i've been trying to get the edamame soybeans
past sprout stage. the first batch were all
eaten by chipmunks as they sprouted.

i replanted many more and have been trying to
patrol once in a while and keep an eye on that
garden but it only takes a moment when you aren't
looking for the little buggers to get in there
and feast away.

so today i put some black oil sunflower seeds
out around the edges and that seems to have
helped keep the chipmunks from getting the few
sprouts that have started poking up.

tomorrow is forecast for rains and such, but
i will still go out once in a while and put down
some fresh seeds.

for the price of a few handfulls of sunflower
seeds i can accept the tradeoff ($11.00 for
40lbs).

once the soybeans are up and growing i should
not have to worry about the chipmunks bothering
them again until around when they start to flower,
fill the pods and get ready for harvest or the
later dry bean stage.

i need to refill my seed supply of these so i'm
trying not to be too anxious.

as a last resort there is also trapping and/or
hunting, but i'm hoping to stop spending time on
those things so i can get other garden tasks done.

the rest of the beans have been mostly left alone
other than some of the green bean seedlings and a
few of the others. considering how many i planted
overall i'm pretty happy with how the bean season
is going. i'll poke a few of the shorter season
beans in any empty spots if i don't see them
sprouting the next few days.


songbird