Do Deer Eat Tomato Plants? Anyone who has ever tried to grow tomatoes probably knows by now that this requires a lot of time, investment and care. So sharing tomato production with the local deer population is not a tempting idea.
I must admit that I absolutely hate watching my beautiful vegetables being eaten and destroyed by native wildlife, and I am particularly sad that deer eat my tomato plants. Read on to find out if your tomato production is at risk and how you can protect it.
Do Deer Eat Tomato Plants?
Many amateur gardeners have asked this question, and the answer is yes, according to the Oregon State University Extension Office, which claims that deer not only eat tomato plants, but actually more than 500 plants – many in vegetable gardens. You might think that this statistic only applies to gardens in the countryside, but you could not be more wrong.
Indeed, a study by Texas University shows that deer are also found in urban landscapes, and in this sense, one might wonder how to protect one’s valuable plants from deer attacks.
What Other Plants Do Deer Eat?
The fawn’s favorites include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, beans, potatoes, peas and carrots. Other plants in the garden could also be at risk, so it is a must to keep deer away from the harvest. While some plants are actually eaten by deer, others can be destroyed by them walking freely in the garden.
How To Keep Deer Away From Tomatoes?
One way to keep deer away from tomato plants is, of course, to build a high, sturdy fence. If you prefer not to build such a fence, but still value the integrity of your garden, here are a few alternative solutions.
1. Plant deer deterrents
While deer love vegetables and herbs, they definitely hate each other, so planting is the best way to keep Bambi away.
2. Spray repellents
Apart from repellent sprays, there are other effective solutions to keep wild game away from tomato plants that keep it away. You can make a natural spray by mixing water with other ingredients, but there is no ready-to-use product that you can buy.
3. Alternative methods
Other ways to keep deer away from your property include movement – activated sprayers that spray cold jets of water when they approach your plants, ultrasonic devices that emit disturbing noises, and other methods.
Final Thoughts
There are many ways to keep game away from tomatoes, but you can be sure that you are protecting your garden with one of the methods described above. If you have questions or would like to share your methods, please leave a comment below.
