Squirrel vs. Tomato

Are squirrels something to be concerned about when growing tomatoes, bell peppers, strawberries, or watermelons? I see them around my beds often but so far they have done nothing to my plants. Do I need to take measures to keep them out of my garden?

-Sam

They will eventually find your tomatoes irresistable, but I am not sure about the others you mentioned.

This year, I have two bird baths and bird seed in a feeder so we'll see if that keeps the critters away from my veggies. Invariably, seeds fall to the ground when the birds peck away, and the squirrels mop-up after them.

Between the squirrels and the birds, we lost about half our tomatoes last year. Now the strawberries are getting ripe and missing chunks. grrr. I was thinking of building some sort of barrier for this year, but don't know what the best set up would be.

Squirrels ate 99% of my unprotected tomatoes last year and birds took a few peppers but not enough to really affect me. The only way I can grow tomatoes here is in an area enclosed with 1" chicken wire. They burrowed under it when I tried burying it 1' deep so I had to line the bottom of the bed as well.

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I guess that I will see about putting up a bird feeder and then maybe an enclosure of some sort.

-Sam

My little dog, Chloe, decided all by herself to keep squirrels out of our garden! Despite her best efforts, the squirrels still managed to take some of the tomatoes last summer.

One thing I did was throw all the tomatoes that had blossom end rot in the general direction of the trees in the hopes that the squirrels would be satisfied with them instead.

I've purchased some bird netting to protect this year's strawberry crop. I've told my husband it would be nice if we could get some of them instead of the birds, for a change!

BUG B GONE FROM YOUR GARDEN SPRAY
THE NATURAL WAY
6 Jalapeños
4 Cloves of Garlic
1 Yellow (Hot) Onion
1 Cup of Ground /Crushed Red Pepper
*Grind all ingredients in blender let set.
* Boil 4 Quarts of water to raging boil.
Put Ingredients in one (1) Gallon (Wide Mouth) Jug or Equivalent.
Pour Hot water in on top, let stand 48 hours.
Strain mix through panty hose.(NOT wife’s good ones! Ya could get hurt)
Mix will yield one gallon that can be mixed in 2 ½ gal sprayer.(Add cool water to fill line)
***Spray New and growing plants until fruit starts to grow well.
There is not a bug or critter around that will bother you garden.
*** The Bees don’t Care****

Thanks again for the responses. I went with bird netting. It's not pretty but it does the job. It is a lot of trouble to remove and reapply the nets everytime I need to access my plants but at east they remain unmolested by squirrels.

I know where Waxhaw is thats close to Mineral Springs NC Woo Hoo Tell Don Gaddy I Miss Him Nad Much Love ...He Is the Fire Cheaf at The VFF Station in MS. Squrrel and Dumples are good too samedii LOL ~;{>)

Last year I tried bird netting but the squirrels treated it as an appetizer as they chewed through on their way to my tomatoes. Maybe mine are more determined than yours but keep an eye on your plants.