How do you manage with Gophers and other such pests? Is there any chance of eradication? I have trouble with June Bugs eating my root crops (ruined my Yacon harvest), I can’t imagine having to deal with Gophers.
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So far, I’ve had exceedingly poor self-control in keeping my Collector’s mindset in check. Yesterday I ordered Allium moly. Today, I placed a fall order at Filaree Farm for Lorz Italian Softneck & Cuban Purple Hardneck Garlic, and French Grey Shallot (Griselle, A. oschaninii). Species-wise, it seems I’m missing very few from my collection, and in particular my next target is Rosy Garlic (A. roseum).
Whatever survives the next few years in my garden may receive a permanent spot in my Sofrito recipe (the original impetus that led me to trial so many Allium species). You can’t have yellow rice without Sofrito (and Chicken Bullion & Sazón). Our recipe here calls for blended up (in eyeballed quantities) Recao / Culantro, Cilantro, Sweet Peppers (especially sweet Ají peppers), Oregano… and Onion & Garlic. All the other ingredients are very simple to grow here, the Alliums were the issue. Biennial Bulb Onions seemed a bit complicated (which is why I leaned towards multiplier types like the I’itoi), and Garlic was a conundrum, so I set out to trial as many species as I could. Time will tell what grows well here, but I’m particularly sad that the Ramps didn’t work out; I’ve heard they’re very tasty.