The last time I tried to grow tomatoes, I got exactly one ripe tomato the entire season. The plants produced plenty, but the damn squirrels would wait until they were almost ready to pick and then snatch 'em.
I built chicken wire walls around them, gopher baskets under them, and finally a squirrel-height electric fence, but I always lost the arms race.
I gave up for a couple years, because I decided that if I ever tried again, they would be completely enclosed, top bottom and sides, in an impenetrable tomato fortress.
Finally got around to it, and just finished today.
The dirt box is removable so it can be replaced when it rots, assuming this works and I ever try to grow tomatoes again...
The door latches with simple screen-door hooks.
The chicken wire was leftover from the last attempt, but between the lumber and all the soil I bought, not to mention the plants themselves, I figure any tomatoes I get will have cost me about 25 bucks apiece, but there's nothing like home-grown tomatoes!
My favorite neighbors gave me some strawberry plants, along with some great soil amendments and some magic algae potion that the plants will love.
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| Strawberries are inside the "Cold War era" electric fence, so fingers crossed. |
This yummy stuff should make all the plants happy, and hopefully not the squirrels!
I'll report back this summer. If you know any 'mater prayers...
I found a couple baby tomatoes in the greenhouse. Do you want some? BtW, that tomato cage is awesome. You should make a big one though.
ReplyDeleteYou guys do things on a MUCH larger scale than I do! :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck...though you should have maybe watched this first. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg
ReplyDeleteOh I've seen it. I've lived it. Hence the vault.
DeleteOh my! Good luck, I think :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck, it is kind of like the butter isn’t it. We will see how the strawberries go. When I planted strawberries the squirrels loved them and I never got any.
ReplyDeleteNext year they may go in with the tomatoes. But you are right nothing tastes as good as home grown. Love your cuz
You should make a cage like that for your snappy convertible. That will keep jealous neighbors from coming over at night and going out for a joyride. Not that I know anyone who would like to do that ...
ReplyDeleteHa! My vecino favorito is welcome to joyride anytime!
DeleteYour property and plantings are great and kudos on the ___proof tomato cage. I experienced the same and am just going to give up and go to farmers market
ReplyDelete