In article ,
Heidi wrote:

Thanks much for the info. I was not aware of horticultural oil - it
certainly sounds better than insecticide. I did get a bag of dried
blood at a local hardware store. I will try it if the pepper doesn't
work (I can always use it for fall planting if I don't use it on the
tomatoes).

I also got a cayenne pepper oil spray product. I got the spray for the
squirrels but it may work on the insects as well. Although I have lost
one more tomato since I sprinkled ground red pepper on Thursday, I think
it may be having an effect!



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!





--
Mark
Raleigh, NC USA