The presence of deer populations near residential areas often brings wildlife into direct conflict with human interests, particularly with home gardening. Deer are herbivores with a varied diet, but they are generally selective browsers, preferring certain plants over others based on palatability and nutritional value. Understanding these preferences is a primary concern for gardeners attempting to protect their vegetable patches. While deer have distinct favorites, their choices are not absolute, and no vegetable is entirely safe from being consumed.
Highly Preferred Garden Vegetables
Deer are consistently drawn to vegetables that offer tender texture, high moisture content, and accessible nutrition. These qualities make many common garden crops highly palatable and easy for the animals to digest. Young plants are extremely vulnerable due to their soft foliage and high water content, which is especially appealing during warmer months.
Leafy greens are frequently targeted, including varieties of lettuce, spinach, and brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. These crops provide tender, succulent leaves and soft stems packed with concentrated nutrients. Legumes such as beans and peas are another top choice, often consumed entirely when young and tender.
Sweet corn is a major seasonal target, especially when the ears are in the milk stage, providing a burst of high-sugar energy. Deer will also readily browse the tender foliage of carrots and beets, even if they leave the underground root untouched. The high sugar and starch content in crops like sweet potatoes also make their leaves a desirable treat.
Vegetables Deer Rarely Consume
Deer exhibit a clear aversion to certain plants that possess natural deterrent characteristics. These less-preferred vegetables often rely on strong chemical compounds, unpleasant textures, or low digestibility. Gardeners can use this knowledge to select or strategically place crops that are more likely to survive browsing pressure.
Plants in the Allium genus, which includes garlic, onions, chives, and leeks, are widely avoided due to their pungent, sulfurous odor and sharp taste. These strong compounds are unpalatable to deer and can serve as a natural border around more desirable crops. Similarly, many plants in the nightshade family, such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, are generally left alone.
The leaves and stems of tomato and eggplant plants contain alkaloids, which are mildly toxic and bitter, discouraging browsing on the foliage. Rough or prickly textures also act as a physical deterrent; the hairy, tough leaves of certain squash and cucumber varieties are often avoided. Rhubarb is another common garden plant that deer typically bypass entirely because its leaves contain oxalic acid, which is toxic to them.
Environmental Factors Affecting Deer Foraging
The selectivity deer show toward garden vegetables is not static and can be significantly altered by environmental pressures and resource availability. Deer are selective when they have a choice, but this preference hierarchy collapses during periods of food scarcity. High local deer population density, which leads to intense competition for forage, can force deer to consume plants they would normally ignore.
Seasonal changes also play a role in foraging decisions, particularly the two main nutritional stress periods: the end of winter and the late summer. During these times, natural forage is either depleted or of very low nutritional quality. Drought conditions further exacerbate the situation, as deer seek out water-rich garden plants to maintain hydration. When faced with limited options, deer will shift their diet to include plants with tough textures or strong flavors, such as okra or hot peppers.