Mark wrote:
Now I am getting some kind of little white critters boring into the
fruits and clustering under the leaves. They are about half the size of
a grain of white rice. I guess they are some type of caterpillar. I
hate to use chemicals, but I think I am going to have to spray.



I'm guessing the little white guys are aphids? If so, you can rid them by spraying the plant with horticulture oil. I'm not sure if you can find this at Lowes, but I know Homewood sells a horticulture oil called All Season's Oil. I believe what happens
is the oil smothers the aphids. It is not a chemical, which makes me feel safer using it around dogs, and food that I am going to eat!


Heidi





Mark wrote:

The squirrels are eating what few tomatoes I am getting this season.

1,000 pardons if this gets asked every week! Google searching has
uncovered these suggestions;

- Spread moth balls around the garden (toxic active ingredient?)
- Rat poison (way too dangerous to pets)
- Plastic owl/snakes (seems like the rodents would catch on pretty
quickly)
- Christmas Tree ornaments
- Spray pepper sauce on the fruits

Just wondering if folks here have any methods that they are happy with.
Thanks much!