Help me get started, and dealing with wildlife

[Anonymous]

I am creating a container garden. The expense of creating beds is just too much. I already have several large pots and soil. 2 years ago the animals attacked. So last year I bought fence posts and bird netting. And they tore apart the netting.

Onto this year. Just some basics - tomatoes, zucchini, basil...

1- What can is use instead of netting? Chicken wire? How tall? We have deer. Is 4' enough?

2- How do I prepare the pots to be reused? Top off with some fresh soil and fertilizer?

3 - I haven't started seeds yet, or I can just buy plants at Lowes. I want easy and convenient. What are my timelines for planting? Do I have to start indoors or can I just start right outside?

4- last year something destroyed my zucchini, maybe a vine borer. Anything I can do to prevent pests?

I really really want to love gardening but something always goes wrong. It's not fun for me searching for bug eggs or whatever.

[Anonymous]

If you want solid protection against deer then you need a 6-7 ft fence, but something is better than nothing. I use deer-repellent sprays and it’s a PITA to keep up with the schedule but I’ve had good luck. You have to avoid spraying before harvest though.
If you’re just starting out then purchase the plants. It’s much easier and the seedlings are not that expensive. Home Depot and Lowes will have plenty. MOM’s also has great vegetable starter plants. If you want even more varieties you can go to a nursery like American Plant or Homestead Gardens.
I have reused my containers for many years now. I just top off with fresh potting mix and add new fertilizer every year. I like Osmocote slow-release granules.
I gave up growing zucchini and squash because they always got destroyed by vine borers and I was not willing to use chemicals. The squashes with solid stems are supposed to resist borers better: tromoncino and cucuzzi, but they are vines and need plenty of room to grow.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, that's helpful!

Glad to know it wasn't just me with the zucchini. I had started from seed
for the first time and was so proud of them! They started out beautiful and suddenly started shriveling up. I removed eggs with tape and everything. I read everything and obsessed and then they died.

I need something idiot proof. Plant. Water. Pick. Eat.

[Anonymous]

Zucchini you have to plant mid to late July to avoid the vine borer.

I just bought a 4x8 cage off Amazon to try and prevent the darn squirrels from eating my tomatoes. Built from plastic pipe and netting (friend claims it worked last year for her, so I am trying).

[Anonymous]

Winners for me in the DC area: tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, okra, beans. I don’t grow bell peppers because the yield is not high. I grew a Sugar baby watermelon successfully one time.
I haven’t tried this but I have seen recommendations to start a late crop of zucchini in July, after the vine borer season has ended.
I always mix in flowers to attract pollinators and keep the garden pretty: zinnia, sunflowers, nasturtiums, pole beans, hyacinth beans, Mexican torch and so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Zucchini you have to plant mid to late July to avoid the vine borer.

I just bought a 4x8 cage off Amazon to try and prevent the darn squirrels from eating my tomatoes. Built from plastic pipe and netting (friend claims it worked last year for her, so I am trying).

Ooh, both good tips!

Can you link to the cage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Winners for me in the DC area: tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, okra, beans. I don’t grow bell peppers because the yield is not high. I grew a Sugar baby watermelon successfully one time.
I haven’t tried this but I have seen recommendations to start a late crop of zucchini in July, after the vine borer season has ended.
I always mix in flowers to attract pollinators and keep the garden pretty: zinnia, sunflowers, nasturtiums, pole beans, hyacinth beans, Mexican torch and so on.

Thanks! I keep flowers by my patio but the veggies towards the back of the yard. Good idea to do some flowers in the back too.