I didn’t hermetically seal the bird netting around this Black Krim tomato I planted from seed, so a squirrel took advantage. What’s surprising is that the squirrel ignored the unprotected tomato on the neighboring plant!
close-up human's view of clothespin and bird netting
before: close-up squirrel's view (thanks to husband Kurt for creating cartoon tomato)
after: close-up squirrel's view
This smaller pest, a hornworm I think, had no problem getting inside the bird netting to ruin this Cherokee Purple:
The herbs, jalapenos, and cucumbers aren’t attracting any pests—yippee!
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6 comments:
Oh, great. That doesn't bode well for the chicken wire "protecting" my melons and squash! I will say, the bird netting does keep the birds out. Yesterday I saw a female cardinal hovering around my tomatoes like a hummingbird in flight, trying to get at my last red Juliet. Poor thing, I should have let her just have it.
Caroline,
I haven't heard/read as much about squirrels stealing squash or melons, so you may be safe!
Just since I published my last post, the squirrels came back and stole the remaining Black Krim tomato that had been missed earlier. They didn't leave a trace this time. Aargh.
Wow - secret agent type squirrels. That worm looked pretty fierce too.
I am trying to be philosophical. I mean, at least we can go to the grocery store and buy more tomatoes. I can't imagine how desperate it must be getting out there for the critters stuck with no A/C and no resources except what we inadvertently provide.
I am so sorry for the loss of your tomato. RIP, sweet tomato.
If you really want to appreciate the way we have it now, (kind of in the vein of TexasDeb), read the Laura Ingalls Wilder "Little House" series (again). The kids and I are on book 6 of 8. Those poor folks lost so many crops to blackbirds, grasshoppers and whatnot that it's downright depressing. Their tales of survival are pretty impressive.
Hi Deb and Neleh,
Yes, I do appreciate that I don't need to rely on my own tomatoes for sustenance. The heat just makes me crankier. I bet the squirrels are more than a little cranky, too.
Having Black Krims stolen seems worse than what happened to my Black Krims...they were mislabeled and weren't Black Krims at all, but some unidentified tomato. A bird got one and I got one, but wish it had been a real Black Krim!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
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