Which would you recommend? Tyrant Farms is reader-supported. I got an allotment in December and have gone a bit overboard with ten types of squash seedlings… but when I was looking around other people’s plots, I did see a lot of squash abandoned that had been chewed up. Hi Shelley! You can remove pests and protect your squash plants. If you are in a region where early frost is imminent, frost protection of zucchini is integral to its survival. Since we heartily recommend our method to anyone wanting to protect their plant life from four-legged animals without using harsh methods, the rest of this article will provide specific information about it. Today I lifted up the leaves expecting to find a couple more. x 4ft. After all, it takes a lot of time and effort to harvest home grown fruits and vegetables, and you don’t want it turning into a free salad bar for the local critters. That winter, inspiration struck and we devised a new rodent prevention plot: wired melon cages. You wrote this two years ago, so I’m happy to be the first to comment (I think) on it and say “Thank You” and job well done. Make sure you also have: Depending on the size of the melon you need to protect, cut out a square of hardware cloth that will be large enough to wrap around the fully mature melon and still fold up on either end. Sticky leaves and a sooty black coating are signs of whitefly infestation. Let’s make it a happy and healthy holiday for everyone, even if this year might look a little different! Yes, a couple years ago, voles were chewing through the bases of some of our bean plants in our beds down near the forest. It needs to be staked and pruned JUST like a tomato. Bring it on, rodents! Every rodent within a 5 mile radius probably wanted to get their teeth on these, but the cages protected them. Reapply after watering or rain. Hold it in place with stones and gather the fleece beneath the stones to create a tight, firm edge against the ground. All Rights Reserved. How to Protect Tomatoes From Pests with Companion Plants Friends Don’t Let Friends Get Bullied. Purchase multiple kits to expand to any dimension, or stack to any height to deter deer. Cats still don't like larger stone, Arizona stone, but they like gravel. Zucchini was brought to Europe in the 16th century. Observe your mulch; 6. Learn how to plant seeds in a pot or transplant established plants with wikiHow’s Planting and Growing articles. Test insecticidal soap sprays before using. Perfectly vine-ripened cantaloupes smell so good! Sorry, Adrienne. Sorry about the garden injuries, but glad to hear your melons will be squirrel-free! I made a few of your cages last year … and so much work. So we just grew our first 2 melons (yippee) but some terrible animal got one of the first 2 when they were just about 2.5 inches long last night. It may be best practice to put up a low fence to keep your pet (and other animals) out of your garden. Yes, a couple years ago, voles were chewing through the bases of some of our bean plants in our beds down near the forest. Here's how! I was involuntarily sharing my tasty cantaloupe with a large rodent. However, before they’d fully mature, we’d come out to find them partially eaten with the tell-tale sign of rodent savagery: two small incisor teeth markings where the flesh had been carved out by the furry villains. To protect their shallow roots from drying out and to prevent the above-ground parts of the plant from coming into contact with the soil, spread a layer of mulch under each plant. Some animal thought the ripening zucchini looked pretty tasty and dug in for a taste. Getting some tips is necessary. Awesome!……I came across this while trying to figure out a way to save my ripening cantaloupes from one particularly pesky rat that has really developed a taste for them. Touches on a strict budget and did n't have funds to replace all the work i in. 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