How to Prevent Animals From Eating Tomatoes
Each year gardeners wearily discover intruders are eating their tomato plants. Rabbits, deer and squirrels are known to invade gardens and eat ripe, juicy tomatoes directly off the vine. Deer also trample through gardens and crush tender plants with their hooves. Allowing animals full access to tomato plants can cost gardeners their highly anticipated harvest. It's essential to take action against animals before they consume entire tomato crops. Fortunately, you can prevent animals from eating your tomatoes using humane methods. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Sprinkle blood meal around the base of the exposed tomato plants to repel small animals such as squirrels and rabbits. While small animals dislike the smell of blood meal, it has no affect on deer.
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Prepare an egg mixture to repel deer. In a bowl, combine 1 large egg with 1 cup of water. Vigorously stir the egg and water using a fork.
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Pour the egg mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the egg mixture liberally onto the tomato plants. Deer dislike the smell of rotting eggs.
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Encircle the tomato plants in chicken wire to inhibit any animals from accessing the tomatoes. Fasten chicken wire over the exposed tops of the tomato plants as well to prevent birds and large animals from accessing the plants from above.
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Tips & Warnings
Substitute fox urine granules for the blood meal. The smell of fox urine scares small animals away.
Loud noises can discourage animals from invading tomato plants.
Install an 8-foot tall woven mesh fence around your entire vegetable garden to impede deer access to tomato plants.
References
- Tomato Casual; When Animals Eat Your Tomatoes; Michelle Fabio
- Gardening Know How; How To Keep Deer From Eating Plants -- Garden Deer Protection For Plants; Nikki Phipps
- Gardening Channel; How to Protect Your Tomato Plants From Animals; Ciele Edward
- Veggie Gardener: How To Deter Rabbits From the Vegetable Garden
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
