I tried the blood meal.
The squirrels walked thorugh it to get to the plant.
I also bought some spray to spray on the plant that deters animals (it too was made of blood). I literally JUST sprayed the leaves today, around 11 I went outside and lo and behold they walked though the powder jumped on the wetted leaves to try and gnaw at the tender leaves.
However, I have been having success (and fun) throwing loud fire-cracker like objects from my second floor windows at them when I can catch them. It deters them for a day or so.
I imagine eventually I would have to work up to M-80's to illicit any sort of response from them.
Pepper spray makes me leary after spraying the blood stuff (it came back in my face a bunch of times) LOL.
The battle rages........