I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only hope...
I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.

I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
have them, I will take the plants out.

On Jun 24, 11:29*pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. *One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? *I think that is the only hope...
> I have tried: *chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>
> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. *I love fresh
> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. *If I can't
> have them, I will take the plants out.

How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?

The big problem with cages is that you can't get through them to pick.
Concrete reinforcing mat is the right material for support purposes,
and you can stick your hand in to get even the mightiest beefsteak.

"Somebody" > wrote in message
...
>I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran
>past me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone
>ever built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only
>hope... I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil
>on string. Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>
> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
> have them, I will take the plants out.

Put them in a greenhouse.

On 6/25/2012 4:29 AM, atec77 wrote:
> On 25/06/2012 4:29 PM, Somebody wrote:
>> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel
>> ran past
>> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
>> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only
>> hope...
>> I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on
>> string.
>> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>
>> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
>> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
>> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I
>> can't
>> have them, I will take the plants out.
>>
>>
> couple of tethered rat traps should fix it
>
Many years ago, I used a Havehart trap for squirrels in an effort to
keep them from young peach trees. I caught 20 of the tree-rats and
deported 19 of them (one of them died from heat exhaustion after a
neighborhood cat enjoyed an afternoon frightening the beast in the cage)
to a place about 5 miles away. However, I did not notice any decrease of
the beasts in my garden as others just moved in and I did not get any
peaches either.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not" in Reply To.

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 02:29:55 -0400, "Somebody"
> wrote:

>I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
>me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
>built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only hope...
>I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
>Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>
>I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
>plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
>tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
>have them, I will take the plants out.
>

Years ago my father made chicken wire chimneys to protect his tom,atos
from maurading squirrels and it worked wonderfully! He made hooks out
of the chicken wire to keep the cylindrical chimneys closed and he'd
unhook then to open the chimney abnd harvest the tomatos. We had a
prodigeous amount of non-squirrel-eaten-on tomatoes that year!

John Kuthe...

On 6/25/2012 8:17 AM, John Kuthe wrote:

> Years ago my father made chicken wire chimneys to protect his tom,atos
> from maurading squirrels and it worked wonderfully! He made hooks out
> of the chicken wire to keep the cylindrical chimneys closed and he'd
> unhook then to open the chimney abnd harvest the tomatos. We had a
> prodigeous amount of non-squirrel-eaten-on tomatoes that year!


I have yet to meet a squirrel that couldn't get most if not all of
itself through the relatively large openings of chicken wire. Rat wire,
on the other hand, will keep out everything of the rodent persuasion.

On Jun 25, 2:12*am, spamtrap1888 > wrote:
> On Jun 24, 11:29*pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
>
> > I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
> > me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. *One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
> > built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? *I think that is the only hope...
> > I have tried: *chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
> > Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>
> > I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
> > plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. *I love fresh
> > tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. *If I can't
> > have them, I will take the plants out.
>
> How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?

That was my question. Chicken wire will keep out rabbits and
squirrels. Maybe it wasn't high enough.

N.

On Jun 25, 9:53*am, Pennyaline >
wrote:
> On 6/25/2012 8:17 AM, John Kuthe wrote:
>
> > Years ago my father made chicken wire chimneys to protect his tom,atos
> > from maurading squirrels and it worked wonderfully! He made hooks out
> > of the chicken wire to keep the cylindrical chimneys closed and he'd
> > unhook then to open the chimney abnd harvest the tomatos. We had a
> > prodigeous amount of non-squirrel-eaten-on tomatoes that year!
>
> I have yet to meet a squirrel that couldn't get most if not all of
> itself through the relatively large openings of chicken wire. Rat wire,
> on the other hand, will keep out everything of the rodent persuasion.

A squirrel could not get through the holes in the chicken wire I have.

N.

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 02:29:55 -0400, "Somebody"
> wrote:

>I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
>me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
>built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only hope...
>I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
>Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>
>I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
>plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
>tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
>have them, I will take the plants out.

