hey Jean, that is way cool! I still have my tomatoes and they are still producing, not as good quality as in the summer but better than store bought!

Morning All, Hi Anney....long time no talkee!! This is the first year I've used the clips and I really like them. Timmy1 is a commercial grower and uses them so I'm sure they work just fine. Pruning concentrates the growth in that one stem so it gives you a stronger central stem. Pruning the suckers also gives you less fruit per plant but supposedly bigger fruit. Plus, at least in my case, it makes it easier to manage your plants. I'm sure the experts...Digdirt, Carolyn137, Timmy1, and a host of others can give you other reasons for pruning. This is my third year just using the twine and have never had a problem with support, even with heavy fruit loads on the plants. I would think cantalopes would need extra support like nylon stockings...stick the melon in the stocking then tie it off to whatever is supporting the twine. I "top" my plants when they hit my support bar which is at 6 feet. Yes, Yorkies are diggers. They were originally bred to go down badger holes to root them out. Tough little critters!!!

Adorable! I am glad to see you go ahead and get another puppy. I agree, they do not replace your other babies but they would want you to be happy. Have fun with them!

I know a crazy person who puts peds (those nylon footies they give you at the shoe store when you don't have socks on) on her tomatoes when they start getting big. Obviously, she's not growing a ton of plants or anything. She says it works, but the thing with squirrels is that they all have their own personalities, and there's no one tactic that works on all of them. Sey: "Possibly squirrels. They usually haul away the things . Rats, mice eat at the location. Rabbits cannot reach too high." Yes, if it's still left on the plant, it's usually a rat, mouse, vole, etc. If there's no sign of gnawing, it could be a raccoon, which don't gnaw them off but pick them. Then you're really in trouble.