How to stop our disappearing green tomatoes?
Question:We have several tomato plants in our vegetable garden, and we were starting to get some tomatoes, but they're disappearing without a trace. The first to go was an Early Girl, maybe about 1 1/2 inches around. Next was a Roma, about an inch, and another Early Girl, less than an inch across.
The garden, our first here, is at the side of our house, without a fence, but our street is very quiet, and we don't know of any kids around who would do that sort of thing. So we suspect some kind of critter, since we have a lot around -- squirrels, raccoons, 'possums, coyotes, etc. (no deer). But would an animal take a green tomato? It wouldn't be just for moisture, since we have been deluged with rain for the past week.
If it is an animal, what would stop it? We would only want to put a low fence there, but wouldn't want to go to the trouble if an animal would just go over it. Is there anything else that would work? So far it looks like we're not going to get any tomatoes!
Answers:
I don't buy the "no deer" Deer are exactly the ones that will eat green tomatos.
The best thing would be a physical barrier such as a cage for your tomatoes.
Probably squirrels. They will eat every one they can find, green or not. Cages are the only solution, or plant in pots and bring them inside.
Yesterday I came home to find parts of my garden eaten by a rabbit. It is maddening! I put up a fence, and that is what I would suggest for you as well. I don't think squirrels bother gardens much once the seeds are sprouted, so I would think maybe it could be birds? If that's a possibility, a big fake owl can scare them off. The fake owl also scares off small critters.
If there's nothing left, then I suspect rodents (rats, squirrels, etc.,). Are they pulled off the plant or chewed off? Not sure about U.S. pests, (other than Bush), but most animals will eat unripe fruit.
Sounds like a squirrel or a chipmunk. They will eat them green or not.
There are several deterrants..human hair urine red pepper,chicken wire,and so on.
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