. Peppers, Habanero
Peppers, Figs, Meyer Lemons and Herbs. However, I had terrible problems with
my tomatoes, cucs, squash, cantelope, watermelon, and green peanuts - bug
after bug after bug to the point that I gave up the fight. I also got in a
little over my head for a starter and probably shouldn't have planted so
much for my first time. I'm not a beginner gardner, but I have a lot to
learn still. I've since moved to a new home, which means I have to start all
over again - someone else got the benefit of my blueberries and fruit
trees.The problem I have now though, is my new home has a HORRID problem
with Moles. Every neighbor has them and they have found very little in the
way of relief. I can't see putting anything in the ground, I know the moles
will tear them up. I'd like to do some more container gardening, especially
since I have a beautiful large front porch with plenty of sun and air
circulation. Can anyone recommend good plants for container growing, yield
need only be enough for two people. I like to can things as well. Should I
stick with local garden center seedlings or go the start from seed route? If
so, where is the best place to buy seeds, and where can I get catalogues
from the top seed companies for next year?

--
Bunny McElwee

'91 Mariner Blue - BlueFlash (we call her Blue for short <G>)
License Plate - IXCLR8
Jackson Racing Cold Air Induction, chrome interior accents, Racing Beat
Chrome Double Hoop Style Bar,
FM Sway Bars, Heim End Links, Koni Adjustable Shocks (lowest perch),
JR Sport Exhaust, JR Cat, Moss Headers, JVC MP3 Player, Bazooka Powered
Subwoofer with internal 4 Channel Amp, silly grin (driver and car!) and too
much more to list.

[FarmerDill]

I am not into container gardening, so I can't recommend anything, however if
its catalogs you want try http://www.qnet.com/~johnsonj/ Cyndi's Catalog of
catalogs. She lists just about every catalog under the sun, many of which you
can sign up for on line.

[Jane]

Hi Bunny,
I wonder if anyone's suggested to plant a bunch of fritillaria imperialis
between your crops to take the moles away? These really striking flowers
smell like skunks and the moles and voles run for the hills. It worked for
me.
Jane
"Bunny McElwee" > wrote in message
...
> I tried my hand at gardening last year and had some good results with
a
> few of the items I put in the ground. Blueberries, Jal. Peppers, Habanero
> Peppers, Figs, Meyer Lemons and Herbs. However, I had terrible problems
with
> my tomatoes, cucs, squash, cantelope, watermelon, and green peanuts - bug
> after bug after bug to the point that I gave up the fight. I also got in a
> little over my head for a starter and probably shouldn't have planted so
> much for my first time. I'm not a beginner gardner, but I have a lot to
> learn still. I've since moved to a new home, which means I have to start
all
> over again - someone else got the benefit of my blueberries and fruit
> trees.The problem I have now though, is my new home has a HORRID problem
> with Moles. Every neighbor has them and they have found very little in the
> way of relief. I can't see putting anything in the ground, I know the
moles
> will tear them up. I'd like to do some more container gardening,
especially
> since I have a beautiful large front porch with plenty of sun and air
> circulation. Can anyone recommend good plants for container growing, yield
> need only be enough for two people. I like to can things as well. Should I
> stick with local garden center seedlings or go the start from seed route?
If
> so, where is the best place to buy seeds, and where can I get catalogues
> from the top seed companies for next year?
>
> --
> Bunny McElwee
>
> '91 Mariner Blue - BlueFlash (we call her Blue for short <G>)
> License Plate - IXCLR8
> Jackson Racing Cold Air Induction, chrome interior accents, Racing Beat
> Chrome Double Hoop Style Bar,
> FM Sway Bars, Heim End Links, Koni Adjustable Shocks (lowest perch),
> JR Sport Exhaust, JR Cat, Moss Headers, JVC MP3 Player, Bazooka Powered
> Subwoofer with internal 4 Channel Amp, silly grin (driver and car!) and
too
> much more to list.
>
>
>

[Rozrn2@cox.net]

What about those things you stick in the ground and they make asound that
makes the moles go away? Cant' remember what they are called, but have seen
them in a few catalogs.
Roz

[Charles P. Burton]

Trapping is really the only thing that works.