I've never had squirrels eating my tomatoes, maybe there isn't much
else for squirrels to eat where you live... possibly they are
snatching tomatoes for lack of water, try putting out a bird bath,
when water is scarce it may deter birds from pecking your produce too.
And I can't imagine squirrels getting past chicken wire unless you're
leaving an opening.

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:57:40 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
> wrote:

> On Jun 25, 9:53*am, Pennyaline >
> wrote:
> >
> > I have yet to meet a squirrel that couldn't get most if not all of
> > itself through the relatively large openings of chicken wire. Rat wire,
> > on the other hand, will keep out everything of the rodent persuasion.
>
> A squirrel could not get through the holes in the chicken wire I have.
>
A one inch opening? Do you buy it by the yard or did you have to buy
a roll?


--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:12:03 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888
> wrote:

>On Jun 24, 11:29*pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
>> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
>> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. *One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
>> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? *I think that is the only hope...
>> I have tried: *chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
>> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>
>> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
>> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. *I love fresh
>> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. *If I can't
>> have them, I will take the plants out.
>
>How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?
>
>The big problem with cages is that you can't get through them to pick.
>Concrete reinforcing mat is the right material for support purposes,
>and you can stick your hand in to get even the mightiest beefsteak.

Squirrels will walk right through those big openings. It's pretty
simple to make a tube from chicken wire and clip it's top end shut
with a couple three wire twistums.

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:56:54 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
> wrote:

>On Jun 25, 2:12*am, spamtrap1888 > wrote:
>> On Jun 24, 11:29*pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
>>
>> > I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
>> > me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. *One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
>> > built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? *I think that is the only hope...
>> > I have tried: *chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
>> > Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>
>> > I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
>> > plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. *I love fresh
>> > tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. *If I can't
>> > have them, I will take the plants out.
>>
>> How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?
>
>That was my question. Chicken wire will keep out rabbits and
>squirrels. Maybe it wasn't high enough.

Rabbits can't climb but with squirrels it wouldn't matter were it
fifty feet high... haven't you ever watched squirrels climb a tree,
they can easily scoot to the top of utility poles and traverse wires
pole to pole better then the Walendas. To keep squirrels out the top
of a chicken wire cage would need to be pinched shut. That's how I
keep the crows from my blueberries, only I drape netting over ordinary
cages that I make large enough to lift off the plant for
harvesting.... there are infinite ways to cage plants from critters,
only limited by ones imagination

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:53:20 -0600, Pennyaline
> wrote:

>On 6/25/2012 8:17 AM, John Kuthe wrote:
>
>> Years ago my father made chicken wire chimneys to protect his tom,atos
>> from maurading squirrels and it worked wonderfully! He made hooks out
>> of the chicken wire to keep the cylindrical chimneys closed and he'd
>> unhook then to open the chimney abnd harvest the tomatos. We had a
>> prodigeous amount of non-squirrel-eaten-on tomatoes that year!
>
>
>I have yet to meet a squirrel that couldn't get most if not all of
>itself through the relatively large openings of chicken wire.

No way. Those hex openings in chicken wire are too small to admit
even a young squirrels head... maybe you're talking turkey wire.

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:23:37 -0400, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:

>On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:53:20 -0600, Pennyaline
> wrote:
>
>>On 6/25/2012 8:17 AM, John Kuthe wrote:
>>
>>> Years ago my father made chicken wire chimneys to protect his tom,atos
>>> from maurading squirrels and it worked wonderfully! He made hooks out
>>> of the chicken wire to keep the cylindrical chimneys closed and he'd
>>> unhook then to open the chimney abnd harvest the tomatos. We had a
>>> prodigeous amount of non-squirrel-eaten-on tomatoes that year!
>>
>>
>>I have yet to meet a squirrel that couldn't get most if not all of
>>itself through the relatively large openings of chicken wire.
>
>No way. Those hex openings in chicken wire are too small to admit
>even a young squirrels head... maybe you're talking turkey wire.

Agreed Sheldon. All I know is it worked!

