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Roseville, CA

this morning discovered that a mouse started nibbling on the end of my largest pumpkin. What do I do? Just one week until the Elk Grove weigh off. Will I be disqualified?

9/24/2011 2:25:39 PM

Connecticut

Maybe sprinkle some garden sulfur on it and a little around the whole pumpkin. No animal likes sulfur. At least it stopped them for me.
This is just my opinion and not a common use of sulfur as a repellent.

9/24/2011 2:35:28 PM

?

moth balls around the pumpkin help, mouse traps, and you won't be disqualified unless it in the cavity (which i doubt it is, good luck

Vince

9/24/2011 3:28:50 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

B, DQ, comes from a breach into the cavity...Might not look pretty, but good to go!!! If a week to go, you might need to get very active, cause the little kritters, will go underneath & start doin serious chewin, if you don't do somethin!!! Hopefully you are on sand, or Mill Cloth, which will certainly help!!! Cleaning, and preventative fungicide on the "nibbling" is certainly something you need to do!!! It will leave a scar, but we awl have em!!! Peace, Wayne Grow em BIG!!!!

9/24/2011 11:46:58 PM

Roseville, CA

Thanks so much for the info. Stopped feeding the cat and have now placed moth balls all around the pumpkin. LOL Just a few more days to go. Thanks.

9/26/2011 12:32:22 AM

Roseville, CA

Also used the sulfur.

9/26/2011 12:33:10 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Team B....results? Peace, Wayne
PS...stopped feeding the cat, just might qualify for the funnest post of the year award!!!!

10/7/2011 2:28:04 AM

Roseville, CA

Hi Wayne, I followed the advise given and my pumpkin survived and actually did pretty well. I was really worried about harvesting it and for good reason; that mouse was alive and well under my pumpkin. Apparently, I didn't cut off the cat's food soon enough. The dog has been awarded the moniker of "top mouser" in the household. Luckily, the mouse wasn't very hungry and there was very little damage. I took it (the pumpkin, not the dead mouse) to the Elk Grove weigh-off and it landed in the top 20 (19th)at 899.5 lbs. I was so jazzed. This was my first year and I am totally hooked on growin' em big now. I have met some really great folks. All very friendly and welcoming. Thanks for all the encouragement and advise. I hope you had a great year!
b

10/11/2011 1:20:17 AM