Squirrels consuming your eggplants? Woman, similar. I grew eggplant with out drama for a few years. (Learn my article on how you can develop eggplant right here.) Then squirrels took up residence in my tree and all hell broke unfastened. I didn’t get to get pleasure from a single homegrown eggplant final 12 months as a result of the squirrels would eat the plant each time it grew a foot tall. It could develop again they usually’d eat it once more. This in all probability went on a dozen instances earlier than the eggplant lastly died. I used to be decided to discover a resolution.
The way to Shield Eggplant from Squirrels
I attempted all the pieces that first summer time. Nothing deterred the squirrels. I had a idea: perhaps squirrels solely like eggplant when it’s small and tender. Simply because a squirrel will eat a child eggplant doesn’t imply that it’ll eat the plant as soon as it’s taller, thicker, and woodier. Seems, I used to be proper!
Impressed by my good friend Mama Caruso who advised me that I have to “backyard uglier,” I requested my dad to construct me a customized field/cage to guard my child eggplants. It was a little bit pricy ($50) to construct nevertheless it’ll final for a very long time. My dad constructed a 44″ tall wood body and stapled plastic netting throughout it in order that solar and water may get in however squirrels couldn’t. He left 4″ on the backside so the stakes may sink into the filth.
Now, eggplants get fairly tall and I didn’t even take into account having him construct a field that will match a completely grown eggplant however I assumed if I may simply have them coated till they attain the highest of the cage, perhaps that will be sufficient.
How lengthy must you preserve eggplants coated?
I saved the eggplants (one black magnificence and one fairytale) coated for about six weeks, till my black magnificence eggplant reached the highest. (Sadly the one picture with a taller eggplant I can discover is a quite awkward image of my canine!) I very nervously uncovered my attractive, thriving vegetation, simply praying that this concept would work. I waited on bated breath however the squirrels by no means bothered the eggplant. They’d no real interest in consuming the thicker stems of the plant. And in case you’re questioning, sure the squirrels nonetheless reside in my yard. They only demolished my model new candy potato vines I put in containers on the patio, in order that they’re undoubtedly nonetheless a nuisance.
Typically I’m embarrassed to name myself a backyard blogger as a result of each backyard blogger I observe has about 30 backyard beds however then I feel…how many individuals actually develop that a lot meals? Absolutely I can’t be the one individual with a single raised mattress backyard. And I get a lot meals – and pleasure! – out of it.
I uncovered the eggplants in mid-June. Eggplants don’t set fruit when it’s tremendous sizzling exterior (I at all times plant within the spring and anticipate a fall harvest) however they saved rising taller and taller and now right here it’s in October and I’ve eight stunning eggplants rising and I simply harvested two!
In case you are struggling to maintain squirrels from consuming your eggplants, I extremely suggest giving this a attempt. It’s the one factor that has labored for me! Learn my full Eggplant Develop Information right here.
Completely satisfied gardening,
Don’t neglect to observe/like The Rose Desk on Fb, Twitter, and Instagram! Join The Rose Desk’s emails right here. Get The Rose Desk Cookbook right here. Store my merch right here.