John Kuthe...

On Jun 25, 11:58*am, sf > wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:57:40 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
>
> > wrote:
> > On Jun 25, 9:53*am, Pennyaline >
> > wrote:
>
> > > I have yet to meet a squirrel that couldn't get most if not all of
> > > itself through the relatively large openings of chicken wire. Rat wire,
> > > on the other hand, will keep out everything of the rodent persuasion.
>
> > A squirrel could not get through the holes in the chicken wire I have.
>
> A one inch opening? *Do you buy it by the yard or did you have to buy
> a roll?
>
> --
> Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

I bought it by the running yard.

Squirrels eat my 100% nylon deck. I can't think of any way to make
them stop sharpening their teeth on the edges of the boards.

N.

On 25/06/2012 1:23 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:53:20 -0600, Pennyaline
> > wrote:
>
>> On 6/25/2012 8:17 AM, John Kuthe wrote:
>>
>>> Years ago my father made chicken wire chimneys to protect his tom,atos
>>> from maurading squirrels and it worked wonderfully! He made hooks out
>>> of the chicken wire to keep the cylindrical chimneys closed and he'd
>>> unhook then to open the chimney abnd harvest the tomatos. We had a
>>> prodigeous amount of non-squirrel-eaten-on tomatoes that year!
>>
>>
>> I have yet to meet a squirrel that couldn't get most if not all of
>> itself through the relatively large openings of chicken wire.
>
> No way. Those hex openings in chicken wire are too small to admit
> even a young squirrels head... maybe you're talking turkey wire.
>


I have to agree with Pennyaline on that one. Squirrels, like most
rodents can slip through spaces that look to be about the thickness of
their bodies.



On a related note.... I have had a hell of a time with mice lately.
Several times I saw a good sized field mouse bold for an opening into my
crawl space that had been boarded up. The gap is less than 1/4 inch wide
and he barely slowed down to squeeze through it.

Foe the last 3 weeks I have had 6 traps in the house and three outside
and was catching 2-3 mice per night inside and one a night outside. I
forgot to check the outside traps for a few days and this afternoon I
thought to have a look. I had caught a sparrow. Some else had come
along and eaten the body but the head was stuck in the trap. I didn't
know they liked cheese.

In article >, "Somebody" >
wrote:

> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only hope...
> I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>
> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
> have them, I will take the plants out.

barbed wire cages

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:13:03 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
> wrote:

> Squirrels eat my 100% nylon deck. I can't think of any way to make
> them stop sharpening their teeth on the edges of the boards.

Aren't they filing their teeth, not sharpening them?

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 6/24/2012 8:29 PM, Somebody wrote:
> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only hope...
> I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>
> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
> have them, I will take the plants out.
>
>

I'm thinking electrically charged perimeter fence. Nothing fancy like
high voltage or anything - straight household AC would work fine on the
little critters. Make sure you post cute little warning signs for the
sake of the chiren. :-)

On 6/25/2012 11:23 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:53:20 -0600, Pennyaline
> > wrote:
>
>> On 6/25/2012 8:17 AM, John Kuthe wrote:
>>
>>> Years ago my father made chicken wire chimneys to protect his tom,atos
>>> from maurading squirrels and it worked wonderfully! He made hooks out
>>> of the chicken wire to keep the cylindrical chimneys closed and he'd
>>> unhook then to open the chimney abnd harvest the tomatos. We had a
>>> prodigeous amount of non-squirrel-eaten-on tomatoes that year!
>>
>>
>> I have yet to meet a squirrel that couldn't get most if not all of
>> itself through the relatively large openings of chicken wire.
>
> No way. Those hex openings in chicken wire are too small to admit
> even a young squirrels head... maybe you're talking turkey wire.

No, I was talking about 2" chicken wire, but I'd forgotten about the
smaller sizes. My bad.

