I needed to move my two kabocha squash from the tray on the porch into the real dirt. But this morning, I watched a weighty groundhog (
Marmota monax) grazing only two feet from my intended destination. Years ago, I had a groundhog eat a fully bearing habanero plant to the ground, peppers and all.
My solution was to create a fabric (Agribon AG-15) barrier around them that would also entrap a huge onion, with the hope that the onion aroma might render the enclosed area unappetizing.
I placed 3 tomato cages into the ground, then attached the Agribon with a half-dozen clothespins.
I'm sure that a groundhog could go right through that, or under it, or over it. But with no visible, tender plants, and only the aroma of onion, a groundhog may not bother. Once the squash plants are a bit bigger, and develop their rough, prickly leaf stems, I think I can remove the fabric without risk.
I've never grown this variety before, so I don't know how large or sprawling it may become.
Bob