Advice for a hopeless gardener

[jennyjj01]

Interesting topic is rodent control. Our terrier ‘told’ us yesterday afternoon that we had rats under the Summerhouse. I’ve slipped on regular bait checks during Winter to be honest ( being in hospital didn’t help). So I baited up last night,and early this morning sat quietly with my favourite air rifle. In twenty minutes I shot three of them - great! I like a body count,and there will be a few more,as the bait had been devoured.

Do those that die from poison slink off and rot and stink to high heaven?
The ones you shoot with your air rifle, do you have to get a head shot for a clean kill? Are you a really good shot, with telescopic sites etc. Only time I fired an air rifle was at the fair, where I was rubbish. I don't plan to get a gun, but I like the idea of being useful with one. I do have a crossbow pistol, but I understand that's not a legal weapon for 'pest control or hunting'. I'm not sure why, because it seems powerful enough to kill effectively.
Anyhow..... Off to check the trap.

[jansman]

Interesting topic is rodent control. Our terrier ‘told’ us yesterday afternoon that we had rats under the Summerhouse. I’ve slipped on regular bait checks during Winter to be honest ( being in hospital didn’t help). So I baited up last night,and early this morning sat quietly with my favourite air rifle. In twenty minutes I shot three of them - great! I like a body count,and there will be a few more,as the bait had been devoured.

Do those that die from poison slink off and rot and stink to high heaven?
The ones you shoot with your air rifle, do you have to get a head shot for a clean kill? Are you a really good shot, with telescopic sites etc. Only time I fired an air rifle was at the fair, where I was rubbish. I don't plan to get a gun, but I like the idea of being useful with one. I do have a crossbow pistol, but I understand that's not a legal weapon for 'pest control or hunting'. I'm not sure why, because it seems powerful enough to kill effectively.
Anyhow..... Off to check the trap.

Yes,poisoned rats die and rot elsewhere. As for shooting; I am a good shot. Rat or no rat,I don’t like a suffering beast. You are right about crossbow too. Illegal to hunt with.

[jennyjj01]

Yes,poisoned rats die and rot elsewhere. As for shooting; I am a good shot. Rat or no rat,I don’t like a suffering beast. You are right about crossbow too. Illegal to hunt with.

The Pistol Crossbow is a bit of a whimsical toy, with a view to taking out rabbits or woodpigeon long after trivial laws are moot. I'm not going down the weapons route here except to say It was inexpensive and makes a hearty thwack on the cardboard target. I think even a body shot on a rat would be quickly fatal and personally, I'd rather take a 22 pellet to my body than one of those bolts. Same sort of trigger discipline, aim and squeeze. Pretty accurate at 10 feet.

Nothing in the rat trap today. Checking once daily and whacking and rattling the periphery of the heap. I do hope nothing else sticks a nose or paw or beak into the makeshift trap tunnel.

A bit more weeding today. The carrots are starting to leaf up amidst the weeds. I'm pretty much ONLY tackling perennial weeds. Minimal time input, to get veg on the table.

Tomatoes are growing VERY slowly.

A few baby green strawberries have appeared.

Some extra peas and carrots started in buckets of compost.

[jansman]

Yes,poisoned rats die and rot elsewhere. As for shooting; I am a good shot. Rat or no rat,I don’t like a suffering beast. You are right about crossbow too. Illegal to hunt with.

The Pistol Crossbow is a bit of a whimsical toy, with a view to taking out rabbits or woodpigeon long after trivial laws are moot. I'm not going down the weapons route here except to say It was inexpensive and makes a hearty thwack on the cardboard target. I think even a body shot on a rat would be quickly fatal and personally, I'd rather take a 22 pellet to my body than one of those bolts. Same sort of trigger discipline, aim and squeeze. Pretty accurate at 10 feet.

Nothing in the rat trap today. Checking once daily and whacking and rattling the periphery of the heap. I do hope nothing else sticks a nose or paw or beak into the makeshift trap tunnel.

A bit more weeding today. The carrots are starting to leaf up amidst the weeds. I'm pretty much ONLY tackling perennial weeds. Minimal time input, to get veg on the table.

Tomatoes are growing VERY slowly.

A few baby green strawberries have appeared.

Some extra peas and carrots started in buckets of compost.

Your toy crossbow won’t kill rabbits and the like. A hearty thwack on cardboard ain’t good enough. Sorry but working at a mere ten foot is not good enough either. I shot rats at about 25’. Had to as they have eyes ,noses and ears. I have fishing rods at more than 10’,and they are still short. A good crossbow 150lb + will put a bolt through a door! That’s the power needed from a bow.Minimum. I still prefer guns though.

[jennyjj01]

Thanks,
The bow is 80lb (nominal)
Let's hope I never have to find out what it could do.

[jansman]

Thanks,
The bow is 80lb (nominal)
Let's hope I never have to find out what it could do.

I’ve just been and checked the bait points. Boy they’ve had a dinner! More going down until it stops,and more bait will be picked up on Tuesday at the local farm supplier.
I am pleased to say though that mice are not an issue. Our two Tomcats are knocking seven bells out of ‘em!

[jennyjj01]

Question du jour: Rhubarb:----

I've just had a look at my wild untended rhubarb and there was more 'red stuff' than I expected. So I tore a branch off.

But it's.... Well, it's scrawny, leggy, lanky.
The branch I tore off was about 400mm long but only 10mm wide at the bottom. I thought it should be wider, and more closely knit, like celery. Picture below with a 10p

Is this normal? Were my expectations wrong? Should I be harvesting some for a pie?
Is there anything I should have done, or should do now?

Meanwhile..... Just had an hour ripping the marestail. Another bucketful of the darned stuff. Plus bindweed which has been getting a free pass and I THINK.... a weed that might be a sycamore sapling.

No sign of the Rat Family. Whacked and stirred the heap again.

[jansman]

Question du jour: Rhubarb:----

I've just had a look at my wild untended rhubarb and there was more 'red stuff' than I expected. So I tore a branch off.

But it's.... Well, it's scrawny, leggy, lanky.
The branch I tore off was about 400mm long but only 10mm wide at the bottom. I thought it should be wider, and more closely knit, like celery. Picture below with a 10p

Is this normal? Were my expectations wrong? Should I be harvesting some for a pie?
Is there anything I should have done, or should do now?
IMG_20230530_192241.jpg

Meanwhile..... Just had an hour ripping the marestail. Another bucketful of the darned stuff. Plus bindweed which has been getting a free pass and I THINK.... a weed that might be a sycamore sapling.

No sign of the Rat Family. Whacked and stirred the heap again.

If your rhubarb is in the shade - heavy shade - it’ll be ‘skinny’. If you have enough,and it’s established,then crop some. I never take more than 50% from an established plant.

[jennyjj01]

Question du jour: Rhubarb:----

I've just had a look at my wild untended rhubarb and there was more 'red stuff' than I expected. So I tore a branch off.

If your rhubarb is in the shade - heavy shade - it’ll be ‘skinny’. If you have enough,and it’s established,then crop some. I never take more than 50% from an established plant.

Thanks. It's in full sun. But I think it's grown too big and is crowding itself. Will crop some and consider splitting it.

[jennyjj01]

Feeling a bit irritated and impatient :

After listening to everyone's 'Don't Sow Yet' advice, I now see lots of facebook and forum posts of people harvesting their veggies. Dang it. I want carrots and peas and I want them for tonights tea!

So. Who's going to admit to stitching me up and having a bountiful crop while lauging at my 4 inch tall tomato plants.