About this episode
There is one four-legged pest that ravages gardens and orchards throughout the West, the mid-West and the South: Pocket gophers. So named for the furry pouches outside its mouth that can store food, pocket gophers can destroy the bark and roots of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs from its underground tunnel systems. Today, we talk with a gopher control expert on which tactics work, and which don’t work, to control gophers. Also, why would a cucumber plant just die? We tackle that question from a gardener in Virginia. It’s all on episode 136 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go! Pictured: The Pocket Gopher Links: Smart Pots Gopher Control Information from UCANR Gophinator gopher traps Macabee gopher traps GopherHawk gopher traps Gopher Cinch Traps Bacterial Wilt of Cucumbers via Cucumber Beetles Cucumber insects and disease UCANR Wilt-resistant cucumber varieties Row covers for vegetables New! The Garden Basics newsletter More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. More info including live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred . Please subscribe, and, if you are listening on Apple , please leave a comment or rating. That helps us decide which garden topics you would like to see addressed. Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch: leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe , at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964. E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com or, leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local. And thank you for listening. All About Farmer Fred: Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.com Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog Facebook: "Get Growing with Farmer Fred " Instagram: farmerfredhoffman Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube Sign up for the new Garden Basics newsletter , on Substack Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter .