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sgt.colon



Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.
PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 20 2:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Ordered myself a grape vine 6 weeks ago. I got one called crimson. A seedless eating one. It finally turned up on Friday and I've got it in the ground. I've put a piece of perspex in the greenhouse and sliced a corner off, where the vine will come through.




Also, had 6 cucumbers so far off 3 plants.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45384
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 20 3:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    



all i have is onions, nasturtium pods and 4 pea pods

and some very baby stuff that might or might not have enough time to be useful

with a few weeks of sun rather than wet it might be a bumper blackberry crop, tother way with weather never goes well

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 6:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Very nice Sgt. Colon. You will have to train the vine to be somewhere in the greenhouse where it won't get in the way of the other plants. I have mine going up the back and along the point of the roof. If I keep it under control it isn't too bad, but given half a chance it gets out of control and has been known to dispute my right to enter the greenhouse door. However you train it, keep it away from the other plants.

Yesterday we had the first of the peas, some mange tout peas and a little purple sprouting broccoli from last years plant. It didn't do a lot last year, but has come on now, so I have left it. Even my autumn planted onion sets aren't ready for eating yet, but are bulbing quite well.

sgt.colon



Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 8:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks both. I'm very excited about having grapes to eat.

I was going to train it up to the roof and along the apex. MR, what do you use to attach it to your roof?

Thanks

lowri



Joined: 18 Oct 2006
Posts: 1322
Location: ceredigion
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 10:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I knew a bloke who grew grapes for wine in his greenhouse, using the same method, planting outside and training into the greenhouse.
They were red grapes. He used to go to the local slaughterhouse for a bucket of oxblood to pour on the roots! Definitely politically incorrect now, I expect!

Slim



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6533
Location: New England (In the US of A)
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 10:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Same thing as bloodmeal without the extra steps

Speaking of nitrogen sources, your cukes look like they may be a bit hungry. Common problem with growing in containers

sgt.colon



Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 10:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I did contemplate getting wine grapes to do a bit of the homemade stuff

Is blood good for the grapes then?

I have a few questions please.

1. How do you effectively deal with grey squirrels?

2. My squashes have loads of male flowers but out of 5 plants I've only seen 5 females. There are still lots to come though yet, on the trailers that are coming off, so should I get more females as the season goes on? If not what am I doing wrong?

3. Is feeding cucs, toms and squashes every three days to much?

Thanks

sgt.colon



Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 10:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

A cross over there Slim.

Slim



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6533
Location: New England (In the US of A)
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Males are the first flowers to be made. They want to cross pollinate with another plant if they can so they stagger male and female when possible, but are just fine self pollinating. Makes are also less of a resource/energy commitment than a potential fruit and seeds, so it makes sense to wait until you're a larger plant with more "solar panels" capacity to make female flowers.
If pollination is lacking, fruit will often sit stagnant or turn yellow and drop off as the plant aborts them. When in doubt, it's easy to pick male flowers and play pollinator.
If winter squash, a few fertilizer females will slow female flower development, as energy resources are being accounted for.

Frequency of feeding cannot be commented on without knowledge of what's in the feed.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45384
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

bbq , stew or pie

mangle, tangle, dangle

shoot or figure 4 deadfall for mangle, trap for tangle, a line of snares on a branch off cut set at 45 degrees to a tree trunk, about 2 m of branch from floor to trunk , loops on top about 300mm of "drop" on the string is ideal for dangle

brutal, ethical says shoot em(or gather the fallen from accidents, saluki runs etc)

fig 4 deadfall(or a fenn trap)in a suitably baited cover is quick

dangle is pretty nasty but effective, please don't you would not like it.

tangle is stressful even in a trap with food etc, for all concerned, pick up the body is different to up close and personal which trap involves.
trap is best combined with efficient execution ie headshot with the rolling pin of doom and stout gloves or a good aim and no ricochets off the wires

shoot , they never know about it if done well, perfect size game for using a 11.9flb legal pneumatic ( quick kill target is from shoulder/chest to eyes i.e. drill the front half)using a decent pneumatic, a springer or pcp will do the job very effectively, but if they are high beware backstop issues and go up a few red dots on the grid to allow for elevation ballistics, practice that as shooting them needs accuracy for a kind death)

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45384
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 12:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

ps that was squizzers not cucumbers

sorry about savage and kind at the same time

sgt.colon



Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 3:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks Slim and DPack.

Slim, that makes sense about the squashes. They are winter ones. Lots of flowers still to come, so now that you've explained it I'm sure there will be females along soon.

The feed is a homemade comfry and nettle stew. I'm diluting 90ml of stew to just over 9 litres of water.

DPack, brutality is not a problem. They show no mercy when they are attacking my plants or digging them up, so they deserve everything that is coming to them. I'd maybe eat the back legs but not overly bothered if there is nothing there to eat.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45384
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 20 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    


Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Tue Jun 30, 20 7:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

There are also break back traps; if they are in your garden that will be fine as you have to inspect/reset most. One variety available are Karnia traps, but I have heard tell of one that releases and self set, but have no details. A lure such as a bird feeder low down so you can get a downward shot with an air rifle from a high window is very effective in our experience.

If using a live trap, as Dpack says, thick gloves before dispatch as they bite and scratch.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45384
Location: yes
PostPosted: Tue Jun 30, 20 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

avoiding bycatch if trapping

a baited "deathbox" with two claw friendly tubes(heavy duty cardboard such as from a roll of carpet or big bamboo with the spacers knocked out is ideal) at least a couple of feet long and squizzer diameter

if you strap it to a branch or plank it can be attached at 45 degrees from floor to a tree trunk.
make the lower entry about 9 inches from the floor and the top next to the trunk but with a skyview to let light down the tubes

nuts, cheese, ham, etc, dried mushrooms is a good un for bait, in the most squizzery place round here ice cream could be the perfect choice
bait should be attractive and long lasting if possible as they do not like human scent

neophobes and wary of human traces so let em get used to it before expecting results
gloves (ppe and reducing trace)are good as is gloves freshly rubbed in the local environment

focussed brutality

birds etc are unlikely to go in which is fluffy

bait n shoot is tidy and kind but time-consuming unless you bait, wait and then surprise quite a few in a short time

if you do not wish to eat them comedy taxidermy is an option.

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