Pea Pod Wars

14 June 02007 (2170 days ago)2,218 views2 minutes of your time
home & garden
opinions & venting

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Note the date: This post was originally published in 2007 and is kept here largely for archival purposes. Anything older than three years may contain ideas and opinions for which such a gap of time has likely reshaped, altered, softened, re-jigged, or otherwise changed those ideas and opinions to a state incongruent with my current existence.

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It’s war.

Of the two rows of peas I planted this spring, both have come up nicely — only to be all but obliterated by an unknown foe. Currently, there are roughly a half dozen plants that are still healthy. But, alas, something has chewed, chomped, and discarded most of the others.

What we know:

- The victims are largely, as in ninety-five percent, pea plants. Not much of the other plants have been affected, though there is wavering evidence that something has been similarly interested in both the nearby beans, lettuce, and radishes.

- Some of the peas have had their leaves lightly chomped, some have been sliced off at the base, some are gone completely leaving a little green stub sticking out of the soil and not much else.

- There is a history of mice in the yard. I have seen birds in the garden. There are lots of young rabbits in the neighborhood who might be able to squeeze through the fence. And, I have found a variety of grubs and cutworms in the soil when I was weeding (and also investigating.)

What we don’t know:

- If the replanting I’ve already begun will be successful, or if those plants will be pillaged similarly.

- Where the missing plants are going. The toppled shoots are clearly the work of worms, but where are those that were cut and hauled away?

- If the (pet safe) powder I applied to some of the victims (and potential victims) will make much of a difference.

However the battle turns out, it seems as if it might be a slim year for fresh garden peas. I’m a few frustrations short of buying a net to drape over the whole garden, but even that I’m not convinced would be of much help.

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Your Turn...

9 Comments »

  • Tiffany said:

    Sorry, I’ll tell Chris to stop doing that.

    # 14 June 2007 at 12:18 pm
  • 8r4d (author) said:

    Yes, Chris would definitely be a mess to clean out of a net or a trap. I’ll drive him out to the country and set him free.

    # 14 June 2007 at 1:30 pm
  • Dad S said:

    Cut worms are infamous pea chompers

    # 14 June 2007 at 8:47 pm
  • Father-in-law said:

    My peas are just about blooming and we will be eating them shortly. Are you still vying for the “Garden Cup”??? Just remember it takes years of experience to get it right…just ask Grandma Woods…the expert!!

    And…just in case you need some netting for the second crop, mine is now available!

    Also…you best be careful because Ryan is now back in the competition even though he got a late start!!

    # 14 June 2007 at 10:12 pm
  • Ryan said:

    After some technical difficuilties and alot of snow, I am in the running now. After all the rain over the last week all I need is some sun and it won’t take long to catch up. Based on size of the garden I have second place all wrapped up haha

    # 15 June 2007 at 7:11 am
  • 8r4d (author) said:

    Yeah, but anybody can grow a whole field of chives.

    # 15 June 2007 at 7:15 am
  • Ryan said:

    No I have a whole field of Peas so if you need some you can come here and pick some. But I did get rid of the chives and plant a garden

    # 15 June 2007 at 7:21 am
  • 8r4d (author) said:

    Maybe you’ll be lucky like me and have a whole field full of cutworms in a few weeks.

    # 15 June 2007 at 10:44 am
  • 8r4d (author) said:

    Or I could send Chris down there.

    # 15 June 2007 at 10:44 am


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