3
   

WHAT THE HELL IS IT!

 
 
eoe
 
Reply Tue 8 Jul, 2003 09:55 pm
Something is getting to my tomatoes. I'm so pissed I can't see straight. It was the same thing last year. I lost at least two dozen tomatoes to this mystery varmit. Now it's starting again this year. I threw up netting on Sunday, when the first two tomatoes were chewed, half eaten and then discarded, but today, this afternoon, there was another green tomato pulled off of the vine, lying on the ground, just nibbled at. All of my hard work and they don't eat even half of it. They just nibble at it, leaving most of it there.Mad

Is it squirrels? What's getting passed the netting? What can I do now? Red pepper? Garlic? Marigolds? I understand that they shy away from a human scent. Maybe I'll go out one night and pee around the tomato barrel. Think that might help?
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Type: Discussion • Score: 3 • Views: 3,856 • Replies: 27
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New Haven
 
  1  
Reply Tue 8 Jul, 2003 09:56 pm
Rats?
0 Replies
 
eoe
 
  1  
Reply Tue 8 Jul, 2003 10:04 pm
Forgot to mention, the tomato plants are in a whiskey barrel, not planted directly in the ground.
0 Replies
 
Mr Stillwater
 
  1  
Reply Tue 8 Jul, 2003 10:51 pm
Could be winos.
0 Replies
 
ossobuco
 
  1  
Reply Tue 8 Jul, 2003 10:56 pm
hornworm, or whatever they call it, gross thing.
0 Replies
 
Mr Stillwater
 
  1  
Reply Tue 8 Jul, 2003 10:57 pm
If it was Australia I'd say you had possum trouble, so it is probably squirrels (based on the nibbling). The only other thing could be birds, a couple of years back our tomatoes were under attack from parrots who chewed at the green fruit.

Either way covering in mesh of some kind should do it. I'd suggest chicken wire.
0 Replies
 
eoe
 
  1  
Reply Tue 8 Jul, 2003 11:04 pm
Haven't seen any hornworms. I thought they feast on the leaves and stems only, weakening the plant that way?

I've got a plastic-like netting over them but something got through anyway.

That hornworm idea sounds interesting. Maybe they aren't coming from outside the netting but inside? That would make sense. I did have hornworms last year for the first time. Also, last year was the first time the tomatoes were being chewed up this way. I'll look into that. Thanks.
0 Replies
 
Montana
 
  1  
Reply Tue 8 Jul, 2003 11:34 pm
Eoe
do you have any deer in your area?
0 Replies
 
Montana
 
  1  
Reply Tue 8 Jul, 2003 11:43 pm
I've never known squirrels to go after tomato plants. Cut worms will cut the plant off right at the soil line. They live under the soil and only come out at night, but if you go out at night with a flashlight, you'll be able to see them. If you had a net over them, then it's probably a form of insect. If it is deer then as funny as it sounds, putting your pee around the barrel would actually work wonders.
0 Replies
 
farmerman
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 06:21 am
if youre in a suburban area, raccoons are a shifty lot who learn your habits and love produce. They usually raid at night and leave little footy prints that look like a human hand. If you want to know, put down a layer of flour around the tomatoes and look at the prints the next day, I have no idea what you do with this information cause if its raccoons, they pretty much will have theri way with you. You can trap em , but raccoons are rather clever and a Havahart trap big enough to fit a raccoon , will set you back the equivalent of about 50 bushels of tomatoes from your farmers market.
The choice is yours.

I can see you getting arrested for public lewdness when you pee aqround your tomatoes.
How about this, get yourself a big ole 55 gal open drum. Then you put the drum over your wooden whiskey barrel each night.
0 Replies
 
PDiddie
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 06:43 am
Farmerdude oughta be in pictures.
0 Replies
 
New Haven
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 08:46 am
Tomato virus
0 Replies
 
quinn1
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 09:11 am
Ive known squirrels to go after tomatos...and enjoy just nibbling.
Id go the squirrel or raccoon route myself...
great thoughts from farmerman...bravo sir
0 Replies
 
ehBeth
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 09:36 am
raccoons and squirrels are the thieving thieves around me. a bit further out, i hear the deer are having a taste of things.
0 Replies
 
quinn1
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 09:40 am
Coons and skunks are the thieves here...on occassion the squirrels however, most of the time the others beat them to it.
0 Replies
 
farmerman
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 09:47 am
my work is done here, away beuciphalus.
0 Replies
 
eoe
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 10:24 am
Well, I sprinkled crushed red pepper in the barrel. I know that will detract the squirrels but I forgot how much the birds love it. Now I'm on the lookout for flying varmits! Mad
0 Replies
 
eoe
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 04:14 pm
Here we are, only a few hours later and I'm about ready to rip everything up out of the dirt. Now my one and only eggplant has been punctured.
I give up. I may or may not continue with this vegetable garden. It's just so frustrating and it seems as if there's nothing I can do to stop the animals from getting to my plants.
I could just cry.
0 Replies
 
Mr Stillwater
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 07:52 pm
Greenhouse. You need a greenhouse. Basic frame covered in some sort of plasticy substance - you could use a white plastic roll and discard at end of season. More permanent solutions are shadecloth or Korflute - both will take the UV.

Now you will have to make allowances for two things:
-ventilation
-access by bees, insects, etc to pollinate
0 Replies
 
farmerman
 
  1  
Reply Wed 9 Jul, 2003 09:29 pm
the myth of fresh grown produce all sweet and dripping with goodness is oversold. Are there little holes in everything and some produce ripped up? This could be birds like a crow or blackbirds. Those you can do something about. those big owl balloons or the Japanese balloons with the big eye work fairly well.

bb gun, a little fun, a little practice.
0 Replies
 
 

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