Deer pose a frequent challenge for many gardeners cultivating vegetable patches. If you are growing beans, the answer is a definitive yes: these plants are a highly desirable food source. Deer readily eat all common varieties, including green beans, pole beans, and commercially grown soybeans. Their attraction is so strong that an unprotected garden can be quickly decimated, leaving behind only stripped stems and bare ground.
Which Parts of the Bean Plant Are Eaten
Deer are not selective about which part of the bean plant they consume; they will feed on the foliage, flowers, and developing pods. The initial and most preferred target is the tender, new growth, which includes the leaves and soft stems that emerge in the spring and early summer. Deer often browse from the top down, shearing off the upper parts of the plant and leaving a distinctive ragged tear mark, unlike the clean-cut damage left by rabbits or other small pests.
When deer feed, they do not simply nibble; they strip large sections of the foliage or pull up entire young plants while foraging. The destructive nature of this browsing means that even if the plant is not completely consumed, the damage can be extensive enough to prevent any future yield. Later in the season, when the plants are flowering and producing fruit, deer will also consume the blooms and the actual bean pods.
This feeding pattern is especially problematic for both garden varieties and large-scale crops like soybeans. Deer will eat the green, growing soybeans, and then return later in the winter to consume the hardened beans remaining in the pods. Heavy browsing pressure on young plants often prevents the gardener from seeing mature pods, making plant protection an immediate necessity after planting.
Nutritional Motivation for Deer Consumption
Beans belong to the legume family, which makes them an exceptionally attractive food source for deer due to their high nutritional content. The foliage of bean plants provides a significant source of protein, often ranging between 25% and 35% crude protein, depending on soil quality and the plant’s age. This nutritional profile is substantially higher than most native browse materials available to deer.
This high protein concentration is particularly sought after during the summer growing season. Bucks require protein for rapid antler development, while does need it to support pregnancy and nursing fawns. The high digestibility of the bean plant’s foliage ensures maximum nutrient flow to support these energy-demanding biological processes.
The high nutritional value places beans high on a deer’s preference list, especially when alternative food sources are scarce. Agricultural operations often plant specific forage soybean varieties that can contain protein levels as high as 42%. This strong palatability means deer are highly motivated to overcome minor deterrents to reach the plants.
Physical and Scent-Based Plant Protection
Physical exclusion is the most reliable method for protecting bean plants, creating an absolute barrier to the food source. The most effective defense is a tall fence, ideally seven to eight feet high, because deer can jump lower obstacles. For smaller gardens with low deer pressure, a six-foot fence may suffice, but the material should be dark or nearly invisible to make the height less apparent.
An alternative is installing two shorter fences, each four to five feet tall, placed about three feet apart. This double-fence strategy confuses deer, as they are reluctant to jump a barrier without clearly seeing a safe landing zone. Additionally, any fence must be secured to the ground to prevent deer from pushing underneath it.
Scent and taste deterrents provide a secondary line of defense by making the plants unappealing to the deer’s sensitive nose and palate. Commercial repellents often use ingredients like dried bloodmeal, putrefied eggs, or capsaicin to mimic predator smells or taste unpleasant. To remain effective, these products must be reapplied frequently, especially to new growth and after rainfall, as deer quickly become accustomed to static smells and tastes.
Rotating between different types of repellents, such as switching from an egg-based product to a predator-urine or soap-based deterrent, is important to prevent habituation. Pairing these scent applications with physical barriers, like netting draped over individual plants or cages, offers a combined approach that maximizes the chances of a successful harvest.