Grrr, Squirrels!

It had been a few weeks since we lost tomatoes to the squirrels so I thought they might have moved onto greener pastures and were done terrorizing our garden.  But I was wrong.  This past week they have resumed their attack on the tomatoes.  Below are just a few of the victims, unfortunately there were more.

I think...

I have a slug issue.  Actually, I know I do.

I have been picking a decent amount out of the garden lately.

The other evening I found all of these in our thyme.  I've thought about putting out a beer trap just to see what I get.

Update

I've been taking pictures since my last post but never getting around to posting them.  So here are a few things that have happened since the last post.

The trees have blossomed and I covered the two beds underneath until the tree looses its blossoms.  We asked our neighbor if we could remove the tree since the tree grows over our property because of it's placement next to their house.  They gave us permission but want to make sure the roots will all be removed because they are going to then plant another tree to help shade the house.  We decided it wasn't worth the work if they are just going to replant a second problem for us.  Since we don't plan to stay here long term we will just deal with it until we move.

I have seen a few cabbage moths around since it has warmed up so I made sure to cover the kale right away.  The right side of the tunnel has lots of extra fabric so that once the peas are pulled if I want to extend the kale or other brassicas I can easily cover them too.

 If only the things I planted as quickly as this Canadian Thistle that sprouted in the last week.  I have to get on top of them otherwise I will be growing weeds and not veggies.

Trouble with Wildlife

This was the lettuce bed early Friday evening after planting.  We have had bad luck with lettuce the last few years.  This year I sowed the seeds a bit more thinly than in the past.  I didn't spend too much time because we have had such bad luck when I have taken much care I figured this year if I didn't worry about it too much maybe we will get a good lettuce harvest again.  But at the same time I tried to space the rows appropriately, spread the seeds and covered carefully with a thin layer of compost and manure.

When we returned on Sunday afternoon this was the bed trampled by some sort of animal.  It seems that it might have been a deer but it's hard to tell, the tracks weren't clear.  Of course it could have been an overzealous squirrel too.

It seems that at least once a year after planting seeds one of my beds gets trampled by the local wildlife.  I attempted to gently move the soil back how it was, but we will have to see how badly the planted seeds were displaced once they start coming in.

Squash Vine Borers

As you can tell from the pictures the squash vine borers have gotten the best of my zucchini and summer squash plants.  I sprayed them with insecticidal soap hoping that would hold them off but obviously it didn't.  One plant has already died and the other five are on their way.

I rotate the plants into different beds each year hoping that would help but squash vine borers have killed off my plants three years in a row.  It seems I am going to have to resort to a neem oil product.  Neem oil can be used up to the day of harvest and does not affect most beneficial insects.  But they aren't sure if it is or is not harmful to bees.  Because of this I have refrained from using it.  But from what I can read as long as it is not sprayed while the bees are active in the area they should be fine.

I am hoping to get a few more squashes off the plants before they finally succumb.  Until then I have planted some more seeds in a different area hoping to get some new plants going.

First Tomato?

The tulle shields have been working, sort of.  At first the squirrels couldn't get through.  They tried to bite through but couldn't get away with anything as you see below.

I ended up picking the tomato anyway and cutting off the bitten half just so that I could finally have a tomato from the garden.  At least they couldn't run off with this one.

Putting up the tulle was almost a dare to them, taunting them to try for more.  I watched a squirrel bat down a tomato from the outside and find a way to reach in and grab it out.  They have also scratched a hole in one just to steal a green tomato.  They don't even like the green ones, they always take one bite and then just leave it.

So it seems that once the tomatoes start to show enough color I am still going to need to pick them and let them finish ripening inside if I want any tomatoes for us.  Once the tomatoes start growing higher on the plant the squirrels won't be an issue, next will be the deer.

Standing My Ground

There are plenty of products out there to repel deer, rabbits, moles, birds, cats, gophers, snakes and the list goes on.  But I haven't found something for the average city dwelling squirrel.  I have tried cayenne pepper sprinkled around the garden, and they must like heat because it hasn't deterred them.  Short of surrounding my garden in a fortress of netting I am not sure what else to do.