On 6/25/2012 8:57 AM, Nancy2 wrote:
> On Jun 25, 9:53 am, >
> wrote:
>> On 6/25/2012 8:17 AM, John Kuthe wrote:
>>
>>> Years ago my father made chicken wire chimneys to protect his tom,atos
>>> from maurading squirrels and it worked wonderfully! He made hooks out
>>> of the chicken wire to keep the cylindrical chimneys closed and he'd
>>> unhook then to open the chimney abnd harvest the tomatos. We had a
>>> prodigeous amount of non-squirrel-eaten-on tomatoes that year!
>>
>> I have yet to meet a squirrel that couldn't get most if not all of
>> itself through the relatively large openings of chicken wire. Rat wire,
>> on the other hand, will keep out everything of the rodent persuasion.
>
> A squirrel could not get through the holes in the chicken wire I have.

My bad. If you're talking about the 1" and smaller chicken wire, an
adult squirrel would not be able to squish itself down enough to fit all
the way through. I'm not so sure about young squirrels not being able to
poke their mouthparts through 1" wire, but even the most crafty and
compressible rodent would have a hard time carrying its groceries back
out through it.

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:59:48 -1000, dsi1 >
wrote:

>On 6/24/2012 8:29 PM, Somebody wrote:
>> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
>> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
>> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only hope...
>> I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
>> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>
>> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
>> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
>> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
>> have them, I will take the plants out.
>>
>>
>
>I'm thinking electrically charged perimeter fence.

Would have no effect on squirrels (or birds), animals would need to be
standing on the ground when contacting the charged fence.

On 6/25/2012 10:44 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:59:48 -1000, >
> wrote:
>
>> On 6/24/2012 8:29 PM, Somebody wrote:
>>> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
>>> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
>>> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only hope...
>>> I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
>>> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>>
>>> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
>>> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
>>> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
>>> have them, I will take the plants out.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I'm thinking electrically charged perimeter fence.
>
> Would have no effect on squirrels (or birds), animals would need to be
> standing on the ground when contacting the charged fence.

The clever squirrel will, of course, be wearing rubber booties. In this
case, you should just shake their little hands and let them have your
tomatoes. Most squirrels however will be walking around on the ground in
bare paws. Poor *******s!

OTOH, the smart thing to do is to string a couple of return wires in
addition to the hot wires.

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:56:54 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
> wrote:

>On Jun 25, 2:12*am, spamtrap1888 > wrote:
>> On Jun 24, 11:29*pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
>>
>> > I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
>> > me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. *One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
>> > built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? *I think that is the only hope...
>> > I have tried: *chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
>> > Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>
>> > I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
>> > plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. *I love fresh
>> > tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. *If I can't
>> > have them, I will take the plants out.
>>
>> How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?
>
>That was my question. Chicken wire will keep out rabbits and
>squirrels. Maybe it wasn't high enough.
>
>N.

We use tightly woven bird netting around the blackberries and grapes.
They are held away from the plants with tomato stakes, so a critter
cannot crawl up and have it fold it on the plant.

I have an entire blubbery patch and an asparagus patch done this way,
too.

I have used similar netting with one of the tomato beds and it wraps
around T-stakes - but that is to deter deer, not squirrels.

Nothing stops the damn squirrels. They once ate through one of my
upstairs bedroom walls.

Boron

On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:13:03 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
> wrote:

>On Jun 25, 11:58*am, sf > wrote:
>> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:57:40 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
>>
>> > wrote:
>> > On Jun 25, 9:53*am, Pennyaline >
>> > wrote:
>>
>> > > I have yet to meet a squirrel that couldn't get most if not all of
>> > > itself through the relatively large openings of chicken wire. Rat wire,
>> > > on the other hand, will keep out everything of the rodent persuasion.
>>
>> > A squirrel could not get through the holes in the chicken wire I have.
>>
>> A one inch opening? *Do you buy it by the yard or did you have to buy
>> a roll?
>>
>> --
>> Food is an important part of a balanced diet.
>
>I bought it by the running yard.
>
>Squirrels eat my 100% nylon deck. I can't think of any way to make
>them stop sharpening their teeth on the edges of the boards.
>
>N.


