Gus said:

Are you suggesting leaving peanuts out, but away from the tomatoes? I
don't have a big yard, but could maybe put some at the other end. Or in
the front yard. How do you know if the squirrels have a peanut allergy.
(Actually, that might be a good thing!)

No, just suggesting that her experiment showed that wasabi is more effective
deterent than the commonly recommended hot pepper.


I didn't mess with chicken wire too much because to do it right was getting
kinda involved. I had read that cheap chicken wire with larger hole they
can still get through. Though I did have some lying around and I did
kinda
lay it around the plants. I think it did dissuade them a bit but not too
much. I didn't stake it thinking maybe if it was flimsy and gave way some
when they stepped on it maybe they would be skittish?

Yes, you need the wire netting with small (1") openings. But it's not so hard
to make panels by stapling the wire netting to wood strips. Then you can
put several panels together so that they stand up. Just untie them to get to
the tomatoes.

(I used to use chicken wire panels 8' tall and 4' wide to protect my block
plantings of sweet corn, before we put in the fence with the shock wire.)

I don't like wasabi, so afraid that would get into the tomatoes, but maybe I
can try spreading some around one of the plants and experiment. Maybe
in conjunction with the white vinegar.... What do you mean by mustard
oil? I like mustard so would try that. Spicy mustard??

Pure mustard oil is the hot, eye-watering agent in mustard seeds and other
pungeant cruciferous vegetables (like radishes, horseradish and wasabi).

I've some experience with it being used in Korean cuisine. A little goes a
long, long way when you are dining.

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

"Yes, swooping is bad."

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