Something ate my tomatoes!!!

[rubyslippers]

Hello everyone,

I am working A LOT right now; so, I haven't been responding to the threads as much as usual. However, one night last week I took a little break to start a kitchen garden. The trees haven't completely leafed-out, though I'm loving my dogwoods, I decided to start a few things in containers. I thought this was prudent considering the erratic weather this year.

So, I put out two tomato plants, three pepper plants, and some basil for a start at a little kitchen garden. I figured I could move the pots around with the sun and just enjoy myself a little as I get to know my yard. Well, I came home today after some rain to find empty tomato containers.

On closer inspection, it looks like the tomatoes were just snapped off. I looked around on the ground for the plants; then it dawned on me that some animal had just gobbled them up. They didn't leave a trace. I have seen some deer around, so maybe Bambi and his buddies got hungry.

I am well aware that caging plants is the way to go, but I honestly just wasn't that far a long. My backyard is entirely fenced, so if there is enough sunlight back there, then I'll just move the next set out of harm's way. In all seriousness, I'm just pretty traumatized.

I have never really gardened worrying about deer before, but I guess this is something I need to learn. (A website indicated rodents and rabbits could also be responsible - - UGGH!)

Anyway, I'll just start over, but seriously - - something STOLE my tomatoes!

Thanks for listening.

- - Jenny

[cheapdiva]

save the rotten ones this summer and then throw them at varmits! that will teach 'em to mess with you, Ms. Jenny!!

[ChapterTwo]

We've had occasional problems with that too. We don't have deer here, but we do have squirrels, possems, groundhogs and raccoons...and we never really caught anyone "in the act"!

I don't even mind so much if the "perpetrator" eats the whole thing - I figure he or she really needed to eat - but what bugs me is when there is a bite taken out of it, and then the half-eaten tomato is left there. What am I going to do with THAT? lol

[rubyslippers]

Well, my husband and I were busy looking for hoof-prints as I truly believed I was a member of some sort of eco-terrorism; anyway, while we were hunting an entire family of deer went happily trotting down the street in our residential neighborhood. I really live in a neat little spot. Deep down, I don't know how I will ever move. I love it here.

Anyway, the mystery is solved. I don't know if I get enough sun in the backyard to grow vegetables; so, I may have to wait until school is out to contend with this situation. I don't really want all of the wires and mesh smack in front of my door steps.

I will also have to discover what flowers deer consume. Aarrgh.

So much for my gardening therapy.

Talk to you all soon!

Bye,

Me

[yarborough house]

Could you maybe plant a flower or such that deer don't like in with your tomatoes to deter them. Kinda like planting marigolds in the veggie garden to help with bugs..?

[mac78]

My hubby puts out a small garden and we have a chain link fence. He always has to replant a few things, as the BUNNIES eat supper at our house occassionally.

We do have 2 dogs which keep most critters out of the yard. The bunnies just seem to know when it is "safe". Sometimes they live under our shed.

Sorry to hear your plants are gone.

[ChapterTwo]

From Bluegrassgardens.com

I noticed that our neighbor had set out a new salt lick for the deer. The deer seemed to stray from their normal path for this new salt lick. I thought that if I could block off their normal path and set out salt licks quite a ways away from the garden, then maybe the deer would make a new path and bypass the garden on their nightly stroll. Well, this seemed to work well this last year. I'm really confident that it may work in the future, but only time will tell.

[Gigi]

Sounds like a "wabbit" to me :p

[cheapdiva]

We have a mama fox and babies at one of the museums in the lower garden. she barked at our gardener earlier this week! this garden is open to our members and we're worried about people going to the lower garden - so we need to post a warning sign on the upper garden.

here she is about 2 weeks ago with one of her babies.

[Lisa S]

She's a beautiful, leggy thing!

[chyna]

foxes are soooo cute, don't want one but they are one of my fave wild animals. :)

[Breezy]

cheapdiva - thank you for posting the pic - the fox is beautiful!:)

[Deb D]

Serious gardeners around here have their vegetables fenced. The deer come out of the woods and help themselves. Last year they ate my brussels sprouts, and they have also bitten into tomatoes and pears. I find hoof prints in the morning.

Some catalogs, such as High Country Gardens and Bluestone have codes for which plants are deer-resistant, although if they are hungry enough, they will try just about anything.

[CohenCottage]

I did deer repellent research in college, and truthfully, none of the repellents or deer resistant plants really worked after 1 or 2 days. Secure fencing is really the best bet...

[Gigi]

The only time foxes are seen in the day here- are if they have babies or rabies.

[Suz]

Oh..what a beautiful fox :) We used to have several here, but I think all the construction in our neighborhood has scared them off, which makes me sad. Every now and then I 'll see one, but not like we used to.

[annielinz]

Well, my just planted veggie garden was making me so happy. I was looking forward to eating my crunchy cukes. Unfortunately it was a busy week and it rained and today I went out there and something had devoured my poor little burp-less cucumber:mad:
Back to the nursery tomorrow to buy a new one.

Before: far right :) and after :mad:

[rubyslippers]

Oh Annielinz ... so sad ... I saw the deer walking down my street again today ... I strategically surrounded my tomatoes with my peppers and I'm keeping my fingers crossed ... good luck to you. Sorry about your cucumber.

[annielinz]

Thanks Rubyslippers. After snail baiting last night you should of seen the pile of culprits this morning ewwwwwww.

I have a friend who left for work in the morning came back in the evening to have all of her blooming agapanthas (sp?) chomped by deer, good luck keeping them away.

[chyna]

The only good deer repellent is a good dog. My parents begged, hinted and generally harrassed me into letting them have my big dog (actually mid sized) to keep the deer out of their yard. Imagine their surprise when she turned out to be a lousy deer chaser ( I did warn them that she was), now the little poodle they had years ago was a champ on keeping those varmits out of the yard.

Morale of the story, just because it is small doesn't mean it isn't an excellent guard dog. ;) sic the deer Josie!!!!!

[annielinz]

I'm so peeved right now.:mad: My second cucumber plant has been eaten!! Those stinkin' snails haven't touched my other veggies, just my poor little innocent cuke. I don't think it was ment to be:(