squirrels eating zucchini blossoms

[Katieq]

I have eight zucchini plants in my backyard garden, which I am doing for the first time this year. They are doing wonderfully and bloomed many blossoms (I am in central Florida, FYI), which have all been eaten! I'm pretty sure the culprit was squirrels. Has anyone dealt with this before, and how did you stop it? I read about spraying cayenne pepper mixed with water on the plants to deter squirrels...any experience with this, or other suggestions?

Will my plants bloom again this year, or is that it? Worried...

[bluesand]

They should re bloom it depends if the growing tip has being eaten out .

As for the squirrel problem ....we dont have them down under , apart from putting a mesh cage over them to keep them out . Is there a garden club in your area or a garden center , maybe they can help with advice

[chula]

I agree with the mesh cage. We have done that in the past. I'm sure they will bloom again. Zucchini is hardy. Our best pest deterrent has been our dogs. They chase the possums, rats, and birds away but thankfully they aren't very good hunters.

[SuperChicken]

I have customers swear by putting dirty dog & cat hair around their garden to deter pests. Stop by your local groomer & ask for some if you don't have enough of your own.

[eggplant]

I have netting over my garden to keep out unwanted creatures.

[jenna]

I have heard of some people having two gardens. They protect one as much as possible and leave the other to rabbits, squirrels, insects, whatever wants to eat on it.

[Lydia]

We live in Wisconsin, and there are tons of squirrels in our yard. They have never bothered our zucchinis (or other vegetables.) Maybe it's because of the nut trees we have around here, I'm not sure. Are you sure it's the squirrels?

If not sure of any ways to prevent pests. Maybe some of the other suggestions listed above would help.

[Katieq]

Thank you for all the tips. I will look for netting this weekend...where is a good place for that? I don't have any pets, btw.

[bluesand]

Thank you for all the tips. I will look for netting this weekend...where is a good place for that? I don't have any pets, btw.

hardware stores (dont know what you call them in your country) have it , and some garden centers . I dont know if you have white butterfly problems but if you get 1/4 inch mesh you can inter plant lettuce etc between the zucchini's and have pest control of them via the mesh as well .

[eggplant]

I got my netting at Home Depot.