Witnessing the Resilience of Red Ripper Field Peas - Give Your Plants a Chance!
The Red Ripper field peas have made a remarkable recovery from being heavily munched by deer. On September 19th, the morning after they had been damaged, I put up some deer netting over them. Just two weeks later, the plants look much healthier and are even getting a few blooms here and there. It appears that either the deer have moved on or don't want to be around the rest of the netting.
I also put up deer netting for other crops in my garden such as collards, cabbages, broccoli plants and bush beans. The bed with kale and other broccoli do not have netting, but have been left alone due to their location near the top of the garden. This is a testament to how quickly plants can recover when given the right conditions.
In one year, I tried growing sweet potatoes outside the garden fence. They were looking great until the deer mowed them down, but eventually came back. This goes to show that if you give your plants a chance, they may surprise you!
A friend of mine was able to glean peas for Thanksgiving dinner last night which were planted all the way back in April. Despite facing setbacks like 'winter in June' and being neglected, these peas still managed to produce clusters just inches from the ground through September. While this person has no deer visiting their garden, moose are regular visitors who seem to prefer kale and cabbage.
Overall, it's incredible what plants can do when given proper care and attention. If you're considering planting something in your garden, don't forget to give it a chance - you might be pleasantly surprised at its resilience!I'm sure that the Red Ripper field peas will continue to thrive and produce a bountiful harvest. I'll be keeping an eye on them, as well as all of my other crops, to make sure they get the best care possible. With some luck and dedication, we can have a successful garden season!
How did the Red Ripper field peas recover from being munched by deer?
The Red Ripper field peas made a great recovery after having been munched hard by deer. After putting deer netting over them, they looked much better only 14 days later, with some blooms here and there.
What other plants were covered with deer netting?
The bed containing the collards, cabbages and four of the broccoli plants and the bush bean bed were all covered with deer netting. The bed with the kale and other broccoli did not have netting and were left alone.
Can sweet potatoes be grown outside the garden fence?
Yes, sweet potatoes can be grown outside the garden fence. However, they may be mowed down by deer. They will eventually come back if given the right conditions.
How long does it take for peas to produce well?
Depending on the conditions, peas can produce well in as little as a few months. For example, Black Eyed Peas have done well in Texas in just a few months.
What animals are likely to visit gardens?
Deer and moose are likely to visit gardens. Kale and cabbage are their favorite foods.