I visited someone a couple of weeks ago who had to replace the
retractable awnings on her back deck. The squirrels had unraveled it
bit by bit for nest material.

Boron

The term "tomato cage" is already taken.

-- Larry

Dave Smith wrote:
>
> Foe the last 3 weeks I have had 6 traps in the house and three outside
> and was catching 2-3 mice per night inside and one a night outside. I
> forgot to check the outside traps for a few days and this afternoon I
> thought to have a look. I had caught a sparrow. Some else had come
> along and eaten the body but the head was stuck in the trap. I didn't
> know they liked cheese.

I've had a similar experience with the rat traps
I set out for squirrels and rats. Even just inside
a hole in my garage door I caught a bird. I really
didn't think a bird would venture inside a hole.
I have a hole in the garage wall and place a trap
inside the hole with a paving tile leaning against
the outside of the wall, and birds would go behind
the tile and into the hole to die in the trap.
Birds are a lot more adventurous than I would have
guessed.

Boron Elgar > wrote:

>On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:13:03 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2

>>Squirrels eat my 100% nylon deck. I can't think of any way to make
>>them stop sharpening their teeth on the edges of the boards.

>I visited someone a couple of weeks ago who had to replace the
>retractable awnings on her back deck. The squirrels had unraveled it
>bit by bit for nest material.

There are plenty of cats needing adoption. Miraculously, they
solve rodent problems, so it's a win-win.



Steve

On Jun 25, 12:19*pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:56:54 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > wrote:
> >On Jun 25, 2:12*am, spamtrap1888 > wrote:
> >> On Jun 24, 11:29*pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
>
> >> > I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
> >> > me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. *One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
> >> > built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? *I think that is the only hope...
> >> > I have tried: *chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
> >> > Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>
> >> > I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
> >> > plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. *I love fresh
> >> > tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. *If I can't
> >> > have them, I will take the plants out.
>
> >> How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?
>
> >That was my question. *Chicken wire will keep out rabbits and
> >squirrels. *Maybe it wasn't high enough.
>
> Rabbits can't climb but with squirrels it wouldn't matter were it
> fifty feet high... haven't you ever watched squirrels climb a tree,
> they can easily scoot to the top of utility poles and traverse wires
> pole to pole better then the Walendas. *To keep squirrels out the top
> of a chicken wire cage would need to be pinched shut. *That's how I
> keep the crows from my blueberries, only I drape netting over ordinary
> cages that I make large enough to lift off the plant for
> harvesting.... there are infinite ways to cage plants from critters,
> only limited by ones imagination

I built a cage from PVC pipe and plastic netting for my blackberries.
It is 100% effective.

--Bryan

Bryan > wrote:
> On Jun 25, 12:19 pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
>> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:56:54 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > wrote:
>>> On Jun 25, 2:12 am, spamtrap1888 > wrote:
>>>> On Jun 24, 11:29 pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
>>
>>>>> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran past
>>>>> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
>>>>> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only hope...
>>>>> I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on string.
>>>>> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>
>>>>> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
>>>>> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
>>>>> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
>>>>> have them, I will take the plants out.
>>
>>>> How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?
>>
>>> That was my question. Chicken wire will keep out rabbits and
>>> squirrels. Maybe it wasn't high enough.
>>
>> Rabbits can't climb but with squirrels it wouldn't matter were it
>> fifty feet high... haven't you ever watched squirrels climb a tree,
>> they can easily scoot to the top of utility poles and traverse wires
>> pole to pole better then the Walendas. To keep squirrels out the top
>> of a chicken wire cage would need to be pinched shut. That's how I
>> keep the crows from my blueberries, only I drape netting over ordinary
>> cages that I make large enough to lift off the plant for
>> harvesting.... there are infinite ways to cage plants from critters,
>> only limited by ones imagination
>
> I built a cage from PVC pipe and plastic netting for my blackberries.
> It is 100% effective.
>
> --Bryan

I had something taking a couple tomatoes up yard. I have to watch deer,
ground hogs, squirrels, and raccoons. I started using fox urine last year.

