This is my spot.

Are you willing to use insecticides?

I live in California, the chemicals my father/grandfather used are not available.

I use sticky strips for aphids, Bt for caterpillars, Safers soap when I want to spray something. A lot of it is timing, almost by the time you notice the bugs it is too late. Similar to poop in your kids pants.

A few native flowers may attract insect eating birds and insects.

Yeah... It was just such a train wreck. Rabbits inflicted massive damage. The groundhog would destroy whole plants in a blink of an eye. The trellis was completely covered with beautiful tomato vines, but the squirrels took every single one except for a handful that I harvested green and ripened inside. I tried using some neem oil, but that burned a bunch of my plans really bad. We had a hot spell that burned a bunch of my most promising tomatoes.

The zucchinis were actually the most successful despite the vine borers. I had about 10 plants all around the perimeter. Every single one had vine borers. I sliced open the vines, dug those little suckers out, and literally duct taped the vines back together. I saved about half of them. I think I could have done better if I recognized what was going on earlier. Of course, they were never the same. But if you have them, totally worth a shot to do surgery!

I think some root veggies is an excellent idea. That is exactly the kind of insight I was hoping for. And maybe some beans on the trellis.

Vine borers are evil creatures. They seem to avoid strong insecticides. You can keep the plant covered with mesh to keep the moths out, which is very inconvenient, or you can do surgery, which it sounds like you tried, and is a lot of work. There are NO vine borers on the west coast. Imagine that. Squash there grow easily with abandon. Also, vine borers are a spring thing, so if your growing season is long enough, you can try to plant in the summer after they disappear.

From the pic you posted it looks like your garden area is fenced in, I can see squirrels getting over it but you still get rabbits and groundhogs too?

as a stay at home dad.. back in the day ... i think you are entirely missing the point ...

spending time.. playing in the dirt with your kids is the only goal .. and you accomplished that ...

and then.. presuming you were with them you taught them all kinds of things about ma nature .. including the evil vermin and bugs .. life .. especially in the garden... is not a disney movie ... that wascally wabbit.. and all ...

frankly .. just do it again ... and enjoy it ...

and i bet in 20 or 30 years.. the kids will surprise you.. by starting their own gardens ... now there is a worthwhile investment ...

i gave up on growing food a long time ago ... i just couldnt generate enough in a small space to make it cost efficient ... im not going to spend 20 bucks growing 15 green beans.. when i can get a bushel basket of them in season on the roadside for the same 20 bucks ...

if you want to do canning with the kids .. then just buy whatever is locally produced in bulk.. and do that ...

but dont be the farm on producing it yourself .. on that small plot ...

you might be better off just moving to flowers.. like most of us have ...

ken

ps: we grow in mother earth.. which is soil ... dirt is whatever is all over you ... when you work in soil .. BUT .... when you play in it.. its all dirt ... lol

Maybe some crops that are quick to mature? Radishes spring to mind. Lettuce is fast. Peas and beans are fairly insect proof and chard grows well for me. Do grow a sweet cherry tomato for the kids. They usually have tons of fruit, enough for the squirrels too. Leave a bowl of water out for the squirrels, and it might stop them taking a bite out of a tomato just because they are thirsty. Good luck!

Linda

I like the the other suggestions of using BT for the for the caterpillars, soapy water for the aphids. The squirrels may be deterred by Liquid Fence (deters rabbits and deer) or Deer Off. I always start my seedlings of squash and broccoli with collars made with plastic straws about an inch or so up from the base. You cut the straws vertically and then cut them to height up to the first leaves. That way you just slip them (cuff them) around the stem and cutworms and vine borers can't get to them.

I also like the idea of starting radishes & lettuce. Maybe try cucumbers and beans too.

feed the squirrels sunflower seeds....they will leave your tomatoes alone.....and be sure they have a source of water. They often eat tomatoes as a source of moisture.
You need to pay closer attention to your garden, when you start to see squash worms, pick them off....or better yet put uip a bird feeder and the birds will do it for you....
Spray soapy water with a used cleaner hand held squirt bottle....poof aphids gone....repeat in a week if you see more.
So....go dig up your plot, plant some spring loose leaf lettuce and harvest it when it's about 4 to 5 inches tall. Plant some radishes, and some bush beans and a few poles of green peas. Show the kids how to pop the pod and eat the sweet peas standing in the garden.
Then plant a couple of tomatoes and remember to always have water out for your helper critters.

Rabbits are hard. I am dealing with them the past two years. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do but fencing of some sort might be one I am considering. Some people use chicken wire that doesn't have to be all that tall. I had an idea the other day, listening to someone else online. They were talking about how they actually feed the rabbits rabbit food and then they leave their garden alone. I don't know about that. I can't see them resisting the temptation of a nice juicy lettuce. [g] Tomato plant. Can't see how that should be a problem crop. And it clearly is the most rewarding. Plant enough plants so the squirrels will leave you some. I like the idea of providing water and sunflower seed for the squirrels. Maybe. I have 3 bird baths that the squirrels use, I don't offer food, I think it brings them into the yard more. But I rarely see more than a few cherry tomatoes on the ground half eaten. Plenty to go around. I don't have any pest or critter issues with peppers. String beans, peas, radish, herbs - parsley, cilantro, dill. Scallions, potatoes in pots....some other ideas to consider.

Looks like a great spot for a pear tree :-)

If you have young kids you probably don't have time to watch much youtube, but this guy is from your area and I find him inspiring and knowledgable. The first link is just for inspiration but the second one deals with ways to control pests.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnLROMIMDeQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plsFdgvvc8s

I would start with above ground planters with screen bottoms..to keep out the underground pests.....and assist proper drainage...bent arches of PVC tubing covered with netting for over the plants that dont grow tall...then concentrate on proper watering needs for each type of plant....this way you can fill planters with good organic soil for a healthy crop..