Damaged tomatoes in a garden can be frustrating. Many creatures are attracted to ripe tomatoes as a food source. Identifying the culprit is the first step in safeguarding your harvest.
Common Tomato Pests
Mammals like squirrels, raccoons, deer, groundhogs, and rabbits frequently raid gardens, consuming tomatoes. Squirrels and raccoons are drawn to the fruit, while deer and rabbits may eat both foliage and fruit. Groundhogs can be destructive, trampling plants while feeding. Smaller rodents such as voles, mice, and rats also cause damage.
Birds, including crows, sparrows, starlings, and pigeons, are attracted to ripe tomatoes, often pecking the fruit. Insects and other invertebrates also pose a threat. This includes hornworms (consuming leaves and fruit), cutworms (severing young plants), aphids, stink bugs, and whiteflies (feeding on plant sap). Tomato fruitworms bore into the fruit, and slugs and snails chew on leaves and fruit, leaving trails.
Identifying the Culprit by Damage Signs
Observing the specific type of damage left behind can help pinpoint the animal responsible. Squirrels typically leave medium to large holes in one side of a tomato, often biting multiple fruits. Active during the day, they indicate daytime damage. Raccoons, being nocturnal, commonly leave half-eaten tomatoes pulled from the vine or take bites from attached fruits. Their foraging can also crush branches and stems.
Deer damage shows ragged edges on leaves and stems, as they pull plant material. They graze on upper plant parts, around three to four feet high, and may leave hoof prints or trampled areas. Birds create distinct peck marks on ripe tomatoes, often leaving fruit partially eaten on the vine. Groundhogs are known for messy feeding, trampling plants and leaving nibbled or carried-away fruit.
Insects and smaller pests leave specific signs. Tomato hornworms cause rapid defoliation, consuming leaves and creating holes in fruit, with dark droppings (frass) indicating their presence. Slugs and snails leave irregular holes in leaves and fruit, accompanied by a shiny, silvery slime trail. Cutworms sever young plants at the base, while tomato fruitworms bore holes into the fruit. Aphids cause new growth to curl and deform, resulting in sticky honeydew.
Protecting Your Tomato Harvest
Protecting a tomato harvest involves various strategies to deter animals without causing harm. Physical barriers offer a direct approach. Fencing around the garden prevents larger animals like deer and rabbits; deer fencing needs to be eight feet tall, while rabbit fencing should extend below ground with small mesh. Netting over plants or individual fruit bags deters birds and squirrels. Raised garden beds, at least 18 inches high with buried wire mesh, can limit access for smaller pests.
Cultural practices also reduce pest attraction. Promptly harvesting ripe tomatoes minimizes their appeal to hungry animals. Maintaining a clean garden by removing fallen fruit and plant debris reduces hiding spots and food sources for pests. Staking or caging tomato plants keeps fruit off the ground, preventing damage from crawling pests and improving air circulation. Rotating crop locations annually can also disrupt pest life cycles.
Various deterrents can make the garden less inviting. Motion-activated sprinklers can startle larger animals away. Natural repellents, like hot pepper or garlic sprays, make plants less appealing due to strong odors or taste. Planting companion plants like marigolds or garlic near tomatoes may deter some pests. These methods often require consistent reapplication, especially after rain, and may need rotation to prevent animals from adapting.