Pop-up pot protection to sort out squirrels

Do squirrels eat begonia tubers? 

A glance into a pot revealed a tuber somewhat less rounded than it had been. Toothmarks are visible.

For anyone who hasn't grown begonias, the reason why this onslaught was so visible was that the tubers are nestled into the top of, rather than buried under, the soil. Thompson and Morgan, who handed them out at the Garden Press Event this year, have a helpful video showing how to plant begonias. Squirrels aren't mentioned.

As pests go, this isn't exactly a catastrophe. I rejoice that I haven't had the badger problem that destroyed most of the The Patient Gardener's tulips, but still, something had to be done.

I was about to arrange a square of netting, tied on jam-pot style, when Husband pointed out that the solution was sitting on a shelf. Not so long ago, Gardenskill sent me one of their pop-up fruit and veg cages. I have to admit that I really like it, but I hadn't found a use for it. It 's around 20 inches high and 18 x 18 inches square (51 x 46 x 46 cms) and as I tend to grow rows of veg in the raised beds there were always some that didn't fit under and so I used fleece or netting instead. Here it answers perfectly.

An inappropriate shape for my needs was really the only reason I hadn't used it before.  Using tent technology, the frame is made of carbon-fibre rods - very strong and light. So light, that the cages have loops attached where you insert tent pegs to hold them down.  And they're very easy to put up. So easy that it made me squeal with laughter when I first took it out of its bag. Raring to go, it leapt out of my hands and stood to attention.

Various sizes and shapes are available, and if I were to get another, I'd choose the Giant Fruit Cage which would fit well on the raised bed. At £39.99 + £5.49 p&p, though, it's not cheap compared with, say, netting. On the other hand it's incredibly easy to put up and therefore you're far more likely to put it up immediately you need to, rather than aiming to sort out netting as soon as you've got a moment. 

It's almost as easy to put away. Twisting it back into the tiny size that fits in the bag takes a knack which I manage to master after a couple of goes. Gardenskill have put a video on their website to show how to do it. One reviewer on the site has added, "The key is not to get angry. If it doesn't work, just leave it and come back later for another try." 

Comments

[colin]

what a great idea! I have been using old wire hanging baskets, but they have to be tied down so the little blighters don't muscle them out of the way!

[Helen]

You wouldn't think squirrels could be so strong, Colin! Yes, there's a lot to be said for these. But could a high-IQ squirrel work out to nibble the loops off, I wonder? Surely not...

[Anna B]

Hi Helen! I love the pop-up! Adam made us some net boxes that I stash my bulbs under over the winter to keep squirrels at bay but a lot of people would like this more portable/storable solution I'm sure. Plus they don't have to make it themselves either. I like it! Nice easy solution :)

[Helen]

Hi, Anna. Pesky squirrels. Still, the challenge is good for us, I'm sure.