BER, Squirrels, Margaret Curtain, help!

SharonRossy · July 27, 2015

Ok help needed! You'd think by now I would have figured out container growing, but KBX and Margaret Curtain really took off and I probably didn't manage as well as I should have with pruning. After a 4 day drought in watering because my husband didn't properly keep them watering when I was away, I have been picking off Margaret Curtain tomatoes like crazy and a few other plants as well. At this rate, I'll be lucky to eat one.

And to add insult to injury, the squirrels are now attacking my plants. Question, why don't squirrels eat the fruit with BER? That's the least they could do if they are only going to munch and then leave them for me to find

.
I was hoping that the BER was going to resolve itself with regular watering and fertilizing. I've started pruning off suckers and have now begun pinching off top growth because there is no way the fruit will have time to ripen.

Thoughts anyone?
Sharon

Labradors2 · July 27, 2015

Sharon, I don't know about the BER, but I think you are a bit too early to prune off suckers. It takes about 40 days for a flower to ripen into an edible fruit, so there's still some time left, and don't forget that we can pick at first blush and finish ripening indoors.

Some people say that the critters are thirsty and take a bite out of a just to get a drink. Perhaps some bowls of water for the tree rats might spare your precious M. Curtains?

Linda

KarenO · July 27, 2015

Agree with Linda, Let some new blooms set. They should still have time to fruit and ripen in your zone. As to the squirrels, I'm not sure how to deal with them. Can you rig up spme sort of barrier temporarily?
I know you were excited to try the MC. There's still time. It can be difficult to regulate moisture in pots for sure.
KarenO

SharonRossy · July 27, 2015

Thanks Linda and Karen. I haven't gone too crazy with pruning. MC is very healthy looking. Like a horse, so I'm frustrated with the BER issue. I've started putting a plastic barrier but the buggers have even chewed thru that! In terms of water, we have a salt water pool at their disposal if they need a drink! And heavens knows, we've had ample rain and fresh water has been available to them in other containers.
I just hope the BER has steadied itself. MC has plenty of new flowers forming, I basically pruned out some of the weaker ones stems that were more inside. It's such a lush plant, big leaves. I am excited to try it.

kygreg · July 27, 2015

Speaking of squirrels, I can't figure out why the squirrels in my yard do not eat cherry or salad size tomatoes. They like to take one or two bites out of a nice large one.

efisakov · July 27, 2015

I have problems with squirrels too. The water is not an issue here neither. I always have water available in rain collecting containers and for my dog. They are loving my cucumbers this year: ate my first 7 cucumbers of the season and later took 2 Long Japanese cuces and killed that plant. They are not just eating everything they are digging in my garden too.
Sharon, I sprayed with hot peppers (mixed with soap) few times. I was sneezing a lot while poring hot pepper on the soil as well. It deterred them for a while.

Labradors2 · July 27, 2015

That's interesting Ella! I've bought a cayenne pepper seedling so that I can make my own pepper solution to spray on my plants to deter CHIPMUNKS. They love to dig and destroy in my front garden. I may spray the garden veggies too. Maybe it will deter the Cabbage Whites on my Dinosaur kale!

Linda

efisakov · July 27, 2015

I wonder if there is a variety of tomato that is hot?

Linda, there is an organic method against tiny plant eating creatures.
It was suggested by RobinB: “…diatomaceous earth and an empty spray bottle, put one T of DE into a 32oz bottle, fill with water and shake until the DE dissolves. Then spray those plants with spider mites. When it dries you will see a white film on the plant. Reapply after it rains.”
I add soap sometimes to that. I have bees going around my garden unharmed. But mites and aphids do not like it.

SharonRossy · July 27, 2015

The squirrels don't touch my cukes. I think they are too pricky. What about garlic spray for them and other pests? That's supposed to work. Ella, With my luck, if I use hot pepper, they'll probably make salsa and bring chips, lol! We just had a very violent thunderstorm and heavy rains, so I can only hope the tomato plants haven't been blown from here to eternity. I'm afraid to go out tomorrow to assess the damage.
Oh happy days!
Sharon

ScottinAtlanta · July 28, 2015

My Atlanta squirrels eat green cherry tomatoes, all other tomatoes, acorn squash, and superhot peppers.

They are adaptive, clever, Spawns of Satan.

The only way to stop them is..... wrap every tomato in bubble wrap, or kill them.

SharonRossy · July 28, 2015

Well my hope was a few of them met their maker last night during the storm, but I see another tomato sitting on the fence. They're protected here. Can only catch them and relocate. Believe me I had fantasies,,,,,

efisakov · July 28, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by SharonRossy

Well my hope was a few of them met their maker last night during the storm, but I see another tomato sitting on the fence. They're protected here. Can only catch them and relocate. Believe me I had fantasies,,,,,

Sharon, I am with you. I think of them as rats.

