When I set up my mini-Garden of Eden, I prepared for the invader. I searched websites, studied his habits, and looked for organic ways to deal with him.
Aha! Red and black pepper mixed together in equal amounts supposedly kept critters away. I hightailed it to Costco and bought two giant-sized containers. I mixed, trying hard not to sneeze. (I think it repels people too!) Then I applied it in liberal amounts around my tender, young plants.
All went well until my tomatoes started ripening. Then he struck, taking a hefty bite out of a luscious tomato. Sigh. I wanted to eat that one. From then on, it was war. I went out every day and harvested any tomato that even gave a sign of turning red.
I don't know if I defeated him or if he got tired of not finding any yummy, red veggies. Perhaps he's moved on to another hapless neighbor's garden. I'm still watchful, but I think I won this round.
18 comments:
You worked hard on that garden! Mean critter!!! :O)
Hi Diane -
My one neighbor won't even plant tomatoes. They seem to be the critter's favorite food.
I'll have to use a different strategy next year.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Cute little bugger of a thief. Here's hoping he's gone!
We have two little apple trees, and some berry bushes, but the deer and birds like to eat them before we can harvest much.
In our neck of the woods farmers pay to have varmint hunters deal with groundhogs. Personally, I'd rather keep a dog.
Hi Janna -
The critter has a big appetite.
I don't know if it works, but I've heard that hanging Irish Spring soap in a sock around your garden keeps deer away.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Yeah. One for your side. You have to be on your toes to outwit the garden varmints. So glad you got to keep your veggies.
Hi Carol -
I looked into getting someone to trap it, but my neighbor wants to do it himself. I live on a main road, so I couldn't let a dog roam without a leash.
Blessings,
Susan :)
My nemesis this year have been slugs. They all but destroyed my onions and strawberries, and like you, I'm still working on keeping them out of my tomatoes. Ahh!! Frustration!!
Susan:
I'm glad he left you alone. We used to have a garden-half our side yard. We had (and still have) rabbits in our yard. We don't do anything to encourage them. Our old shed shelters them from the weather and from dogs.
Hi Kristen -
I read somewhere that a pan of beer in the garden will take care of slugs. It's worth a try. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Hi Nancy -
I didn't lose too many tomatoes. I'm happy with my harvest. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Hi Quiet Spirit -
We have rabbits here too. I planted marigolds on both sides of the garden. They don't like the smell, so it kept them away from my carrots.
Blessings,
Susan :)
And here I thought woodchucks were a desirable critter to have living in one's yard, if for no other reason than their nature value (like crazing deer). Since we don't have any in this area, I was quite surprised to hear how pesky they are, even though they're pretty darn cute. The only thing I could relate to them are moles, though moles certainly aren't in any sense "cute".
This guy obviously didn't realize what a tough landowner he/she was up against. :)
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen -
There are people, who will trap the woodchucks. They are considered so dangerous to food crops that the state requires the trappers to put them down.
I keep thinking about an old movie where a guy kept trying to defeat a similar critter tearing up a golf course.
Since they burrow, a fence is useless. Oh well, I have all winter to devise a strategy for next year. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Ah yes ... Caddyshack! I remember it well, and it cracks me up just thinking about it.
Now you'll come to mind every times I think of the movie. I can just see it now ....
:)
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen -
Thanks for refreshing my memory. I couldn't remember the title of the movie.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Interesting. We only have woodchucks in rural areas here. My nemesis is the pesky family of raccoons that visit.
Blessings.
Jean
Hi Jean -
I haven't seen any raccoons around here, but we have woodchucks, squirrels, and rabbits.
Blessings,
Susan :)
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