"John Savage" wrote in message
om...
"Pat" writes:
Today I found a turtle munching into my largest ripening cantelope. This
is
UNACCEPTABLE behavior... How can I keep them from getting more of the
melons?

Could you drop each fruit into a shallow plastic bucket--large enough
to allow for anticipated growth? First make a few holes in the bucket
to allow rainwater to drain.

Sounds like a good plan. Thank you!

Doesn't have to be in a wild area to have turtles. I live in a suburban
neighborhood, and I get them in my backyard from time to time (and yes, they
DO like melons). I have a wooden privacy fence that touches the ground all
around, but that doesn't seem to deter them. I guess they must dig under it.

In fairness, I do live in Florida, and there is a drainage ditch behind my
house. (The plat calls it a "canal" - ha! It has 6" of water in it on
average, and drains through culverts into a swamp!)

I assume this is where the turtles hang out when they are not looking for
melons to munch on. It's definitely where the mosquitos hang out when they
are not looking for *me* to munch on.

Laura


"simy1" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am shocked that a garden in a wild area has no protection. A low
fence will keep out rabbits as well, and a couple of electric wires
(one near the top of the fence, one higher), should keep out the rest.
And to keep the birds off the tomatoes, a pan of water is the best
solution. It has to be present one month before the tomatoes ripen, to
get them used to it. That way they will focus on the caterpillars.

In article ,
John Savage wrote:

"Pat" writes:
Today I found a turtle munching into my largest ripening cantelope. This is
UNACCEPTABLE behavior... How can I keep them from getting more of the
melons?

Could you drop each fruit into a shallow plastic bucket--large enough
to allow for anticipated growth? First make a few holes in the bucket
to allow rainwater to drain.

Suspending melons in cut panty hose (or just buy a package of cheap
knee-hi nylons!) works well also! I used to do that when the vines
climbed the fence just to support them so they would not break off early
under their own weight.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson

"Pat" wrote in message
...
Today I found a turtle munching into my largest ripening cantelope. This
is
UNACCEPTABLE behavior... How can I keep them from getting more of the
melons?



What you have is much more likely to be a tortoise, terrestial types with
claws. Turtles are aquatic species with flippers. Those that are not
threatened species are employed holding up the universe.

Either could be kept out with a small fence as they cannot climb very well
and cannot jump at all.

David

I live in an urban area (bordering woods) and still, I have fences
around both my gardens. Not enough to stop the deer, certainly enough
to stop the turtles.

"simy1" wrote in message
ups.com...
I live in an urban area (bordering woods) and still, I have fences
around both my gardens. Not enough to stop the deer, certainly enough
to stop the turtles.


I guess I have really persistent turtles!

Happily, no deer problem, though. I definitely prefer the turtles.

Laura

We have tortoises (as pets) and we just use some chicken wire to keep 'em
out of stuff. They don't climb much and usually fall over if they do.

Not very expensive either to close areas off.... go to a feed store and they
can help you out.
"Pat" wrote in message
...
Today I found a turtle munching into my largest ripening cantelope. This
is
UNACCEPTABLE behavior... How can I keep them from getting more of the
melons?

Actually it does unless the turtle is tiny.
I have 7 yo desert tortoises (they're not large) and they can clear about
24"....
wrote in message
oups.com...
A low wire border is yours best best. Does not have to be over 9- 12
inches high.

On this note, you can trellis melons. Use panty hose to support each melon
and tie it off to the fence.

What type and how big is this turtle?
"Pat" wrote in message
...

"John Savage" wrote in message
om...
"Pat" writes:
Today I found a turtle munching into my largest ripening cantelope.
This
is
UNACCEPTABLE behavior... How can I keep them from getting more of the
melons?

Could you drop each fruit into a shallow plastic bucket--large enough
to allow for anticipated growth? First make a few holes in the bucket
to allow rainwater to drain.

Sounds like a good plan. Thank you!

"Nicole H" wrote in message
...
On this note, you can trellis melons. Use panty hose to support each
melon
and tie it off to the fence.

What type and how big is this turtle?

I don't know the species. It's about the same size as a small cantalope.

