Do deer eat tomatoes?

United States
July 4, 2010 7:13am CST
Does anyone know if deer eat tomatoes. Something has eaten leaves and green tomatoes off my tomato plants. I am growing them in pots and moved them close to the house to keep the animals away, but it hasn't worked. I might have to move them on the porch or indoors to keep them away!
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2 responses
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
4 Jul 10
hi wilbet28 I doubt that as something has eaten the leaves and that makes me think of the big green tomato hornworms. If you ever see one you will know that is a horn worm. they enjoy the taste of tomato leaves above anything else and also like to munch on green tomato worms. I do not think deer would relish green tomatoes.raccoons on the other hand love corn, tomatoes, most any veggie but usually you will see the little characters around the neighbor hood with their rather unusual faces. they are veggie hungry little characters,but my bet would be green tomato hornworms. they are a good sized caterpillar like creature but are pure green with a hooked head.they eat fast and destroys much until they are found and squashed.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jul 10
Thanks for the information, Hatley. I haven't seen any racoons in the yard, but they are probably around since we are near a wooded area. I have seen groundhogs in the yard though -- they have eaten some of my flowers. I will check for the hornworms, too
@BarBaraPrz (45480)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
4 Jul 10
I've never had to deal with deer, so I don't have a definitive answer for you, but I would think the answer is Yes. Do you have those wire cages around your plants? You could wrap some mesh around them to help protect them. Good luck!
• United States
4 Jul 10
That's a good idea. I haven't tried the wire cages yet, but I think that I will get some. I've also decided to move them to my porch -- they won't get quite as much sun there, but I don't think that the animals will come up on the porch to eat them.
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