Why will this be the last plant standing?

@TheHorse (238364)
Walnut Creek, California
June 22, 2016 12:13pm CST
The ground squirrels have already managed to vanquish all of our corn and sunflowers out at Ground Squirrel Gardens, in spite of the rainy Winter we had. But for some reason they haven't touched the squash plants. The squash plants were the last to go (except for the cacti) last year as well. Do you have any idea why ground squirrels don't particularly care for squash plants? I tasted a leaf, and it was a bit peppery. Perhaps that's it. Do you know of particular plants that are resistant to particular animals? The deer and bunnies used to feast on my garden in Orinda CA (hillier and a bit moister than here), and I can't remember which flowers were supposed to shoo them way. None did.
14 people like this
16 responses
Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
22 Jun 16
I find that Triffids can usually stand up to local wildlife rather well.
1 person likes this
Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Jun 16
@TheHorse Oh well, you did not mention that they were illiterate ground squirrels.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun 16
I've had a hard time finding some to plant. And ground squirrels seem unfazed by literature.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jun 16
@Asylum This is the new generation of ground squirrels. They don't read fiction for pleasure.
1 person likes this
crazyhorseladycx
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
22 Jun 16
i'll still trade'ja some grasshoppers fer some ground squirrels! i found this link: 'n 't looks like yer prolly gonna need some critter urine to keep'm 'way.
geeks of gardens: How to Repel Ground Squirrels
www.geeksofgardens.com
How to Repel Ground Squirrels. Ground squirrels can be found across North America, digging up tulip bulbs and robbing bird feeders. Although ground squirrels look similar to tree squirrels and can climb trees, they prefer their burrows, especially when fri
1 person likes this
crazyhorseladycx
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
22 Jun 16
@TheHorse lol, ya need fox 'r coyote, not equine my friend!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun 16
Dang, I tried my own...you know...last year. Didn't do a dang thing.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun 16
@crazyhorseladycx Dang it, I read that. But I eat more animals than your average horse.
1 person likes this
ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (64176)
• United States
6 Jul 16
Those squash plants also have pretty prickly leaves and stems, I've discovered this year...
1 person likes this
ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (64176)
• United States
6 Jul 16
@TheHorse I got one of those "hairs" in my finger and it took a long time to get it out - ouch!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Jul 16
They do! Maybe that discourages the squirrels as well. Ours are still standing, and it's July now.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Jul 16
@ElicBxn That happened to me when I stupidly touched a prickly pear cactus. Never again.
1 person likes this
Jabo
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
22 Jun 16
How frustrating for you - pesky squirrels.
1 person likes this
Jabo
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
22 Jun 16
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun 16
@jaboUK I actually have an ear of corn growing on my balcony. I'm pretty excited about it. We'll see how big it gets.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun 16
We DID harvest a few snow peas and green beans this year out there. So the squirrels didn't "totally" win.
1 person likes this
Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
23 Jun 16
I know that marigolds are supposed to keep certain animals at bay. One is deer, but I'm not sure what else finds it unappealing. Maybe you can add a bit of pepper to your sunflowers and corn next year to try to prevent the squirrels from harvesting them before you can get to it.
1 person likes this
Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Jun 16
@TheHorse I'd think it would work better if they were thirstier than normal.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Jun 16
@MarshaMusselman They just went for it ayway. They knew there was water in them there plants.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jun 16
I used cayenne pepper last Summer. It worked for a spell, but not once the drought made the ground squirrels seriously thirsty.
1 person likes this
paigea
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
23 Jun 16
I do not know how to keep critters away. We have moles and gophers and slugs trying to eat our garden.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jun 16
I outsmarted the slugs and snails in Oakland by not transferring my starts into the ground until they were pretty big. But the ground squirrels in Concord still have me befuddled.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jun 16
@paigea They're bigger--more like fat squirrels that live in the ground.
paigea
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
23 Jun 16
@TheHorse Are ground squirrels something like gophers?
1 person likes this
Patsie Hatley is Deceased
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Aug 16
I had noticed that when we still had our house no thing ever bothered the squash plants. nasturtiums will chase animals away sharp flavor I guess.
vanny
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
22 Jun 16
No idea. But I do know that pigeons attacked my chillies (pepper) plants, and even melon cucumber plant. But they left my tomatoes and fenu greek plants alone.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun 16
I have tomatoes on my balcony, but the ones at Ground Squirrel Gardens are long gone.
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Jun 16
We did better with things that fluttered or made noise to scare off the deer, or having a dog lol
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jun 16
Hmm. Maybe a really noisy scarecrow/windmill thingie would help.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jun 16
There are lists of plants on various websites of plants that kangaroos won't eat. Maybe there's the same sorts of lists for ground squirrels. What a shame all your plants have been eaten.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jun 16
Well...almost all. Here are the two squash plants as of this morning.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jun 16
@TheHorse The kangaroos don't touch squash plants either although the first year they did start eating the fruits themselves.
NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (127180)
• United States
22 Jun 16
I hope that they leave the squash alone.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun 16
I hope so too. But I fear it's only a matter of time. Vicious herbivores know no bounds.
1 person likes this
John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jun 16
Perhaps squirrels have discerning palates and don't like squash like me!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun 16
I hope that's the case! But I think they're in it for the water. They're probably cackling their evil squirrel cackles and waiting for the squash to be big and juicy.
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43665)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Jun 16
I have no idea, but it would be interesting to research it. I think I've read about anti-deer plants on here.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jun 16
I can't remember if marigolds attract deer or repel them.
1 person likes this
Vivi Zhuang
@solitary (260)
•
23 Jun 16
maybe the plant enjoys staying in the dry environment, so strong
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238364)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jun 16
Squash likes lots of water, I think.
ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (64176)
• United States
6 Jul 16
now, I don't know about rabbits, but deer are supposed to be deterred by bars of soap - the smell of humans, I guess
Reine25
@Lucky15 (37391)
• Philippines
23 Jun 16
Choosy.creatures...the.have the "taste" :))