Finally, a squirrel barrier that works

[ScottinAtlanta]

I don't know where I read the idea, but I wrapped the biggest of my green tomatoes in bubble wrap (loose to allow growth), taped shut, and lo and behold, not a single one has been eaten by the squirrels, but they ripened normally. This is time consuming and so I can do it for only the two dozen or so largest greens, but I am eating more tomatoes as a result!

[kath]

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

I don't know where I read the idea, but I wrapped the biggest of my green tomatoes in bubble wrap (loose to allow growth), taped shut, and lo and behold, not a single one has been eaten by the squirrels, but they ripened normally. This is time consuming and so I can do it for only the two dozen or so largest greens, but I am eating more tomatoes as a result!

Glad you found something that works- thanks for sharing your find. I lost SO many tomatoes to pecking birds this year until I cut pieces of Reemay and covered tomatoes to keep them out- luckily they didn't peck through it but what a pain- incredibly time consuming. I used yarn to tie around the stem or clothespins- don't know if that might be possible with the bubble wrap. I also have to cover every apple on 5 trees with zipper baggies to keep out insects and pecking birds. Guess being able to enjoy the fruits makes it worth it, right?

Scott,

I don't understand why you have such a problem with squirrels in your garden. We have a ton of squirrels, but I can't remember a single tomato in my garden being harmed by a squirrel. I know they are in my garden constantly because I find the nuts they bury when I turn my beds over in the winter.

I have relocated twenty five squirrels from around our house this summer. They tear our window screens up getting to my wife's bird feeders. I transport them to a new home on an island with plenty of natural food and no human neighbors for them to pester.

Ted

[Cheryl2017]

I loathe squirrels. I wrapped some of my larger green tomatoes in panty hose and other fabrics and the squirrels ate through both. I am willing to try the bubble wrap.

[ScottinAtlanta]

Originally Posted by tedln

Scott,

I don't understand why you have such a problem with squirrels in your garden. We have a ton of squirrels, but I can't remember a single tomato in my garden being harmed by a squirrel. I know they are in my garden constantly because I find the nuts they bury when I turn my beds over in the winter.

I have relocated twenty five squirrels from around our house this summer. They tear our window screens up getting to my wife's bird feeders. I transport them to a new home on an island with plenty of natural food and no human neighbors for them to pester.

Ted

I don't know either. Some folks 10 blocks away have no problems, then the next block has 100% loss to squirrels. A mystery. I think there is a rapid learning curve - as soon as one of them discovers that a tomato tastes good, they all learn immediately. We are also just over-run with them. My neighbor has shot 45 of them, and I have trapped 20, but the numbers don't change.

Every spring, there is a new crop as the babies spread out into new territories. It usually takes about one month (sometimes a little longer) to clear the territory around my house and save our window screens. I usually have no more problems until the next spring. My garden is less than 100 yards from our house and the squirrels remain thick around my garden and I don't think I could ever trap them out. The tree line is only ten yards from my garden and it houses more squirrels than I could ever trap. For now, I will count myself lucky that my squirrels have not discovered how good tomatoes taste.

Ted

[Redbaron]

Duke has my squirrel problem handled. Now I have too many black walnuts in the yard though.

[ChrisK]

Everybody I know that grows tomatoes has this same problem. They strip everything from the plants while green or just beginning to ripen. I've thinned the herd a bit but new ones move in after a week or two.

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

I don't know either. Some folks 10 blocks away have no problems, then the next block has 100% loss to squirrels. A mystery. I think there is a rapid learning curve - as soon as one of them discovers that a tomato tastes good, they all learn immediately. We are also just over-run with them. My neighbor has shot 45 of them, and I have trapped 20, but the numbers don't change.

[Cole_Robbie]

I planted one plant at my girlfriend's house. We didn't understand why she wasn't getting tomatoes, until she saw two squirrels running across the yard, each holding one fruit they had picked from her plant.

[b54red]

My pear tree has been loaded this year and it has kept the squirrels busy and mostly away from my tomatoes. I know I will have to get out the pellet gun soon as they will destroy my fall plants like broccoli before it ever has a chance to grow. I thinned them drastically two years ago and have kept killing a few along but their population has exploded once again. The biggest problem with shooting them is trying to get the dead squirrels away from my dachshunds before they tear them to pieces. They are reluctant to relinquish their prize once they get them and frequently fight over them.

Bill

Bill,

Get them away from the dogs. Clean them, skin them; and freeze them. I have some really good squirrel recipes. I love cajun squirrel gumbo over rice.

There used to be a good one step skinning method on Youtube.

Ted

[lakelady]

maybe you have Zombie squirrels lol...mine don't touch tomatoes.

This is the first year I didn't get overrun by chipmunks though, and the trapper got rid of my groundhog (this one at least, next year I'll have more) so aside from whatever disease took my plants down fast (I have been too busy to take care of much) I didn't lose tomatoes to pests for ONCE.

I am still trying to figure out though how one lone large tomato got outside of my 4 ' fence and was dragged out to the mailbox, half eaten and left there. The neighbors think it's funny but I gotta wonder if it was a creature of the 2 footed kind.

Sorry you've had such troubles, but glad to hear you found a solution of sorts!

[ScottinAtlanta]

Originally Posted by lakelady

maybe you have Zombie squirrels lol...mine don't touch tomatoes.

Well, this is Atlanta. The Climbing Dead!

[beeman]

Originally Posted by b54red

My pear tree has been loaded this year and it has kept the squirrels busy and mostly away from my tomatoes. I know I will have to get out the pellet gun soon as they will destroy my fall plants like broccoli before it ever has a chance to grow. I thinned them drastically two years ago and have kept killing a few along but their population has exploded once again. The biggest problem with shooting them is trying to get the dead squirrels away from my dachshunds before they tear them to pieces. They are reluctant to relinquish their prize once they get them and frequently fight over them.Bill

I often wonder where they all come from. This year decided to take drastic action, bought a new air gun,.22, 495 ft per second, super sights, to date 27 in a matter of 3 weeks.
Haven't seen one since, so keeping my fingers crossed, time will tell if I've reduced them down to zero.