SharonRossy · July 28, 2015

Well they are in the rodent family! Oh well, between BER and squirrels it's going to be a long summer.

fonseca · July 31, 2015

If I didn't live in a city, I would have a freezer full of squirrel stew. I'm still thinking about getting a depredation permit to eliminate some problem squirrels. Nothing stops those $#%*! I don't want to kill them. Except when I catch them ruining green tomatoes. I'll be trying a ghost pepper spray soon.

Edit: I bought a few rolls of all purpose animal netting today. I hate using this stuff because birds can get tangled in it, but I have yet to harvest anything other than cherry tomatoes thanks to the squirrels. I've lost hundreds of tomatoes. This was supposed to be the Summer of BLTs.

SharonRossy · July 31, 2015

Well, even with the rigid green plastic netting, they managed to chew thru, so other than acting as a barrier in some cases, I gave up. It was too much work. It just infuriates me every time I find a tomato chewed up on the ground.

July 27, 2015	#1
SharonRossy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,140	BER, Squirrels, Margaret Curtain, help! Ok help needed! You'd think by now I would have figured out container growing, but KBX and Margaret Curtain really took off and I probably didn't manage as well as I should have with pruning. After a 4 day drought in watering because my husband didn't properly keep them watering when I was away, I have been picking off Margaret Curtain tomatoes like crazy and a few other plants as well. At this rate, I'll be lucky to eat one. And to add insult to injury, the squirrels are now attacking my plants. Question, why don't squirrels eat the fruit with BER? That's the least they could do if they are only going to munch and then leave them for me to find. I was hoping that the BER was going to resolve itself with regular watering and fertilizing. I've started pruning off suckers and have now begun pinching off top growth because there is no way the fruit will have time to ripen. Thoughts anyone? Sharon

July 27, 2015	#6
efisakov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ, zone 7 Posts: 3,162	I have problems with squirrels too. The water is not an issue here neither. I always have water available in rain collecting containers and for my dog. They are loving my cucumbers this year: ate my first 7 cucumbers of the season and later took 2 Long Japanese cuces and killed that plant. They are not just eating everything they are digging in my garden too. Sharon, I sprayed with hot peppers (mixed with soap) few times. I was sneezing a lot while poring hot pepper on the soil as well. It deterred them for a while. __________________ Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!”

July 27, 2015	#8
efisakov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ, zone 7 Posts: 3,162	I wonder if there is a variety of tomato that is hot? Linda, there is an organic method against tiny plant eating creatures. It was suggested by RobinB: “…diatomaceous earth and an empty spray bottle, put one T of DE into a 32oz bottle, fill with water and shake until the DE dissolves. Then spray those plants with spider mites. When it dries you will see a white film on the plant. Reapply after it rains.” I add soap sometimes to that. I have bees going around my garden unharmed. But mites and aphids do not like it. __________________ Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!”

July 31, 2015	#14
fonseca Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 205	If I didn't live in a city, I would have a freezer full of squirrel stew. I'm still thinking about getting a depredation permit to eliminate some problem squirrels. Nothing stops those $#%! I don't want to kill them. Except when I catch them ruining green tomatoes. I'll be trying a ghost pepper spray soon. Edit: I bought a few rolls of all purpose animal netting today. I hate using this stuff because birds can get tangled in it, but I have yet to harvest anything other than cherry tomatoes thanks to the squirrels. I've lost hundreds of tomatoes. This was supposed to be the Summer of BLTs. Last edited by fonseca; July 31, 2015 at 12:35 AM.*

July 27, 2015	#2
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,898	Sharon, I don't know about the BER, but I think you are a bit too early to prune off suckers. It takes about 40 days for a flower to ripen into an edible fruit, so there's still some time left, and don't forget that we can pick at first blush and finish ripening indoors. Some people say that the critters are thirsty and take a bite out of a just to get a drink. Perhaps some bowls of water for the tree rats might spare your precious M. Curtains? Linda

July 27, 2015	#3
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,932	Agree with Linda, Let some new blooms set. They should still have time to fruit and ripen in your zone. As to the squirrels, I'm not sure how to deal with them. Can you rig up spme sort of barrier temporarily? I know you were excited to try the MC. There's still time. It can be difficult to regulate moisture in pots for sure. KarenO

July 27, 2015	#5
kygreg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,019	Speaking of squirrels, I can't figure out why the squirrels in my yard do not eat cherry or salad size tomatoes. They like to take one or two bites out of a nice large one.

July 28, 2015	#10
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	My Atlanta squirrels eat green cherry tomatoes, all other tomatoes, acorn squash, and superhot peppers. They are adaptive, clever, Spawns of Satan. The only way to stop them is..... wrap every tomato in bubble wrap, or kill them.