Hedge Apples

[whistlepig]

It's time to harvest now. Several people at work ask me to bring them some every fall. They say it keeps spiders out of their homes and garages. I have never tried this. I just try to get the hedge apples up because it gives our horses the runs.

 

[MossRoad]

I doubt that hedge apples keep spiders out of their homes. Here's why...

I think anyone that takes the time to go around the base of their basement and place hedge apples every year probably also takes the time to clean and dust the base of their basement, too. :laughing:

 

[Bird]

It's time to harvest now. Several people at work ask me to bring them some every fall. They say it keeps spiders out of their homes and garages. I have never tried this. I just try to get the hedge apples up because it gives our horses the runs.

Interesting. The first horse I had when I was a kid loved those things. We didn't have any in our pasture, but I'd go pick them up in a neighbor's pasture for him; ate them like they were candy. But I've never seen another horse that would touch them.

As for spider and insect repellant, I can remember people using them for that over 60 years ago; very common in the late '40s and early '50s. I have no personal opinion as to whether they work or not.

 

[dave1949]

Facts and Myths about Hedge Apples

This one of about 10 google hits on hedge apples and spiders.

Where my brother recently moved to in SE Kansas, they have hedge everywhere, a real nuisance and tire killer with the thorns. But the local lore there is that hedge apples repel spiders.

Dave.

 

[bigtiller]

Thanks for the link Dave. Interesting reading.

 

[whistlepig]

My hedge apple trees have spider webs in them. That's why I have never tried them.

 

[dave1949]

My hedge apple trees have spider webs in them. That's why I have never tried them.

That's just too funny - LMBO
Dave.

 

[Bird]

My hedge apple trees have spider webs in them. That's why I have never tried them.

I don't know about modern methods, but when I was a kid, you were supposed to cut them in half and put the pieces in out of sight locations, such as under the bed, behind the sofa, etc. So maybe they don't work if they're not cut open.:laughing:

 

[ShenandoahJoe]

Ever since I was a boy, I've tried to find some use for those things. I'm not giving up the search, just because some professor in Nebraska says so. :mur:

 

[6thgpSF]

squirrels love the seeds,they tear them apart to get to the seeds. russ