Squirrels - Ack!

Calling all backyard farmers - we can't keep the squirrels from raiding our tomatoes. We planted our garden this year in pots out front for the sun. Our plants are beautiful and apparently the tomatoes are delicious because the squirrels can't wait to eat them. Oddly enough, they only pick the Paul Robesons and the Better Boys. The patio and grape tomatoes don't seem to be to their liking. And they have no interest in the peppers or eggplant.

Any suggestions? This weekend we tried the shiny pinwheels and I'm sure when we aren't home they are sitting there, eating our tomatoes and watching the pinwheels whirl. Help!

Calling all backyard farmers - we can't keep the squirrels from raiding our tomatoes. We planted our garden this year in pots out front for the sun. Our plants are beautiful and apparently the tomatoes are delicious because the squirrels can't wait to eat them. Oddly enough, they only pick the Paul Robesons and the Better Boys. The patio and grape tomatoes don't seem to be to their liking. And they have no interest in the peppers or eggplant.

Any suggestions? This weekend we tried the shiny pinwheels and I'm sure when we aren't home they are sitting there, eating our tomatoes and watching the pinwheels whirl. Help!

shotgun

Calling all backyard farmers - we can't keep the squirrels from raiding our tomatoes. We planted our garden this year in pots out front for the sun. Our plants are beautiful and apparently the tomatoes are delicious because the squirrels can't wait to eat them. Oddly enough, they only pick the Paul Robesons and the Better Boys. The patio and grape tomatoes don't seem to be to their liking. And they have no interest in the peppers or eggplant.

Any suggestions? This weekend we tried the shiny pinwheels and I'm sure when we aren't home they are sitting there, eating our tomatoes and watching the pinwheels whirl. Help!

shotgun

.22 cal with bird-shot (doesn't make as much noise). You must be a good shot though. Skin & gut them out and grill. Just don't eat the brains.

Check with your local garden center for a powder that holds some dried animal blood of some sort (can't recall exactly what it is). I've used it successfully for squirrels. It also serves as a fertilizer, so you could put it on the top of the soil in your pots.

My dad always used to plant marigolds around his tomatoes. He said it would keep out the squirrels and rabbits.

I've had luck with marigolds, cayenne pepper, and human hair seems to work well. Of course, your honey needs to have long preferably curly hair so it sheds easy when brushed!

I have 3 golden retrievers. If you want to try dog hair, I'll give you all you can handle!

I hear they taste like chicken.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Here's a few more tricks I remember. Sprinkle used coffee grounds arond the base of your plants, and I've heard squirrels are repelled by the smell of mothballs. Never tried mothballs, but the coffee seems to work well.

There's a red pepper spray that you can get at any garden store. Non toxic and won't hurt the squirrels, just irritate them. Of course if the squirrels are wearing serapes you might have to use something else.

Thats funny you all should mention this...I just had a conversation w/ my neighbor tonight about this. He is having all kinds of problems with squirrels, but we're not. I have brandy wine, Mr. Stripy's and lemon drops planted. He said he had beef steaks and better boys. He said thet the squirrels will pick the tomatoes (red and green) jump on their patio table, peel them, eat the flesh and leave the seeds! It sounds like they are having a rocking party over there at night! LOL I didn't have any suggestions for him. I'll let him know some of these!

I have used a home made pepper spray (hot peppers cooked in water, water in spray bottle) and garlic spray (same method) that seemed to keep the pests off the veggies. Makes the garden smell interesting too.

Well, the shotgun would probably be a great way to get a block party going right quick, complete with police chaperones.

Our solution, and one we didn't plan, is our 6 cats. They've turned into the fearless squirrel and rabbit killers brigade. Nothing's touched our tomatoes, and in this heat, the cats love sleeping underneath them. We've got about 100 tomatoes going out there, and with the exception of some cherry tomatoes dropping, they're all whole and coming along beautifully.

I'm gonna try the upside down in a 5 gallon bucket next year.....

I have an old close line post in my backyard that just screams to try this out....

I didn't plant anything besides flowers this year because I saw so many rabbits running around the neighborhood...

Dried blood works very well, its natural and adds some really good nitrogen to the soil. A product you can find that also works well is Plant Skydd, I think this is also based on dried blood. It comes in liquid or granular. Our customers have raved about how effective this product is. Not the cheapest but it works.