Gardening 2017: Fruits, Veggies, Flowers

[Queen K]

Check yer PM Slootman.

[slootman]

Any tips on keeping slugs away from lettuce? I think last year they ate as much as I did...

[Queen K]

Grow lettuce in great big containers? I let some lettuce to seed and have it coming up all over the place. That way we spread the lettuce love abit. I rarely just have it in a row anymore.

[slootman]

Is there anything I could plant past a fence that wouldnt be eaten by animals or birds?

[Queen K]

I'm trying to imagine how you mean "past a fence" like a planting a long a fence in a backally? Or in an area that is technically the responsibility of the City of Kelowna?

[slootman]

There's a field out back, city easement or something. Coyotes and nothin from where I sit. I could plant stuff, I just don't want it to get eaten.

[Queen K]

You could probably throw in some sort of nut trees if you're not worried about shade. Long term investment, but nuts are expensive by the pound. Is it a dry area? For myself, I'd have to give it lots more thought.

[slootman]

Yeah dry for sure. I could run water to it if needed.

[Queen K]

Lady tehMa, Bman, pbear: any ideas here, I got nothing.

[w84u2]

Is there anything I could plant past a fence that wouldnt be eaten by animals or birds?

Hawthorne, Lilac, Wisteria, Holly......?

[Lady tehMa]

Trees, definitely. Are you looking for visual interest? Are you looking to get some kind of food out of it for yourself?

Trees, look into the neighbourwoods program - you can buy one tree for cheap https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/urban-trees-wildlife/neighbourwoods The next one is in March. I got an oak from them a few years ago, healthy (slow growing though) tree.

I love getting stuff the provides food - like the tayberry canes I got off QK last year.

One thing you could do is do the wildflower seed mix. You would have to water, but having a field of glorious blooms would be worth it. QK used to do something like that in a field before the field became a development. Plus, you'd make the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees happy.

[Queen K]

It was the best thing ever to do. I suspect Slootman is looking for a food source that the deer won't eat, but he has clarify that himself.

[pbear]

My raised beds are in a hot SW facing garden near a rock wall. I have discovered that I need to provide some shade for the lettuce, either by having tall plants in front or a shade cloth on a trellis. My radish crop is the first one in the early spring. After that the soil is too hot and they taste horrible.
Peas and beans do well. Tomatoes thrive. Beets and carrots, herbs, etc all grow well.
Have fun!

[slootman]

Yes, I'm looking to plant food. I already have tons of plants and flowers that keep the birds and bees busy. I have spots that will be fenced off - there's another area not fenced that I could plant more, I'm just greedy and don't want to share with wildlife.

Peas and beans sound interesting. Maybe carrots too.

Anything I should try to start indoors?

[Queen K]

I'm downtown and I share with wildlife whether I like it or not. I wake up and find my tulips have been sampled, the petunias, the pea tops.

What would like hot dry conditions, repel wildlife, or at least not attract them? You've got a tall order there Slootman.