Jerry Minasi wrote:


Put shallow birdbaths of water out for them. Supposedly they are
pecking them for the juice. They are thirsty. They typically don't eat
tomatoes.
DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email)
Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound
1st Year Gardener

Thanks, but I allready have a birdbath out for them.
Maybe my mistake is that I put out bird food for them every day...Some
thanks I get from them!
Jerry Shirley, Long Island NY

This is an interesting discussion. I have neither pecking nor scarecrows
(CD's) but I do have a birdbath and I do feed the birds. I want birds in my
garden because I want them to eat some of the bugs and leave their
droppings behind so I feed them seed right at the edge of the garden.

Are the birds perhaps pecking at bugs on the tomatoes? Are you certain that
birds are doing the damage and not a squirrel or some mice? I do get
occaisional squirrel bites on things but not enough to bother trapping the
rascals. I've gardened in this location for a few years and had other
gardens and, in every case, putting water out for the birds (kept fresh
daily, ideally kept moving with a steady drip off the end of a garden hose)
has stopped the tomato-pecking problem cold in its tracks.

Step into your garden and take a look around. Something there is eating your
stuff. Since birds are going to visit your garden (and this is not a bad
thing), try to make it a hospitable place for them. If you determine that
the source of the problem is a rodent of some sort, spray your stuff with a
hot-pepper tea.( * )

Your answer is out there ... looking you in the face.

Bill



( * ) put several jalapenos / habaneros through a blender with some water.
Strain (I use old pantyhose bottoms stretched over the opening of my
sprayer). Fill the sprayer with water and add a spreader/sticker such as a
dollop of molasses or a tablespoon of Palmolive (green) dishwashing soap.
Drench the entire plant (also wards off a lot of insects), wetting it to
the point of running off. Repeat as needed - most likely just two or three
weekly applications will take care of things. Remember to rinse veggies
before eating.
--
Zone 5b (Detroit, MI)
I do not post my address to news groups.