Comments on: How to Keep the Birds from Eating Your Tomatoes http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/ hands on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:48:38 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Randy in Amarillo http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1081 Randy in Amarillo Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:14:23 +0000 http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1081 I have used inflatable snakes and owls and they seem to work fine if you move them around and don't allow birds to get used to them in one place. You can use apples, which emit eythelene gas, to help ripen tomatoes. Blossom end rot is normally a result of either a calcium deficiency in the soil or uneven moisture (too wet followed by too dry). Remedies might include adding calcium to the soil, in the form of chemicals, or maybe crushed egg shells. To control moisture, use a heavy layer of mulch, 5 - 6 inches, which will also reduce the need for frequent waterings as well as reduce the weeds that can haunt gardens. I have enjoyed your articles in the paper ... Marcie has sent me several. Green thumbs! I have used inflatable snakes and owls and they seem to work fine if you move them around and don’t allow birds to get used to them in one place.
You can use apples, which emit eythelene gas, to help ripen tomatoes.
Blossom end rot is normally a result of either a calcium deficiency in the soil or uneven moisture (too wet followed by too dry). Remedies might include adding calcium to the soil, in the form of chemicals, or maybe crushed egg shells. To control moisture, use a heavy layer of mulch, 5 – 6 inches, which will also reduce the need for frequent waterings as well as reduce the weeds that can haunt gardens.
I have enjoyed your articles in the paper … Marcie has sent me several. Green thumbs!

]]> By: lifesatrip http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1061 lifesatrip Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:18:34 +0000 http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1061 I have not had trouble with tomatoes with blossom end rot, but one of my pepper got it. http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/Link-Page?SC=LNA7026B&id=5354 Sounds like even watering is the key. Maybe a drip system will help. I have not had trouble with tomatoes with blossom end rot, but one of my pepper got it. http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/Link-Page?SC=LNA7026B&id=5354

Sounds like even watering is the key. Maybe a drip system will help.

]]> By: Andrew http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1060 Andrew Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:29:10 +0000 http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1060 Link to first tomato harvest: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewartemenko/2602347008/ My cucumbers are all weird. They blow up on one end but never quite expand to the other end. They look like mutant question marks. Link to first tomato harvest:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewartemenko/2602347008/

My cucumbers are all weird. They blow up on one end but never quite expand to the other end. They look like mutant question marks.

]]> By: Rebecca http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1055 Rebecca Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:49:40 +0000 http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1055 I'm having the same issues with grackles that you are... and I think I have an almost identical square foot setup (which has not been working terribly well for me; the tomatoes crushed pretty much all the other plants in the raised beds). I've heard that the birds are really looking for a source of water, and that if you put a birdbath nearby they won't go for the tomatoes. I've also heard of putting nylons over the tomatoes as they're ripening. But my solution so far has also been to bring them inside. I've got about 40 tomatoes ripening on my windowsills! (And really, I haven't found the taste diminished by it, rather than picking them straight off the vine.) I’m having the same issues with grackles that you are… and I think I have an almost identical square foot setup (which has not been working terribly well for me; the tomatoes crushed pretty much all the other plants in the raised beds).

I’ve heard that the birds are really looking for a source of water, and that if you put a birdbath nearby they won’t go for the tomatoes. I’ve also heard of putting nylons over the tomatoes as they’re ripening. But my solution so far has also been to bring them inside. I’ve got about 40 tomatoes ripening on my windowsills! (And really, I haven’t found the taste diminished by it, rather than picking them straight off the vine.)

]]> By: deke http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1054 deke Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:25:53 +0000 http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1054 You should look at some of those kitties on Craig's List. They could patrol the garden for you. You should look at some of those kitties on Craig’s List. They could patrol the garden for you.

]]> By: deke http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1053 deke Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:23:05 +0000 http://erincovert.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/how-to-keep-the-birds-from-eating-your-tomatoes/#comment-1053 I don't have bird problems, it's the insects that do the damage around my garden. Have you had blossom end rot? It's where the bottom of the tomato turns brown. I've had to pull several tomatoes because of this. Suggestions? I don’t have bird problems, it’s the insects that do the damage around my garden. Have you had blossom end rot? It’s where the bottom of the tomato turns brown. I’ve had to pull several tomatoes because of this. Suggestions?

]]>