136 Battling Gophers. Cucumber Problems.

There is one four-legged pest that ravages gardens and orchards throughout the West, the mid-West and the South: Pocket gophers. So named for the furry pouches outside its mouth that can store food, pocket gophers can destroy the bark and roots of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs from its underground tunnel systems. Today, we talk with a gopher control expert on which tactics work, and which don’t work, to control gophers. Also, why would a cucumber plant just die? We tackle that question from a gardener in Virginia. It’s all on episode 136 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!

Pictured: The Pocket Gopher

Links: Smart Pots Gopher Control Information from UCANR Gophinator gopher traps Macabee gopher traps GopherHawk gopher traps Gopher Cinch Traps Bacterial Wilt of Cucumbers via Cucumber Beetles Cucumber insects and disease UCANR Wilt-resistant cucumber varieties Row covers for vegetables New! The Garden Basics newsletter

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