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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Trixiebelle on October 06, 2007, 17:32:06

Title: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: Trixiebelle on October 06, 2007, 17:32:06

Harvest advice please!

My Atlantic Giant, prize-winning (against Ahmed next door's) pumpkin is sitting in the compost heap. It is a nit's spit away from a wasp's nest.

Every time I go near it to 'croon' over my baby and water it, a million wasps zip out of the compost heap and follow me, quite aggressively. Right round the garden and sometimes to the local Co-Op.

They're threatening to take away my loyalty card (the people in the Co-Op, not the wasps)

What can I do?

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: silverbirch on October 06, 2007, 18:20:06

a) Go up there at night once it is chilly with a torch, and a tube of wasp killer.

b) Change supermarkets if they don't provide facilities for your pets.

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on October 06, 2007, 18:47:17

Paraffin, white spirit, petrol, anything similar, or wasps nest killer will get them. No need to wait for nightfall unless you're seriously nervous.

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: greenscrump on October 06, 2007, 19:46:42

they'll all die soon anyway, except the queen. She'll stay in the nest till spring then head off to start a new colony.  Wasps tend not to nest in the same place again.  We had a nest in our loft last year and now zilch.  Besides, they've probably been eating your greenfly. Also, they are least active early am and late pm and when it's cooler or rainier.

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: Eristic on October 06, 2007, 19:52:28

Look at it this way: You are not likely to have it stolen. ;D

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: star on October 06, 2007, 20:25:16

 ;D ;D ;D the best form of security, I do like the way you think eristic ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: Lauren S on October 06, 2007, 23:01:42

We had a paper wasp nest above our burglar alarm one year. We decided to leave them alone after trying to remove it with no luck. They soon left when they were ready  ::)

Lauren

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: cambourne7 on October 06, 2007, 23:40:22

I am with the whole leaving it till they die camp, why not get ice cubed and lob them in the direction of your pumpkin???

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: Kea on October 07, 2007, 13:08:57

Brilliant suggestion Cambourne....the picture that conjures up! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: cambourne7 on October 07, 2007, 13:17:37

you know me Kea, i usualy have the off the wall ideas.

Notice was not suggesting freezing chicken pool liquid :) which was my first though  :P

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: Trixiebelle on October 07, 2007, 13:32:40

Thanks guys  ;D I really don't like killing things (even if they are nasty little critters!)

When will they decide to 'go away' though? In time for Halloween??

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: artichoke on October 07, 2007, 19:33:25

Don't do as my German son-in-law did: poured kettle of boiling water into nest while I was peacefully reading in the sun a few yards away. Furious wasps shot out in a rage stinging everything they banged into, including me.

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on October 07, 2007, 22:13:58

Don't ever annoy wasps or bees with anything that doesn't immediately knock them all down! Most of the so-called 'killer bee' incidents in the States are down to the bees having been sprayed with something unsuitable, and driven wild.

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: Trixiebelle on October 08, 2007, 13:23:43

Maybe I'll just hire a crane  ;D

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest
Post by: cambourne7 on October 08, 2007, 13:29:28

personaly i would leave the wasps there as they are free security for your pumpkin.