So after the most recent squirrel vandalism to my tomatoes I decided to attempt some action.  It was back to the fabric store where I bought some more tulle.  With the use of clothespins and ground staples I created cylinders around the cages just to the height where the squirrels start to not be able to reach the tomatoes anymore.

 
Now I know that tulle is not a strong shield.  Squirrels have teeth and little claws and will quite possibly rip it all apart.  But maybe it is enough of a barrier for them to leave the 'maters alone.  Time will tell if the squirrels get to the next ripening tomato or not but it was worth the five bucks to try.

I also added some hanging aluminum pie pan pieces.  Supposedly the sound of them clanging together in the wind is like nails scratching on a chalk board.  At this point I will try anything.

Foiled Again

The squirrels stole my first ripening full size tomato and they did it again last night to my second.  I had contemplated picking it off and letting it ripen inside but I wanted a vine ripened tomato.  Below you can see the tomato they snatched and left partially eaten sitting on my neighbor's privacy fence just to taunt me.  In a day maybe two it would have been perfectly ripe.  This act of terrorism has definitely made me decide action needs to be taken soon!

Tulle and Tension Wire

Last year cabbage moth caterpillars devoured my kale.  I told myself I would properly cover it this year so the same thing didn't happen.  Well, it happened.  Something, devoured all my kale seedlings down to the soil except for these two.

And then I noticed that the cabbages were starting to also be destroyed.  I put off covering them because I wanted to still see the plants when I looked out at the garden.  Most of the insect  barriers I could find were white opaque cloths.  I found some netting that was ridiculously expensive.  I thought about using tulle, fabric used to make wedding veils, but at the store I couldn't find anything wider than 54 inches.  I thought I was going to have to give in and buy the opaque white cloth.  However after a good amount of searching I found tulle that was 105 inches wide. So for less than 7 dollars I snatched up 3 yards.

The kale seeds have been replanted and I have been picking off the caterpillars.  Using 9 gauge tension wire that was cut into 110 inch lengths I created hoops and have covered it with the fabric.  Now I can look out and see the plants and know they won't be destroyed.  Although I have to laugh a little at how fancy it looks because the tulle glistens in the sun.

Gaah!

My chives are covered in what appears to be aphids.  This must be a ladybug's heaven.  I hope they show up soon and take care of the sittuation.

Dang Squirrels

These are two sunflowers I started from seed indoors, grew until they were sturdy and strong, then planted them out over three weeks ago.  I recently found them cut off at the ground level and laying in their spots otherwise untouched.  The squirrels year after year seem to have it out for my sunflowers.  Last year they uprooted them a few times and I would try to replant them until they cut them down just like this year.  I thought because I had let them get larger and sturdier than the small seedlings from the past that they would be fine.

So I have responded in defiance by trying again.  I had given away many of the sunflowers but held onto two continuing to water and care for them just in case something like this was to happen.  This time I planted one in a large pot among zinnias so that there should be at least one the squirrels don't get to.  The other went in the same spot the other two had been but I have used Repels-All hoping the product works.  I guess we will just see what happens.

Fall Pests

This Fall the pests are definitely doing some damage.  I have already said it but it's worth saying again, next year I am using row covers.

The kale and beans have had their leaves stripped.

The cabbage is full of holes and looks the best.

Can Anyone Tell Me

What those pink spots on the chard are due to?  They have also shown up on some of my lettuces especially the arugula.  I don't know if I should ignore it and eat them anyways or if it is a sign to throw these into the compost.  It's like my greens have the chicken pox.

Pie Pans

With the regular tomato theft I decided to attempt some action.  One of my cousins told me that pie pans hung in the garden will deter squirrels.  After a bit of research some people say it will also deter deer.  Supposedly the sound that the pie pans make when clanging together or in this case against the tomato cage will scare off the varmits.  So I cut some pie pans in half and tied them to cages in spots that might catch the wind or will rustle when brushed in an attempt to steal more tomatoes.  I find the look unattractive but if it works then this $2 experiment will look really attractive.

Update:  Andy came home late last night after it was already dark.  This morning as he was eating breakfast and looking out the kitchen window as he always does he said to me: "It looks like some trash flew into the garden."  I knew what he was talking about but asked anyways and he said, "Those silver plate things."  Of course I explained but it made me laugh.  He doesn't think it looks good, I would agree but neither do deer and squirrels eating the loot in my garden.

