Well, bear in mind, I grew up 'wild'. Squirrel and dumplings are the best solution...as those rodents are curious and clever.

Some sort of spray deterrent perhaps? Like I use a hot pepper spray to help keep the critters off my seedlings. I know some home stores sell various deterrent sprays too.

glad I saw this post. this is my first time growing from seed and was wondering the same thing. with my mature plants I spray with a milk/pepper solution that works great but wasn't sure if this would harm seedlings. what does everyone think? have you done this with babies???

I have used Deer Off for the last 10 years, does not harm plants at all, really stinky if you spray some on yourself though. Even with rain it lasts for about 2 months for me and than I spray again. I have tried other more natural stuff and it just wasn't doing it. I wasn't having a hard time with sqirrells eating seedlings, but they would dig them up as soon as the tops came off.

I use the netted material, tulle, to cover my freshly planted grass seed. It should work to rubber band a piece over the jugs, when the weather is warm enough to keep the containers open . It will let the sun and rain into the container, but the squirrels should leave it alone. They are attracted to disturbed soil, maybe they think that there's something to eat buried there.