No Squirrels Allowed

Dark Rumor · April 23, 2016

I have two "Mexico" tomato plants, both are about five feet tall and only one has a tomato on it, it is the biggest tomato in the garden and I am not going to let a squirrel or bird get it.
The other cage is "Beefsteak" from Ferry Morse, very early.

Deborah · April 24, 2016

Smart and humane. Green thumbs up!

Gardeneer · April 24, 2016

Very smart indeed.
That is the best way to keep the squirrels out.

Gardeneer

Dark Rumor · May 12, 2016

The squirrels were taking my tomatoes so I bought some corn in hopes they prefer corn over tomatoes.

efisakov · May 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Rumor

The squirrels were taking my tomatoes so I bought some corn in hopes they prefer corn over tomatoes.

You are just inviting more of them.

Father'sDaughter · May 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by efisakov

You are just inviting more of them.

I agree. Squirrels are rodents -- feed them and you will soon be over-run with them.

kameronth · May 12, 2016

Knock on wood but I've never had squirrels bother my tomatoes. They would steal my strawberries though!! This year I'm fighting off a momma bunny and her babies.

fonseca · May 12, 2016

I recently learned that I can shoot squirrels in the act of destroying my garden without a depredation permit. I also learned that there are .22 long powderless rimfire rounds that are quieter than a BB gun...

I bought a 150' roll of 1" poultry netting, but I will not have a repeat of last year where the squirrels destroyed ~80% of my harvest.

I leave water out for birds and squirrels in an attempt to deter thirsty animals from taking a few bites of tomato, but I no longer feed them. They had piles of sunflower seed and still made off with tomatoes.

efisakov · May 12, 2016

Last year for the first time they discovered my cucumbers. And no, we did not have dry weather. It rained every other day.
I had to spray with hot pepper/soap to deter them. They broke one of the plants, ate/bit few cucumbers, dug many holes. I seriously dislike this rodents, I consider them rats that can climb trees.

fonseca · May 12, 2016

I also picked up a roll of Agribon (floating row cover). I don't have enough poultry netting for all my plants, so I will try making pouches for tomato clusters or cover entire plants in row cover. I have read comments on this forum that squirrels don't want to go under it because they can't see through it.

Dark Rumor · May 12, 2016

Thanks for the advice, I am going to move the corn to the other side of the fence in an effort to lure them out of the back yard.

They were getting way to many of my tomatoes so I had to try something, I will post again after the weekend.

Jonnyhat · May 12, 2016

tree rats!

i bought a gammo whisper fusion pro air rifle (this thing is lethal), I think I am going to hang the carcass from my oak tree as a warning.

Gardeneer · May 13, 2016

I would use a "Humane /live trap", catch them and release them far away.

Scooty · May 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

I would use a "Humane /live trap", catch them and release them far away.

Had a neighbor who did that with a raccoon. Drove 20 miles to release it. The same bloody one came back to their attic (had a distinctive pattern on chest).

Depends on the state and county. Some places require you to do on site euthanasia or on site release, in the case of the latter a maximum distance for relocation.

Gardeneer · May 13, 2016

Well, probably raccoons are much smarter than squirrels.

April 24, 2016	#2
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	Smart and humane. Green thumbs up! __________________ "The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10

May 12, 2016	#9
efisakov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ, zone 7 Posts: 3,162	Last year for the first time they discovered my cucumbers. And no, we did not have dry weather. It rained every other day. I had to spray with hot pepper/soap to deter them. They broke one of the plants, ate/bit few cucumbers, dug many holes. I seriously dislike this rodents, I consider them rats that can climb trees. __________________ Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!”

April 24, 2016	#3
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Very smart indeed. That is the best way to keep the squirrels out. Gardeneer

May 12, 2016	#7
kameronth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: North Dakota Posts: 111	Knock on wood but I've never had squirrels bother my tomatoes. They would steal my strawberries though!! This year I'm fighting off a momma bunny and her babies.

May 12, 2016	#8
fonseca Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 205	I recently learned that I can shoot squirrels in the act of destroying my garden without a depredation permit. I also learned that there are .22 long powderless rimfire rounds that are quieter than a BB gun... I bought a 150' roll of 1" poultry netting, but I will not have a repeat of last year where the squirrels destroyed ~80% of my harvest. I leave water out for birds and squirrels in an attempt to deter thirsty animals from taking a few bites of tomato, but I no longer feed them. They had piles of sunflower seed and still made off with tomatoes.

May 12, 2016	#11
Dark Rumor Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 287	Thanks for the advice, I am going to move the corn to the other side of the fence in an effort to lure them out of the back yard. They were getting way to many of my tomatoes so I had to try something, I will post again after the weekend.

May 12, 2016	#12
Jonnyhat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 337	tree rats! i bought a gammo whisper fusion pro air rifle (this thing is lethal), I think I am going to hang the carcass from my oak tree as a warning.

May 13, 2016	#13
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	I would use a "Humane /live trap", catch them and release them far away.