Do Deer Eat Potato Plants?

Deer will destroy some potato plant varieties but not others.

Deer are selective about their food. They eat leafy plants rather than grasses, so annuals and perennials are the most vulnerable garden plants. Deer are equally discriminating about potato plants. Some species need protection against deer, while others are generally safe.

Varieties Deer Prefer

The sweet potato and the ornamental sweet potato are among the deer-preferred varieties. The leaves are most often victim to the deer's browsing, but sometimes exposed roots become damaged also. Although not their favorite, Irish potatoes occasionally suffer deer damage.

Deer-Resistant Potato Plants

The best way to protect a potato garden from deer is to plant deer-resistant potato types. Deer tend to ignore most potato varieties. Gardeners should select any species except sweet potatoes to avoid deer mutilation.

Repellents

Gardeners should consider deer repellents before any damage begins. The categories of repellents are contact, which work by taste, and area, which work by smell. Rotten egg repellents work both by taste and smell and are effective up to six months. An area repellent lasts up to four weeks.

Considerations

When the snow is almost gone and the days become longer, deer search for almost anything that is edible. During this time, just about any potato variety is vulnerable, especially if it is well-fertilized and bushy.

References

• North Carolina State University; Deer Resistant Plants for Southeastern NC; Charlotte Glen
• North Carolina State University: Deer Resistant Plants
• Rutgers University: Sweet Potato Crop Profile for New Jersey
• Michigan State University: A Guideline for Plants Damaged by Deer
• Washington State University: Deer Resistant Plants