Which critters like green tomatoes?

[Anonymous]

I have two potted tomato plants near my front porch. Every time a tomato gets to be larger than a cherry tomato to about the size of a plum tomato a critter comes along and snatches them. I have had trouble with deer and rabbits with other, veggies in th peat, but never tomatoes.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s squirrels. We put screens around ours which helped.

[Anonymous]

Squirrels do this.

[Anonymous]

Put netting around the plants. I haven't put mine up yet but will as soon as it starts to fruit.

[Anonymous]

Squirrels are glass bowls. The worst is when they take one bite and leave the nearly intact discarded fruit to taunt you.

[Anonymous]

You must protect your tomatoes! If they’re removing the tomato, it could be a squirrel. If they’re taking little pokes, it could be a bird. If you’re finding big chewy bites, it could be a rat. Rats will go after green tomatoes in my garden.

[Anonymous]

Groundhogs can decimate gardens literally overnight. I had two of these jerks marauding around my flowers and vegetables until they had the misfortune to venture into a less benign neighbor’s yard.

[Anonymous]

Squirrels take the tomato, take a bite, and leave it on the ground by the plant for you to find.

[Anonymous]

A couple years ago, something ate probably 90% of the tomatoes in my garden, and generally when they were still green. It was strange because there were few half eaten ones- they were just picked clean, even the big ones. Never figured out what it was. Got better fencing last year which helped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Squirrels take the tomato, take a bite, and leave it on the ground by the plant for you to find.

Yes. Squirrels take the tomatoes in search of hydration - a quick bite or two gives them access to the water and then they're done.

[Anonymous]

Our whole row of tomatoes were eaten in 2 days by Horn worms. They look like fat green caterpillars with eyes all over them and a huge horn in the front.

[Anonymous]

Squirrels or groundhogs.

https://instagram.com/chunk_the_groundhog?igshid=cwzaim10b2pu

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our whole row of tomatoes were eaten in 2 days by Horn worms. They look like fat green caterpillars with eyes all over them and a huge horn in the front.

Ugh, we had these last summer. They’re awful. Supposedly planting basil right next to the tomatoes helps, as the odor discourages them.

[Anonymous]

Row covers. Netting won’t necessarily help.