Squirrels consuming your eggplants? Lady, identical. I grew eggplant with out drama for a few years. (Learn my article on methods to develop eggplant right here.) Then squirrels took up residence in my tree and all hell broke unfastened. I didn’t get to take pleasure in a single homegrown eggplant final yr as a result of the squirrels would eat the plant each time it grew a foot tall. It will develop again they usually’d eat it once more. This in all probability went on a dozen occasions earlier than the eggplant lastly died. I used to be decided to discover a answer.
Methods to Shield Eggplant from Squirrels
I attempted all the pieces that first summer time. Nothing deterred the squirrels. I had a principle: possibly squirrels solely like eggplant when it’s small and tender. Simply because a squirrel will eat a child eggplant doesn’t imply that it’s going to eat the plant as soon as it’s taller, thicker, and woodier. Seems, I used to be proper!
Impressed by my pal Mama Caruso who informed 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 bit pricy ($50) to construct but it surely’ll final for a very long time. My dad constructed a 44″ tall picket 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 grime.Â
Now, eggplants get fairly tall and I didn’t even take into account having him constructed a field that may match a completely grown eggplant however I believed if I may simply have them lined till they attain the highest of the cage, possibly that may be sufficient.Â
How lengthy do you have to hold eggplants lined?
I stored the eggplants (one black magnificence and one fairytale) lined 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 moderately awkward image of my canine!) I very nervously uncovered my attractive, thriving crops, 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 dwell in my yard. They only demolished my model new candy potato vines I put in containers on the patio, so that they’re positively nonetheless a nuisance.Â
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 believe…how many individuals actually develop that a lot meals? Certainly I can’t be the one particular person with a single raised mattress backyard. And I get a lot meals – and pleasure! – out of it.Â
I uncovered the eggplants in mid-June. Eggplants don’t set fruit when it’s tremendous sizzling outdoors (I at all times plant within the spring and anticipate a fall harvest) however they stored 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 advocate giving this a attempt. It’s the one factor that has labored for me! Learn my full Eggplant Develop Information right here.
Pleased 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.
