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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Roger Skilton on July 04, 2009, 09:40:35

Title: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: Roger Skilton on July 04, 2009, 09:40:35
Hi everyone

I have a hole about an inch and a half round dug up through the soil in my greenhouse, its bang in the middle of one of my tomato plants so has messed that up.

Does anyone have any ideas/remidies ???

Many thanks

Roger
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: saddad on July 04, 2009, 09:43:46
If it has dug down probably a squirrel... if up probably a mole...  :-\
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: Roger Skilton on July 04, 2009, 09:52:34
Thats an interesting thought, I would say its not a mole as there is no soil on top of the hole, I cant imagine why a squirel would want to dig a hole right there and for what !

Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: shirlton on July 04, 2009, 09:54:37
Maybe a snail burrowing to lay its eggs. Stick yer finger in the hole and see whats in there ;D
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: Roger Skilton on July 04, 2009, 12:43:30
Me thinks they are voles !!!
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: Tee Gee on July 04, 2009, 14:24:27
I'm guessing a big ant nest!

My symptoms are a crack across the bed and a peppering of small holes.
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: davyw1 on July 04, 2009, 14:38:18
I go for vole put a trap down next to the hole with a bit of oxo on or in
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: redimp on July 04, 2009, 14:46:12
Quote from: davyw1 on July 04, 2009, 14:38:18
I go for vole put a trap down next to the hole with a bit of oxo on or in
Why - voles do very little damage - a lot less than mice and I don't kill those.  Or do you have a shoot now, ask questions later policy?
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: davyw1 on July 04, 2009, 14:53:40
No i don,t have a shoot first policy as far as voles are concerned but i am not the one asking i would put a humane trap down to make sure that is what the problem is. But then i don,t have the vole
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: asbean on July 04, 2009, 15:03:44
We've had a mole on our plot (and the plots on either side) for about six months now. Every time we go to weed/water etc we find new piles of earth, there must be a huge labyrinth under there  >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: Eristic on July 04, 2009, 22:53:49
I find it strangely funny that no one has suggested the most likely candidate which is Ratty Rat. Are we still so ashamed of admitting that there might be a rat in the garden?
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: asbean on July 04, 2009, 23:05:17
We had the b@st@rds breeding in our roof, we know what rats are.   These are moles on the plot. Or at least one of them.
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: Bjerreby on July 05, 2009, 06:08:22
It could be a slow worm. They burrow in compost, and I have seen them poking their heads out of holes in the wild too.

Slow worms are carnivorous, but harmless to humans. On the whole I'd say I'd welcome one in my greenhouse, they eat stuff I'd rather be without.
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 05, 2009, 14:09:45
They don't make inch and a half holes though. That sounds like a rodent.
Title: Re: Holes in greenhouse soil
Post by: alienwithaview on July 05, 2009, 20:41:29
I agree with Eristic, that a rodent is a pretty likely candidate, mainly because last year we had the same experience (hole in GH soil) and it was a rat (or two), who just laughed at me when I threatened them with a trowel.
The Council exterminator came three or four times (as GH in very close proximity to dwellings) but made no difference.
I hope in your case it's something less unsavoury ...