--
Charles

" > wrote in message
...
> What about those things you stick in the ground and they make asound that
> makes the moles go away? Cant' remember what they are called, but have
seen
> them in a few catalogs.
> Roz
>
>

[Pat Meadows]

On Tue, 4 Feb 2003 04:43:01 -0500, "Bunny McElwee"
> wrote:

>The problem I have now though, is my new home has a HORRID problem
>with Moles. Every neighbor has them and they have found very little in the
>way of relief. I can't see putting anything in the ground, I know the moles
>will tear them up.

Our cat has done an excellent job on getting rid of moles
for us, and for our neighbors. Really excellent, some days
she's brought home three moles in one day....she's dedicated
to her work, and a happy worker too!


>I'd like to do some more container gardening, especially
>since I have a beautiful large front porch with plenty of sun and air
>circulation. Can anyone recommend good plants for container growing, yield
>need only be enough for two people.

Almost anything can be grown in a container - especially if
the container's large. These are the things I grew last
year in containers on our deck:

Swiss chard
lettuce - various types
romaine
beets
green peppers
hot peppers
collard greens
bok choy
basil
one tomato plant (that was a LARGE plant - Yellow Pear
tomatoes. We had to transplant it out of a big pot into a
huge Rubbermaid storage tub.)

I could have grown more on the deck, but we also have a
garden in the back yard.

Here's a site about container gardening: I don't know how
useful this site is, but worth a look, I suppose:

http://www.containerveggies.com/

You can find more websites on container gardening by
Googling on 'container gardening'.

>I like to can things as well. Should I
>stick with local garden center seedlings or go the start from seed route?

If this is the first time you've gardened, I'd recommend
starting with seedlings from the local garden center.

>If
>so, where is the best place to buy seeds, and where can I get catalogues
>from the top seed companies for next year?


There are a number of excellent seed houses. Here's a site
which lists many of them, and rates them too. You can
request catalogs online, in most cases.

http://gardenwatchdog.com/

Pat

-- Pat Meadows
CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY
United States: http://www.stopthehunger.com/
International: http://www.thehungersite.com/

[Cricket]

Well for the moles, I recommend planting a castor bean seed or 2 every 8
feet in your garden. Them moles will come up with somewhere else to go for
sure then as moles HATE castor beans. I'd be willing to bet if you try
that, you'll find that mole damage you experience will be reduced to an
acceptable level. Castor beans are also beautiful plants.

CAUTION: Castor beans have naturally occurring toxins and should be kept
out of the reach of children! Every part of the plant is very toxic. For
the most part, all animals (dogs, goats, etc) will be safe because they will
chose to stay away.


--
Please see our website of gardening products at
<http://www.southernexposure.com>

Peace

Cricket
"Bunny McElwee" > wrote in message
...
> I tried my hand at gardening last year and had some good results with
a
> few of the items I put in the ground. Blueberries, Jal. Peppers, Habanero
> Peppers, Figs, Meyer Lemons and Herbs. However, I had terrible problems
with
> my tomatoes, cucs, squash, cantelope, watermelon, and green peanuts - bug
> after bug after bug to the point that I gave up the fight. I also got in a
> little over my head for a starter and probably shouldn't have planted so
> much for my first time. I'm not a beginner gardner, but I have a lot to
> learn still. I've since moved to a new home, which means I have to start
all
> over again - someone else got the benefit of my blueberries and fruit
> trees.The problem I have now though, is my new home has a HORRID problem
> with Moles. Every neighbor has them and they have found very little in the
> way of relief. I can't see putting anything in the ground, I know the
moles
> will tear them up. I'd like to do some more container gardening,
especially
> since I have a beautiful large front porch with plenty of sun and air
> circulation. Can anyone recommend good plants for container growing, yield
> need only be enough for two people. I like to can things as well. Should I
> stick with local garden center seedlings or go the start from seed route?
If
> so, where is the best place to buy seeds, and where can I get catalogues
> from the top seed companies for next year?
>
> --
> Bunny McElwee
>
> '91 Mariner Blue - BlueFlash (we call her Blue for short <G>)
> License Plate - IXCLR8
> Jackson Racing Cold Air Induction, chrome interior accents, Racing Beat
> Chrome Double Hoop Style Bar,
> FM Sway Bars, Heim End Links, Koni Adjustable Shocks (lowest perch),
> JR Sport Exhaust, JR Cat, Moss Headers, JVC MP3 Player, Bazooka Powered
> Subwoofer with internal 4 Channel Amp, silly grin (driver and car!) and
too
> much more to list.
>
>
>