Sheesh! Given that this beast is eating cantelopes, I would guess you
will need some kind of extra heavy duty panty hose of a type I have
never encountered. Maybe the women in here (perhaps from a nunnery)
have some more specific recommendations (e.g., brand, manufacturer,
construction material, etc)? Should it be fiberglass, carbon fiber,
steel mesh or what?

Dominic



On Fri, 15 Jul 2005, Nicole H wrote:

On this note, you can trellis melons. Use panty hose to support each melon
and tie it off to the fence.

What type and how big is this turtle?
"Pat" wrote in message
...

"John Savage" wrote in message
om...
"Pat" writes:
Today I found a turtle munching into my largest ripening cantelope.
This
is
UNACCEPTABLE behavior... How can I keep them from getting more of the
melons?

Pat wrote:
"Nicole H" wrote in message
...

On this note, you can trellis melons. Use panty hose to support each

melon

and tie it off to the fence.

What type and how big is this turtle?


I don't know the species. It's about the same size as a small cantalope.

Most likely a box turtle of some sort, which are the most common land
turtles in the U.S. (Note--these are actually turtles and not tortoises,
though they are land-dwelling.) Eastern box turtles have a dome-shaped
black and yellow/orange shell and prefer woodland environments. Western
box turtles are somewhat similar looking but a bit smaller, and prefer
grasslands environments.

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordL...box_turtle.htm

They have a hinged shell that allows them to close it up completely if
they're threatened.

We have a pet box turtle that is inordinately fond of melons. The good
news is that they're also quite fond of slugs! As others have noted,
they can't really climb and are not all that persistant for the most part.

"DrLith" wrote

Most likely a box turtle of some sort, which are the most common land
turtles in the U.S. (Note--these are actually turtles and not tortoises,
though they are land-dwelling.) Eastern box turtles have a dome-shaped
black and yellow/orange shell and prefer woodland environments. Western
box turtles are somewhat similar looking but a bit smaller, and prefer
grasslands environments.


http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordL...box_turtle.htm

They have a hinged shell that allows them to close it up completely if
they're threatened.

We have a pet box turtle that is inordinately fond of melons. The good
news is that they're also quite fond of slugs! As others have noted,
they can't really climb and are not all that persistant for the most part.

Yes, this turtle can close itself up in the shell completely.

We have a box turtle and he loves snails.... he is very persistant...
stubborn little guy... he can't climb either... my CA desert tortoises can
"DrLith" wrote in message
...
Pat wrote:
"Nicole H" wrote in message
...

On this note, you can trellis melons. Use panty hose to support each

melon

and tie it off to the fence.

What type and how big is this turtle?


I don't know the species. It's about the same size as a small cantalope.

Most likely a box turtle of some sort, which are the most common land
turtles in the U.S. (Note--these are actually turtles and not tortoises,
though they are land-dwelling.) Eastern box turtles have a dome-shaped
black and yellow/orange shell and prefer woodland environments. Western
box turtles are somewhat similar looking but a bit smaller, and prefer
grasslands environments.


http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordL...box_turtle.htm

They have a hinged shell that allows them to close it up completely if
they're threatened.

We have a pet box turtle that is inordinately fond of melons. The good
news is that they're also quite fond of slugs! As others have noted,
they can't really climb and are not all that persistant for the most part.

let me look under my habit
"Dominic-Luc Webb" wrote in message
...


Sheesh! Given that this beast is eating cantelopes, I would guess you
will need some kind of extra heavy duty panty hose of a type I have
never encountered. Maybe the women in here (perhaps from a nunnery)
have some more specific recommendations (e.g., brand, manufacturer,
construction material, etc)? Should it be fiberglass, carbon fiber,
steel mesh or what?

Dominic



On Fri, 15 Jul 2005, Nicole H wrote:

On this note, you can trellis melons. Use panty hose to support each
melon
and tie it off to the fence.

What type and how big is this turtle?
"Pat" wrote in message
...

"John Savage" wrote in message
om...
"Pat" writes:
Today I found a turtle munching into my largest ripening cantelope.
This
is
UNACCEPTABLE behavior... How can I keep them from getting more of
the
melons?