Return to the Metro NY Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
New Gardener
| | |
Posted by phenaan (My Page) on Mon, Feb 20, 06 at 18:51
| I moved into a house in Brooklyn and I have been inspired to start a garden. But I have this worry about rodents. If I plant tomatoes or other vegetables will rodents come and eat it? What about pigeons and squirrels? Will I be attracting mice?
Can anyone reccommend any resources about vegetable gardening in the city? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: New Gardener
| | |
| Your biggest problem will be squirrels. They will eat your tomatoes, dig up your bulbs, etc. You can protect any plants they like with wire cages. You most likely won't see rats or mice - we garden and compost in our back yard and the only mice we've seen took up residence in our grill while we were away for 2 weeks. No rats, ever. Pigeons shouldn't bother you unless you regularly scatter bird seed on the ground. Then you might get a growing flock of visiting pigeons. They go away again when you stop feeding. BUT, if you are going to plant veggies and herbs, you might want to have the soil tested for lead and arsenic first, or make raised beds or grow them in containers. Also, make sure you plant where you have enough sunlight for your veggies. Most Brooklyn backyards are fairly shady in the summer, due to trees and buildings blocking the sun. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and most herbs need a lot of sunlight, 6 hrs or more/day. Lettuces and greens are more forgiving. The BBG has a tremendous reference library, which you can use if you're a member. They also have a big veggie garden, part of a project for children's gardening. Highly recommended! Enjoy! Best,
Jen |
RE: New Gardener
| | |
| Hi, I also moved to a place in Brooklyn that has a garden. Well really just a concrete flower bed type of thing. Anyway, I want to plant something and I'm wondering where to go. I'm a complete novice at this. Where are you buying supplies? I'm thinking more of a flower garden as the former tenant tried a vegetable garden with no success. I don't have a car, so if there's a place accessible by subway, I would be happy. Thanks! |
RE: New Gardener
| | |
| I've had vegetable gardens all my life and have NEVER had mice or rats be a problem. The mice do however get into my garage for the birdseed, but that's a whole other story. Again, have grown tomtatoes all my life and have NEVER seen a squirrel eat a tomatoe. They do, like the mice, love the birdseed though. I've also grown blueberries, peppers, eggplants and figs and have never seen a squirrel near any of them. The squirrels *do* however eat my bulbs and they like to eat the pine cones and acorns. Oh and they like the pear and peach tree, but I don't find the fruit edible so I don't mind. Maybe it helps that I have a dog. Perhaps the smell the dog leaves with his "markings" keeps them away. When I lived in Queens, I grew tomatoes in a pot. Just remember, tomatoes need A LOT of water, especially if in a pot and A LOT of sun. Best of luck to you with your garden! |
|
|
|
|
