Tuesday, October 12, 2010

My adventures as a peanut farmer


Peanut
Originally uploaded by nanaow2006

Shall I give up trying to get the local squirrels to stop planting raw peanuts in the shell, all over my backyard?
Oh the naughty dear ones dig up a plant, bury the peanut and leave, so each morning I am likely to find the plant lying on the soil, and I quickly replant it.
When this happens to a plant several times it begins to look quite raggedy.
I tried sprinkling cayenne pepper at the base of the squirrels' favored plants and the verdict is not in on that. It seems to have some limited success.
One friend on Facebook suggested I take away the squirrels' shovels.
Another finally tried covering tulips bulbs with netting, which worked and he grew beautiful tulips.
Several people think I should give in and become a peanut farmer. I wonder how much money I could make growing peanuts?
Meanwhile, I am trying to catch a squirrel and get his shovel away from him. Wish me luck.

21 comments:

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I have to laugh with you.....I am just feeding the chipmunks with peanuts, as I try and catch them to, ummmmmm, *remove* them from the premises! However they get fat and I think I have caught 4?
Try putting mothballs around the plants and water them in. Better yet, crush them first and mix with the soil. It should not hurt the flowers and the smell should keep the stinkers at bay.....
And good luck!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anonymous said...

Dear Terra, Oh dear, squirrels can be a real nuisance. My gardener/ handyman has netted our tulip bulbs for years and this does work. I am not sure why this deters the squirrels but it is a successful deterrent in my garden.

I am not sure that I should be happy having peanuts as a trade off for all my other plants. Try netting them!

Heart2Heart said...

Terra,

I have that problem with the fruit and nut bird seed I have in my feeders the lovely birds to don't like them seem to like adding them to my lawn and thus growing peanut plants.

Can't wait to see the squirrel with the shovel.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Chatty Crone said...

We had squirrels in the attic!

Squirrels don't llike cedar shaving do they>

GOOD LUCK!

SANDIE

Unknown said...

Ah, sugar! You are so cute ... this I gotta see ...

Have a great eve ~
TTFN ~ Marydon

Susan said...

Hello Terra....Oh, I am about to plant tulip bulbs and daffodil bulbs for next spring. I was planning to mix cayenne pepper with water and spray. But I really like the idea of netting. Hmmmm. Might give that a try.

Should the netting just be put over the earth once the bulbs are planted? Here they will be covered soon with snow.

By the way, Terra, I was so delighted that you stopped by my blog and commented. Thanks so much. Come by anytime! Susan

Anonymous said...

I have no squirrels. =[ But I have a neighbor dog that keeps breaking into the yard. Want to switch?

Amrita said...

we tried growing peanuts once but the moles got them

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Terra, Thanks for coming to my blog. I hope you return often. Here in TN, we live in the 'woods' --and have tons of chipmunks and squirrels.... There's no good way to get rid of them.... I am a 'birder' --and feed my backyard birds.... SO---naturally, both the chipmunks and squirrels enjoy the bird food also... Drives me crazy!!!!! ha

Thanks again...
Hugs,
Betsy

The Painted Garden said...

Hi Terra,

Oh goodness - those pesky squirrels. I am having the same problems and my neighbor suggested crushed moth balls. I have not tried it yet as I am afraid that my dog will eat them.

Good luck.
Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,
Erin

Glennis said...

Haha, just grow the peanuts, they are lovely freshly grown!

Deborah Ann said...

Haha...a peanut farmer. Love these escapades with the squirrels! We have a chestnut tree, so of course we have a lot of squirrels to go along with it. May the force (God) be with you in your peanut adventures!

Elena said...

Terra thank you for your great comments on my blog. You are so sweet. But I'm not laughing at your peanut dilemma but this post was too funny. Squirrel shovels...

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh, too cute, Terra! Let me know when you're making peanut butter too, okay? lol Thanks so much for visiting my blog...and hope you are having a nice evening!
XO
Cindy

Unknown said...

Squirrels can be annoying! I'll have to let you in on a humorous story - our Chesapeake Bay Retriever has actually befriended a few squirrels in our yard! Yes! You read that correctly. We've seen the squirrels eating out of his food bowl and he lets them!! It's the funniest thing you've ever seen. Maybe, you should try befriending the squirrels...just an idea!! Ha! Ha!

GardenOfDaisies said...

Where are the naughty little squirrels getting the peanuts from in the first place?

Lyneen said...

LOL... what a dilemma... we have problems with squirrels in our bird feeders... GOOD LUCK!

Good to be a Queen said...

This is too funny!!! I fight squirrels on a daily basis..My husband say's we have the fattest ones in Georgia...We just returned from a trip to Southern California (we had a blast)..As far as my old purses go, my daughter likes to shop in my closet a lot...

Linda Yezak said...

Okay, can't help laughing at this! Grow peanuts. What you don't eat, you can market. Need a peanut butter recipe? :D

nick said...

Having peanut problems? Call Jimmy Carter.

Judi said...

Hi there
Funny post...I got lost though as to who was growing the peanuts...did they grow from the squirrels planting them or are you growing them? for the squirrels?
They are so naughty...I hope you find a solution...if its not squirrels its bunnies..
have a great day
Judi