posted 11 years ago
Plant Predators: including insects, gastropods, birds, mammals etc.
In the ares closest to our activity many easy interventions can be introduced to minimize the effects of predation on our food crops, yet as we go farther out into the wild, predation becomes a major factor. Understanding the predators that feast upon our food crops and how to get them to ignore our food sources is critical. As a example the potato did not become the great thing we have today by being eaten in it's entirety by a gopher. Yet gophers would love nothing more than to eat any available potato. So planting in the wild in my opinion is dangerous to the survival of the plant you are introducing. Companion plants help a great deal. Location can also be a benefit. Plant selection for the area helps. Although knowing the predators is the best defense against them. This way you do not waste time, product, energy, and emotions on loosing a crop. In California where I am we have laws that minimize carnivore predators and increase herbivore predators. Thus our Deer/gopher population is EXPONENTIALLY out of control. Deer are very hard to deter. They are as goats and eat just about everything. What the deer do not consume, the gophers come by and wipe out. I am focused upon these two for the effects that are most obvious. TOTAL PLANT DESTRUCTION. So get to know the predators of your area. Accept that getting rid of them is not going to happen, then adjust the way the plants are assembled, and where. Put the best defenses up first. Wait and see if your defenses are completely over run before putting in your food crops. If you have any ideas to protect herbaceous plants from these pleasant predators let me know.
Be most excellent to each other.