Quote from: Corky on November 11, 2012, 06:52:12 PMQuote from: AndyBoy on November 11, 2012, 03:07:02 PMWe are having a problem with squirrels in our gardens. They have eaten all the small green tomatoes, lettuce and sprouting radishes, etc. I tented bird netting over the gardens but they crawled under them. Anyone know of something that will keep the little pests out or something natural I could sprinkle over the beds that they don't like. Someone told me blood meal worked against rabbits but so far I haven't tried that.I take my onion and garlic peels and save in a container in the refrigerator, when full I add cayenne and chili powder and fill with water and let sit for 3 months. Afterwards, I put the liquid in a spray bottle and spray around the plants. Although I container garden, I have plenty of squirrels in my yard and they don't touch any of the plants. Don't know if it is the solution or the numerous acorns. They may not be interested in the produce after feasting on acorns. I agree with GG, pellet guns and SHOTGUNS are very effective. Ready for some Brunswick Stew?It either must be that there is enough other food for the varmints or that you let the mixture ferment. I started spraying that concoction (in addition to coffee grounds, dog hair, human hair) on my costco tomato plant this year. Now I didn't let it sit for 3 months but there were times where the jug would sit for several weeks before I would refill my spayer. Didn't faze the squirrels and chipmunks one bit. But V hated when I made the stuff and it was pretty rough to get a whiff of it while spraying the plant.It is nice to actually still have home grown tomatoes though.
Quote from: AndyBoy on November 11, 2012, 03:07:02 PMWe are having a problem with squirrels in our gardens. They have eaten all the small green tomatoes, lettuce and sprouting radishes, etc. I tented bird netting over the gardens but they crawled under them. Anyone know of something that will keep the little pests out or something natural I could sprinkle over the beds that they don't like. Someone told me blood meal worked against rabbits but so far I haven't tried that.I take my onion and garlic peels and save in a container in the refrigerator, when full I add cayenne and chili powder and fill with water and let sit for 3 months. Afterwards, I put the liquid in a spray bottle and spray around the plants. Although I container garden, I have plenty of squirrels in my yard and they don't touch any of the plants. Don't know if it is the solution or the numerous acorns. They may not be interested in the produce after feasting on acorns. I agree with GG, pellet guns and SHOTGUNS are very effective. Ready for some Brunswick Stew?
We are having a problem with squirrels in our gardens. They have eaten all the small green tomatoes, lettuce and sprouting radishes, etc. I tented bird netting over the gardens but they crawled under them. Anyone know of something that will keep the little pests out or something natural I could sprinkle over the beds that they don't like. Someone told me blood meal worked against rabbits but so far I haven't tried that.
Quote from: totm on November 12, 2012, 11:41:35 AMQuote from: Corky on November 11, 2012, 06:52:12 PMQuote from: AndyBoy on November 11, 2012, 03:07:02 PMWe are having a problem with squirrels in our gardens. They have eaten all the small green tomatoes, lettuce and sprouting radishes, etc. I tented bird netting over the gardens but they crawled under them. Anyone know of something that will keep the little pests out or something natural I could sprinkle over the beds that they don't like. Someone told me blood meal worked against rabbits but so far I haven't tried that.I take my onion and garlic peels and save in a container in the refrigerator, when full I add cayenne and chili powder and fill with water and let sit for 3 months. Afterwards, I put the liquid in a spray bottle and spray around the plants. Although I container garden, I have plenty of squirrels in my yard and they don't touch any of the plants. Don't know if it is the solution or the numerous acorns. They may not be interested in the produce after feasting on acorns. I agree with GG, pellet guns and SHOTGUNS are very effective. Ready for some Brunswick Stew?It either must be that there is enough other food for the varmints or that you let the mixture ferment. I started spraying that concoction (in addition to coffee grounds, dog hair, human hair) on my costco tomato plant this year. Now I didn't let it sit for 3 months but there were times where the jug would sit for several weeks before I would refill my spayer. Didn't faze the squirrels and chipmunks one bit. But V hated when I made the stuff and it was pretty rough to get a whiff of it while spraying the plant.It is nice to actually still have home grown tomatoes though.Try adding more cayenne to your concoction. My concoction is also good for keeping squirrels out of the attic, like you mention with the addition of human and dog hair.
Quote from: Corky on November 15, 2012, 09:56:42 AMQuote from: totm on November 12, 2012, 11:41:35 AMQuote from: Corky on November 11, 2012, 06:52:12 PMQuote from: AndyBoy on November 11, 2012, 03:07:02 PMWe are having a problem with squirrels in our gardens. They have eaten all the small green tomatoes, lettuce and sprouting radishes, etc. I tented bird netting over the gardens but they crawled under them. Anyone know of something that will keep the little pests out or something natural I could sprinkle over the beds that they don't like. Someone told me blood meal worked against rabbits but so far I haven't tried that.I take my onion and garlic peels and save in a container in the refrigerator, when full I add cayenne and chili powder and fill with water and let sit for 3 months. Afterwards, I put the liquid in a spray bottle and spray around the plants. Although I container garden, I have plenty of squirrels in my yard and they don't touch any of the plants. Don't know if it is the solution or the numerous acorns. They may not be interested in the produce after feasting on acorns. I agree with GG, pellet guns and SHOTGUNS are very effective. Ready for some Brunswick Stew?It either must be that there is enough other food for the varmints or that you let the mixture ferment. I started spraying that concoction (in addition to coffee grounds, dog hair, human hair) on my costco tomato plant this year. Now I didn't let it sit for 3 months but there were times where the jug would sit for several weeks before I would refill my spayer. Didn't faze the squirrels and chipmunks one bit. But V hated when I made the stuff and it was pretty rough to get a whiff of it while spraying the plant.It is nice to actually still have home grown tomatoes though.Try adding more cayenne to your concoction. My concoction is also good for keeping squirrels out of the attic, like you mention with the addition of human and dog hair.How many tablespoons of cayenne do you put in a 1/2G container? I think I had increased to 3 or 4T. The mixture is pretty red and burns the eyes/nostrils when spraying. Do you strain the solids from the liquid? I run the whole thing through the blender and then strain the solids through cheesecloth.BTW, the spray bottle I got at Home Depot sucked. The similar spray bottle I got from Autozone was much better quality.
I have 4 4' X 6' raised bed gardens this year. We are using the square foot garden method and everything is looking good except the squash. Getting end rot so I have been spraying the leaves. We had trouble with squash last year also. I had to make chicken wire cages to keep the squirrels out. This was taken a couple of weeks so everything is about twice this size right now.
We have basil from our herb box coming out our ears so I just made a batch of pesto. As I was washing the basil a small, green tree frog hopped off onto our kitchen counter. Cute little guy, he is back outside now. Nice to know our herbs are so organic that a frog is hanging out on them.