Hey everyone! I'm new here and just looking for a little advice and maybe a chance to vent about our garden struggles this season. My girlfriend and I have always enjoyed gardening, but since moving in together, we've been trying to really get into it with plans to homestead long-term. We live in a cute neighborhood where lots of people have amazing gardens, including my girlfriend's brother who's thriving this year. Unfortunately, it feels like we're facing every challenge imaginable.
We're dealing with more pests than I've ever seen before—bugs, squirrels, and even rabbits are ruining our crops. I've tried natural pest control methods and have some diatomaceous earth ready to go now that the rain has finally eased up, but I'm honestly not sure it'll help. Our squash blossoms are being eaten by ants, earwigs are destroying our beans, and it feels like everything is just piling up against us. Even the rabbits have taken out our brassica seedlings!
On top of that, we've had tons of rain leading to diseases like leaf rust on our beans. We've worked hard to improve with natural fertilizers, but this season's just been rough. I keep seeing my neighbors' gorgeous gardens while we seem to lose the battle year after year. We're aiming to buy our own place soon, and I want to learn from this experience. Does anyone have tips or even just some encouragement to keep us going? I'm feeling pretty disheartened right now!
2 Answers
It sounds really tough! Don’t lose hope—every gardener has seasons like this. Have you tried asking your neighbors for advice? They might have local tips that can help. Also, sprinkling cayenne pepper could keep those pesky squirrels away, and diatomaceous earth can definitely help with those bugs if it’s dry enough to spread. Hang in there!
You’re definitely not alone! I deal with pests too, and growing in buckets on a deck has helped me avoid the slugs in my area. Try starting sunflowers in pots first; they can get pretty big before you need to plant them out, and that might help keep them safe from pests. Just remember, some seasons are harder than others. Learn what works for you this year and don’t hesitate to experiment!
Thanks for the tips! I was worried about sunflowers not transplanting well, but starting them in pots sounds like a solid plan. This heat and pest combo is tricky, but I’ll keep trying!