Are Deer Consuming Tomatoes Unseen? - An Investigation into Deer's Appetite for Tomatoes and Tomato Vegetation
### Dealing with Deer in the Garden: A Guide to Deer-Resistant Plants and Repellents
Deer are a common problem for gardeners, particularly those who grow vegetables and fruits. These generalist browsers have a penchant for tender, sweet, and easily accessible plants, making them a nuisance for many gardeners. However, there are ways to deter deer and protect your garden.
#### Plants Deer Prefer to Eat
Deer show a strong preference for a variety of plants, especially those that are young, soft, and sweet. Some of the most commonly eaten plants include vegetables such as beans, peas, carrots, tomatoes, squash, and snap peas. Fruits like apples, grapes, cherries, pears, figs, watermelon, and persimmons are also popular choices. Ornamental flowers with tender leaves and petals are also appealing, as are shrubs and trees like aspen, apple, pear, cherry, willow, dogwood, and chestnut.
#### Plants Deer Tend to Avoid
While no plant is completely deer-proof, certain traits make plants less appealing. Strongly scented plants, such as lavender and mint, are often avoided, as are plants with fuzzy or hairy leaves, like dusty miller. Plants with prickly or tough leaves, such as those with thorns, thick or waxy coats, or stiff foliage, are also less appealing. Plants with toxic saps or compounds, such as milkweed, are rarely browsed.
#### Practical Tips
To deter deer, focus on edibles that deer are less likely to eat, such as leeks, onions, potatoes, and native plants like milkweed, Joe Pye weed, and Culver’s root. Plant strategically by using physical barriers, fences, or companion plantings with strongly scented or unpalatable species. Consider using contact repellent sprays, which give plants an disagreeable taste, such as putrescent eggs, cloves, garlic, and capsaicin.
#### Summary Table
| Category | Examples of Plants Deer Prefer | Examples of Plants Deer Avoid | |-------------|-----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | Vegetables | Beans, carrots, tomatoes, peas, squash | Leeks, onions, potatoes (rarely eaten) | | Fruits | Apples, pears, grapes, cherries, figs | None (most fruits are appealing) | | Ornamentals | Roses, hostas, daylilies, pansies | Lavender, dusty miller, euphorbias | | Shrubs/Trees| Dogwood, apple, maple, chestnut | Boxwood, hollies, some firs |
Deer preferences can vary by region and local food availability, but in general, they prioritize tender, sweet, and easily accessible plants, making vegetable gardens especially vulnerable. Adopting a deer-deterring dog, especially a big, loud one, can help keep deer away from the garden. When planning or revising a garden design in an area often visited by deer, create three planting zones: the outer edge of your property, the middle space between house and property edge, and the area closest to the house.
Ultrasonic deer repellent, solar deer repellent lights, and motion-activated sprinklers may also deter deer. If entire plants disappear or large amounts of foliage have been torn off, you likely have deer visiting your garden at night. Rabbits may cause neatly clipped and eaten stems and leaves near the ground, while groundhogs or raccoons can damage lower-hanging tomatoes. Birds sometimes peck holes into tomato fruits, and chipmunks or squirrels may damage ripe or almost-ripe tomatoes towards the top of the plant. Tomato hornworms can defoliate a plant, sometimes devouring entire plants over time.
In conclusion, by understanding deer preferences and implementing practical tips, gardeners can protect their gardens from deer damage and enjoy a more successful harvest.
- To protect vegetables and fruits from deer, consider planting options like leeks, onions, and potatoes, which deer tend to avoid.
- Ornamental plants with strong scents, such as lavender, and those with prickly or tough leaves, like dusty miller, may deter deer.
- When planning a garden in an area frequented by deer, create three planting zones: the outer edge of the property, the middle space between house and property edge, and the area closest to the house.
- Ultrasonic deer repellent, solar deer repellent lights, and motion-activated sprinklers can help deter deer from entering home-and-garden spaces.
- Pets, especially deer-deterring dogs, can help protect gardens from deer intrusion, especially in situations where other deterrents may not be effective.
- Deer are not the only garden pests; be aware of other animals like rabbits, groundhogs, raccoons, birds, chipmunks, and squirrels, each with their unique preferences and behaviors.