Greg

On Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:44:11 +0000 (UTC),
(Steve Pope) wrote:

>Boron Elgar > wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:13:03 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
>
>>>Squirrels eat my 100% nylon deck. I can't think of any way to make
>>>them stop sharpening their teeth on the edges of the boards.
>
>>I visited someone a couple of weeks ago who had to replace the
>>retractable awnings on her back deck. The squirrels had unraveled it
>>bit by bit for nest material.
>
>There are plenty of cats needing adoption. Miraculously, they
>solve rodent problems, so it's a win-win.
>
>
>
>Steve

I had squirrels and mice when I had felines and I had squirrels and
mice when I had dogs and I think that varmints are like the
poor...they will be with us always.

Boron

Boron Elgar wrote:
>
> On Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:44:11 +0000 (UTC),
> (Steve Pope) wrote:
>
> >There are plenty of cats needing adoption. Miraculously, they
> >solve rodent problems, so it's a win-win.
>
> I had squirrels and mice when I had felines and I had squirrels and
> mice when I had dogs and I think that varmints are like the
> poor...they will be with us always.

When I had cats, they kept the rodents under control.
But I always let the have free access to the outdoors.
When there was a full moon, they'd be out hunting
all night. There would be periods of months in the
summer when they'd get at least one rodent every night.

"spamtrap1888" > wrote in message
...
On Jun 24, 11:29 pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran
> past
> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only
> hope...
> I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on
> string.
> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>
> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
> have them, I will take the plants out.

How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?

The big problem with cages is that you can't get through them to pick.
Concrete reinforcing mat is the right material for support purposes,
and you can stick your hand in to get even the mightiest beefsteak.

---

I don't know what that is. Can you elaborate? I really want this squirrel
situation taken care of. This is the second year one has ruined my tomato
crop.

Mark Thorson > wrote:

>Boron Elgar wrote:

>> On Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:44:11 +0000 (UTC),
>> (Steve Pope) wrote:

>> >There are plenty of cats needing adoption. Miraculously, they
>> >solve rodent problems, so it's a win-win.
>>
>> I had squirrels and mice when I had felines and I had squirrels and
>> mice when I had dogs and I think that varmints are like the
>> poor...they will be with us always.

>When I had cats, they kept the rodents under control.
>But I always let the have free access to the outdoors.
>When there was a full moon, they'd be out hunting
>all night. There would be periods of months in the
>summer when they'd get at least one rodent every night.

Generally our cats (current and previous) have completely cleared the area
of mice and rats. Sometimes, a nest a squirrles builds up somewhere,
but usually manually clearing the nesting area of debris makes
them go elsewhere.

The squirels definitely don't poach nesting materials from anywhere
the cats are on watch.

Steve

"John Kuthe" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 02:29:55 -0400, "Somebody"
> > wrote:
>
>>I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel ran
>>past
>>me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone ever
>>built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only
>>hope...
>>I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on
>>string.
>>Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>
>>I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over the
>>plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
>>tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I can't
>>have them, I will take the plants out.
>>
>
> Years ago my father made chicken wire chimneys to protect his tom,atos
> from maurading squirrels and it worked wonderfully! He made hooks out
> of the chicken wire to keep the cylindrical chimneys closed and he'd
> unhook then to open the chimney abnd harvest the tomatos. We had a
> prodigeous amount of non-squirrel-eaten-on tomatoes that year!
>
> John Kuthe...


This is exactly what I want to do. Unfortunately, I'm not handy with tools.
Mabye I can rube goldberg it like my dad.