[Cricket]

Oh, another thing I've had success with, but not quite as much, has been
home made noise makers. Try buying some 3/8" steal rod from a hardware
store and stick them 12 inches into the ground. Take some empty 2 liter
bottles and put one upside down on each rod so as the breeze blows, you can
hear a "click click click" This has served to scare moles, but will likely
not in itself be effective as the sole line of defense where the problem is
as bad as yours.

--
Please see our website of gardening products at
<http://www.southernexposure.com>

Peace

Cricket

"Cricket" > wrote in message
news:1vO0a.3755$qp6.481@fe01...
> Well for the moles, I recommend planting a castor bean seed or 2 every 8
> feet in your garden. Them moles will come up with somewhere else to go
for
> sure then as moles HATE castor beans. I'd be willing to bet if you try
> that, you'll find that mole damage you experience will be reduced to an
> acceptable level. Castor beans are also beautiful plants.
>
> CAUTION: Castor beans have naturally occurring toxins and should be kept
> out of the reach of children! Every part of the plant is very toxic. For
> the most part, all animals (dogs, goats, etc) will be safe because they
will
> chose to stay away.
>
>
> --
> Please see our website of gardening products at
> <http://www.southernexposure.com>
>
> Peace
>
> Cricket
> "Bunny McElwee" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I tried my hand at gardening last year and had some good results
with
> a
> > few of the items I put in the ground. Blueberries, Jal. Peppers,
Habanero
> > Peppers, Figs, Meyer Lemons and Herbs. However, I had terrible problems
> with
> > my tomatoes, cucs, squash, cantelope, watermelon, and green peanuts -
bug
> > after bug after bug to the point that I gave up the fight. I also got in
a
> > little over my head for a starter and probably shouldn't have planted so
> > much for my first time. I'm not a beginner gardner, but I have a lot to
> > learn still. I've since moved to a new home, which means I have to start
> all
> > over again - someone else got the benefit of my blueberries and fruit
> > trees.The problem I have now though, is my new home has a HORRID problem
> > with Moles. Every neighbor has them and they have found very little in
the
> > way of relief. I can't see putting anything in the ground, I know the
> moles
> > will tear them up. I'd like to do some more container gardening,
> especially
> > since I have a beautiful large front porch with plenty of sun and air
> > circulation. Can anyone recommend good plants for container growing,
yield
> > need only be enough for two people. I like to can things as well. Should
I
> > stick with local garden center seedlings or go the start from seed
route?
> If
> > so, where is the best place to buy seeds, and where can I get catalogues
> > from the top seed companies for next year?
> >
> > --
> > Bunny McElwee
> >
> > '91 Mariner Blue - BlueFlash (we call her Blue for short <G>)
> > License Plate - IXCLR8
> > Jackson Racing Cold Air Induction, chrome interior accents, Racing Beat
> > Chrome Double Hoop Style Bar,
> > FM Sway Bars, Heim End Links, Koni Adjustable Shocks (lowest perch),
> > JR Sport Exhaust, JR Cat, Moss Headers, JVC MP3 Player, Bazooka Powered
> > Subwoofer with internal 4 Channel Amp, silly grin (driver and car!) and
> too
> > much more to list.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Frogleg]

>"Bunny McElwee" > wrote
>> Should I
>> stick with local garden center seedlings or go the start from seed route?
>If
>> so, where is the best place to buy seeds, and where can I get catalogues
>> from the top seed companies for next year?

There are trade-offs. If you want a lot of plants (and
other-than-common varieties), starting from seed is good and sort of
cheaper. That is, seeds are cheaper than plants, but if you really get
involved, heating mats, lights (or a greenhouse!), containers, etc.
can have you raising the legendary $50 tomato. If you want more
generic plants, a garden center can save you time and grief.