Cayenne Pepper

I put cayenne pepper all around the tomato bed in hopes that it keeps the squirrels away or whatever else is eating the tomatoes.  Maybe just maybe it will make their mouths burn enough that they want to stay away from the tomatoes.

 Along the fence next to the bed.

 All around the plants.

And even on some of the foliage and tomatoes that have been most tempting.  I even sprinkled this one that was already chomped into in case they come back for another snack.

Sharing

Up until this week the critters haven't bothered me or my garden too much.  The squirrels here are crazy and the real culprits of most of our garden crimes.  They have stolen a few beans but I figure part of gardening, especially organic gardening is learning to share.  This week my tomatoes have become prime target.  Sunday we found a green San Marzano left on the fence as if to taunt us that they can take them and there is nothing we can do about it.  Yesterday I found one large ripe Black Krim pulled off and broken open and another large green tomato.  Then today I came home to find a ripped open Pineapple tomato still on the vine and many others with piercings.  Today's findings started to give me the anxious feelings that I might loose everything to greedy squirrels. 

In addition to the tomatoes they also took a chunk out of one of the watermelons.  Every season I remind myself I am willing to share instead of putting up hideous fences or spraying noxious chemicals.  But as soon as the critters start to take more than I am willing to give I start to feel the inner two year old inside me want to stomp my feet, pout and greedily hoard my loot.  I'm not sure who needs the lesson in sharing most right now me or the squirrels.

Tomato Hornworm

Friday I went to go hook up the soaker hoses in the garden and as I was doing so it was then that I noticed the telltale dropping from a tomato hornworm.  My stomach sunk because these suckers have a big appetite, can do significant damage and I don't particularly enjoying trying to pick up large squishy bugs.  So I searched the plant where the droppings were and low and behold I found this guy.  He was holding on for dear life and I was too squeamish to properly pluck him so I just cut the little branch he was on.  You can even see the half eaten tomato he was working on.  I wrapped him up in that newspaper and swiftly ended his life hoping this would be the only one of the Summer.

 

Then yesterday I went out and was looking at my Brandywine plant realizing that something had eaten all the small newly forming tomatoes.  I was prepared to chalk it up to the deer nibbling on the plants except that as I was surveying the damage I saw this . . . 

Another tomato hornworm only this one is covered in parasitic wasp eggs that are feeding on it.  The eggs and larvae should take care of this guy for me and create more predators to hunt down any other unwanted pests.  It's gross and a bit national geographic but I'm happy to see Mother Nature taking care of her own unruly children.

Friend or Foe

I saw this guy and thought it was weird he didn't have spots but got excited that maybe the ladybugs had finally come to eat all the aphids.  Upon referencing my trusted Vegetable Gardeners Bible I realized it was a mexican bean beetle.  When they are young they don't have any spots.  I am now wishing I had plucked him when I had the chance, I can't find him now and my beans leaves are peppered with holes.

After my tomato hornworm ordeal last year I was worried about this guy.  But after some quick reading found out he was a swallowtail butterfly caterpillar and decided to let him be.

I have seen a bunch of wasps this year and are hoping that some of them are parasitic and taking care of any pests in our garden.

Moles

The moles once again have found their way back to the garden.  They have been running amuck in our yard but as long as they stayed out of the garden I was going to give them a pass.  But their move into the garden means it's time for me to fight back.  The mole tunnels of course took out some of my lettuce that was finally growing in.

Who's Been Digging in My Garden?

The big question and mystery for me has been who or what has been digging in my garden.  About once or twice a week I walk outside to find freshly dug holes in the garden.  This wasn't a problem last year and I can't figure out why it is this year.  The holes are only in the old garden.  It has dug up my newly planted parsnip bed once after the seeds were sown and once as the seedlings have been coming in, which definitely will affect my yields.  The only other casualty was a marigold.  Even though they have for the most part spared my plants it's still frustrating and annoying.

These are just some of the holes that have been dug.  They don't look like that big of a deal in the photos but I find it really frustrating.