"gregz" > wrote in message
...
> Bryan > wrote:
>> On Jun 25, 12:19 pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
>>> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:56:54 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> > wrote:
>>>> On Jun 25, 2:12 am, spamtrap1888 > wrote:
>>>>> On Jun 24, 11:29 pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
>>>
>>>>>> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel
>>>>>> ran past
>>>>>> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone
>>>>>> ever
>>>>>> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only
>>>>>> hope...
>>>>>> I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on
>>>>>> string.
>>>>>> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>>
>>>>>> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
>>>>>> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I
>>>>>> can't
>>>>>> have them, I will take the plants out.
>>>
>>>>> How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?
>>>
>>>> That was my question. Chicken wire will keep out rabbits and
>>>> squirrels. Maybe it wasn't high enough.
>>>
>>> Rabbits can't climb but with squirrels it wouldn't matter were it
>>> fifty feet high... haven't you ever watched squirrels climb a tree,
>>> they can easily scoot to the top of utility poles and traverse wires
>>> pole to pole better then the Walendas. To keep squirrels out the top
>>> of a chicken wire cage would need to be pinched shut. That's how I
>>> keep the crows from my blueberries, only I drape netting over ordinary
>>> cages that I make large enough to lift off the plant for
>>> harvesting.... there are infinite ways to cage plants from critters,
>>> only limited by ones imagination
>>
>> I built a cage from PVC pipe and plastic netting for my blackberries.
>> It is 100% effective.
>>
>> --Bryan
>
> I had something taking a couple tomatoes up yard. I have to watch deer,
> ground hogs, squirrels, and raccoons. I started using fox urine last year.
>
> Greg


I tried fox urine-- "shake it" product, but seemed to have no effect.

"Somebody" > wrote:
> "gregz" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Bryan > wrote:
>>> On Jun 25, 12:19 pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
>>>> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:56:54 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>> On Jun 25, 2:12 am, spamtrap1888 > wrote:
>>>>>> On Jun 24, 11:29 pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>>> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel
>>>>>>> ran past
>>>>>>> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes... Anyone
>>>>>>> ever
>>>>>>> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the only
>>>>>>> hope...
>>>>>>> I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil on
>>>>>>> string.
>>>>>>> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>>>
>>>>>>> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage over
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love fresh
>>>>>>> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If I
>>>>>>> can't
>>>>>>> have them, I will take the plants out.
>>>>
>>>>>> How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?
>>>>
>>>>> That was my question. Chicken wire will keep out rabbits and
>>>>> squirrels. Maybe it wasn't high enough.
>>>>
>>>> Rabbits can't climb but with squirrels it wouldn't matter were it
>>>> fifty feet high... haven't you ever watched squirrels climb a tree,
>>>> they can easily scoot to the top of utility poles and traverse wires
>>>> pole to pole better then the Walendas. To keep squirrels out the top
>>>> of a chicken wire cage would need to be pinched shut. That's how I
>>>> keep the crows from my blueberries, only I drape netting over ordinary
>>>> cages that I make large enough to lift off the plant for
>>>> harvesting.... there are infinite ways to cage plants from critters,
>>>> only limited by ones imagination
>>>
>>> I built a cage from PVC pipe and plastic netting for my blackberries.
>>> It is 100% effective.
>>>
>>> --Bryan
>>
>> I had something taking a couple tomatoes up yard. I have to watch deer,
>> ground hogs, squirrels, and raccoons. I started using fox urine last year.
>>
>> Greg
>
>
> I tried fox urine-- "shake it" product, but seemed to have no effect.

One effect, your garden will really smell bad. Can't say for sure, but my
groundhog vanished.

