I don't blame the squirrels for fucking up my plants, they see loose soil and want to check it for nuts lol.

It's probably harder with veggies and containers, but I'd suggest putting fencing or chicken wire either over the pot or directly on the dirt. This method works great for flowers, I think it would work for root veggies.

After the squirrels dug up most of our spring bulbs, I put chicken wire over the dirt after planting and they havent bothered them since.