I'm in a bit of a battle with the squirrels in my yard. I live near a park that has plenty of food for them, yet they choose my garden to ruin every morning. Last year, I only had a few plants, so I used a mesh pop-up greenhouse, but I've planted a lot more this year, and that won't work. I've tried dog hair and pee, but they just don't care. I can't use any sonic deterrents since I have a dog and I don't want to bother the neighbors.
Recently, I've been sprinkling cayenne pepper and sometimes cinnamon on my plants. I make sure to reapply it after it rains or on windy days. My question is: am I going overboard with the cayenne pepper? Could it harm the soil's nutrition or make my strawberries taste spicy or lead to any other issues?
2 Answers
I buy cayenne in bulk and use it on my plants, like tomatoes and strawberries, and I haven't seen any negative effects. My harvest is still fine! So it seems like it depends on how much you’re using. Just keep an eye on your plants and see how they respond!
Actually, there has been some research on this! One study pointed out that capsaicin (the active ingredient in cayenne) can inhibit growth in certain plants. It varies by species, but higher doses might not be great for your plants. So while it might deter squirrels, it could also limit how well your plants grow. Maybe apply it carefully only around the areas most affected?
Oh how interesting! Maybe I’ll apply it more cautiously and see if it keeps the plants safe.
This is good news! I just bought some cayenne myself!