Greg

"gregz" > wrote in message
...
> "Somebody" > wrote:
>> "gregz" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Bryan > wrote:
>>>> On Jun 25, 12:19 pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
>>>>> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:56:54 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>> On Jun 25, 2:12 am, spamtrap1888 > wrote:
>>>>>>> On Jun 24, 11:29 pm, "Somebody" > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I was coming down the driveway this afternoon and the damn squirrel
>>>>>>>> ran past
>>>>>>>> me, with a green tomato in it's mouth. One of my tomatoes...
>>>>>>>> Anyone
>>>>>>>> ever
>>>>>>>> built a tomato cage to keep squirrels out? I think that is the
>>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>>> hope...
>>>>>>>> I have tried: chicken wire, wolf urine, plastic snakes, tin foil
>>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>> string.
>>>>>>>> Nothing keeps the evil vermin away.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I read somewhere last year, the only fool proof thing is a cage
>>>>>>>> over
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> plant with a lid that can be opened and clasped closed. I love
>>>>>>>> fresh
>>>>>>>> tomatoes and am not growing them for some very rude squirrels. If
>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>> can't
>>>>>>>> have them, I will take the plants out.
>>>>>
>>>>>>> How the heck did the squirrel get through chicken wire?
>>>>>
>>>>>> That was my question. Chicken wire will keep out rabbits and
>>>>>> squirrels. Maybe it wasn't high enough.
>>>>>
>>>>> Rabbits can't climb but with squirrels it wouldn't matter were it
>>>>> fifty feet high... haven't you ever watched squirrels climb a tree,
>>>>> they can easily scoot to the top of utility poles and traverse wires
>>>>> pole to pole better then the Walendas. To keep squirrels out the top
>>>>> of a chicken wire cage would need to be pinched shut. That's how I
>>>>> keep the crows from my blueberries, only I drape netting over ordinary
>>>>> cages that I make large enough to lift off the plant for
>>>>> harvesting.... there are infinite ways to cage plants from critters,
>>>>> only limited by ones imagination
>>>>
>>>> I built a cage from PVC pipe and plastic netting for my blackberries.
>>>> It is 100% effective.
>>>>
>>>> --Bryan
>>>
>>> I had something taking a couple tomatoes up yard. I have to watch deer,
>>> ground hogs, squirrels, and raccoons. I started using fox urine last
>>> year.
>>>
>>> Greg
>>
>>
>> I tried fox urine-- "shake it" product, but seemed to have no effect.
>
> One effect, your garden will really smell bad. Can't say for sure, but my
> groundhog vanished.
>
> Greg


The fruit stand guy said he swore by it... Yeah, it makes me swear too!

After visiting Home Depot, I have plan-- and supplies. Now I just need to
put it into place.

On 25/06/2012 8:44 PM, Steve Pope wrote:
> Boron Elgar > wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:13:03 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
>
>>> Squirrels eat my 100% nylon deck. I can't think of any way to make
>>> them stop sharpening their teeth on the edges of the boards.
>
>> I visited someone a couple of weeks ago who had to replace the
>> retractable awnings on her back deck. The squirrels had unraveled it
>> bit by bit for nest material.
>
> There are plenty of cats needing adoption. Miraculously, they
> solve rodent problems, so it's a win-win.
>
>

There are lots of cats available for adoption from the Humane
Society.... for about $200.

There is a place down the road with a "free kittens" sign. Having had a
serious mouse problem this year I am sorely tempted to get one. Cat's
don't have along life expectancy around our house. We are too close to
the road and there are coyotes running around at night. My wife's
allergies preclude indoor cat status. The big stumbling block is our
dog. He has not been kind to our neighbour's cats and has chased them
a few times. He carries on verbally and sounds more vicious than he
really is, but he plays very rough. He killed his friend the frog
trying to play with it.

On Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:34:08 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

> On 25/06/2012 8:44 PM, Steve Pope wrote:
> > Boron Elgar > wrote:
> >
> >
> > There are plenty of cats needing adoption. Miraculously, they
> > solve rodent problems, so it's a win-win.
> >
> >
>
> There are lots of cats available for adoption from the Humane
> Society.... for about $200.
>
> There is a place down the road with a "free kittens" sign. Having had a
> serious mouse problem this year I am sorely tempted to get one. Cat's
> don't have along life expectancy around our house. We are too close to
> the road and there are coyotes running around at night. My wife's
> allergies preclude indoor cat status. The big stumbling block is our
> dog. He has not been kind to our neighbour's cats and has chased them
> a few times. He carries on verbally and sounds more vicious than he
> really is, but he plays very rough. He killed his friend the frog
> trying to play with it.

For you, it's probably better to feed some feral cats in an effort to
keep them around as long as possible.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.