I have 8 tomato plants growing, 2 pepper plants, and a jalepeno pepper.

I started cantaloupes a while back but didn't really have room for them here, so we took the across the street and dad made me a hill next to his cucumbers.

So now he has Mt. Cantaloupe, and Mt. Cucumber as he likes to call them!

I'm excited to see how they turn out...I've never grown them before.

Dad is growing a lot of stuff....Bush beans, toms, Brussels Sprouts, Lettuce, Potatos, Beets, and some other type of bean...wax or kidney or something. Plus his cucumbers. I'll be foraging around over there while they are in England for a month and a half!

2 of Dads Brussels Sprouts were eaten all the way down to nothing. And the other night we found a big burrow of a hole around 7-8 inches wide going through the dirt....He blocked it with a bucket....but I wonder what it could be?

Groundhogs are around here, and possums.....do you think it would be one of them. The hole is perfectly rounded out and really close to the brussels sprouts.

I'll take a picture later and post it here.

Probably a whistle pig AKA Groundhog. Contrary to popular beliefs rabbits do not dig holes (they inhabit old holes usally dug out by groundhogs). In fact the only thing that burrows in our area are groundhogs, and moles- mole holes are small. Your best bet is to get rid of that thing, it will wreak havoc on your garden, and eat it away! Best way to get rid of it to shoot it if you can ring off shots without someone calling the cops etc, or if you know someone skilled with a bow, take it out silently. The burrows can house a family of those pests. Some people poison them, with limited luck, as usually they have more than one way out. Best time to see them is in the evening or after a rain storm, as they come out to drink off the grasses. They get nicknamed whistle pigs, because often people whistle to get them to stand up- then let them have it with a rifle!

I was thinking it was a groundhog.

There was one right below my house living under my neighbors old shed, well she's have work done on the back where it lived...Maybe that drove it out of it's home over to my dads....They just live across the street from me.

As soon as my niece leaves I'll go get a picture to share.

Without saying the name of my town DCL, I live at the bottom of the paper mill---town starts with W--if you can think of where I mean. Couldn't get away with a gunshot here even if we wanted to.....very residential area. Lots of houses close together.

Dad did put netting over his brussel sprouts.

Here's the hole...Like I said it's about 6 plus inches wide. And it's hard to see, but it's really smoothed out around the edges as you get back in there.....You can't see in too far because it turns to the left as you get in there a few inches.

Loz that looks more like a groundhog for sure. Good luck. I've never had trouble with them in my garden. JD

Your dads garden looks nice.
I hope to have a gardening that big one day.
Nicky

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http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j184/ladyk24/

I sit in my vegetable garden so that I can see them grow.

I dont see a hole in the pic, you defintely can tell a groundhogs hole- you probably could get your whole arm down it if it was! I def know what town you speak of, I can smell the paper mill from my house when the winds blow out of the South. Redneck power or not- a Groundhog is bad news if thats what it is. Most farmers are glad if someone gets rid of them- they do extensive damage, including damaging very expensive farm equipment, or breaking the legs of livestock when they step in there holes!

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I dont see a hole in the pic, you defintely can tell a groundhogs hole-

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It's a hole alright, it just bends around to the left out of sight....it's all smoothed down like something big has tunneled it out...

Actually that's a better word, a tunnel. But once it goes left I can't tell to much if it goes down or where it goes.

Sarah I don't think I could EVER eat a groundhog! One of Marks friends brought down squirrel dumplings once and I could barely look at them.

Very nice! Almost looks like a potato leaf plant....what kind is it?

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John - Zone 6

Looking good Loz, but mine arent as far along as yours and i too have the Beefsteak ones, cant wait to go pick one!

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The leaves do look a little different,don't they? Could it be an heirloom tomato like brandywine ??

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CINDY!!!!!!!

It looks like you'll be 1st in the neighborhood eating tomatoes! They look so good, and I don't even really like tomatoes.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CINDY!!!!!!!

Yepper, my hubby likes them HOT!

I can't wait for the Toms to ripen up! I'm soooooo ready to eat them!

Great pics again Loz...looks healthy!!!

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I have a woodchuck/groundhog/whistle pig problem right now, and i have been investigating ways to rid my garden of them.... I have heard that they are very smell sensitive, and have read that ammonia, mint soaked cotton balls, and moth balls are alternatives. I have tried the ammonia soaked rags, but it has to be reapplied after the smell wears off, which is not ideal. I was curious if mint plants would keep them away. It makes for a great ground cover... and if you like mint tea, it is delicious too.

There must be someone out there that has dealt with woodchucks without shooting them or trapping them. PLEASE HELP!!!!

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