Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Tomato Pests

Birds are beginning to annoy me in my tomato patch. Can't they just choose a tomato and finish the entire fruit before moving on to destroy another? Here's what my tomato looked like before today. It was soaking in the nutrients and warm sun. Growing, ripening until it was ready for my dinner table.
This was not to be. Some danged little twerp decided to dive in before an invitation was extended...before eating the grubs and caterpillars. How rude.
How do you "shoo" away birds from your garden? Oh, don't think I'm defenseless. I have Cagney and Lacey on my staff.
Just this morning I was presented with a lovely, dead sparrow (picture not included). I don't know if this bird committed the offense; but my team asks questions later. Maybe.
Note: The next morning, the remains of a dove were found in the same spot as the orange cat pictured above. The cats don't care that it's not dove season. Everyday is dove season for them.

4 comments:

Christine said...

Oh how I hate when this happens! And I totally agree about them finishing what they started before moving on to destroy another precious beauty. Your cats are beautiful. I love long-haireds. Unfortunately my cat stays inside but I suspect he wouldn't be much of a deterrent anyway! I once read you can hang old CDs from fishing line. The idea is when they blow in the breeze the reflected light frightens the birds away. I don't have anywhere to hang these close enough the do any good but perhaps you do. Good luck and let me know if you discover anything that works.

Lisa Paul said...

I've had success with netting (although a bird did get caught in it and die) and also those mylar streamers that flutter. Apparently birds "read" them as fire and stay away. Of course that doesn't help with the slugs and bugs. But there are always toads.

Red Icculus said...

Your kitties are adorable. Hopefully they help keep the birds away from those beautiful tomaters.

Rowena said...

I'm going to count my lucky stars that our tomatoes don't have any pests over here (this does not count the doxie who thought they were something to play with last year). I read so much about blight, insects and whatnot, and was mentally prepared for battle, but no bugs or birds even bothered to take a look! The only minor problem were slugs, but then it was only after a heavy rain, and only if the plant itself wasn't staked properly.