Big and little pests

mythkat · March 11, 2010

Hi all,

I am planning to build a new raised bed, fill it with strawbales, plant my tomatoes in those and by next year the bales will have composted in the beds along with the chicken bedding i'll add in the fall. This bed will be outside the current fence. The master gardner at our local nursery said rabbits and horses don't bother tomatoes. Is this true or should I wait until I can install electric fencing to keep the mustangs and jackrabbits out?

Thanks.

whistler · March 11, 2010

Rabbits and horses may not bother tomatoes, but a few years ago something got into my fenced yard and ate my newly planted cucumber seedlings and my 2 tomato plants. I'm guessing it was groundhogs... I can understand nibbling the cucumber leaves, but eating a whole 1 foot high tomato plant without any tomatoes? That's just gross - AND rude!!

David Marek · March 14, 2010

Horses usually don't eat them but they might step on them. Horses and soft dirt are like kids and puddles. If the tomatoes are caged I think they would stay away. I have also found they leave prickly squash vines alone unless they are really desperate.

mythkat · March 16, 2010

Thanks for the confirmation. I am going to plant the tomatoes and squash in hay bales set inside the new raised bed. By next year the bales and chicken bedding will have composted and I will have extended the fence.

mensplace · March 16, 2010

I would be amazed if horses loose around tomatoes, with or without cages, did not destroy them. My quarter horses used to chew and/or rub against virtually everything. Once I made the mistake of leaving my Dodge RAM in the pasture. When I came back they had chewed the wind deflectors off the front and around the windows. Anything freestanding was an open invitation to chewing and rubbing. A bright red tomato looks a lot like an apple...if they lasted that long.

lumierefrere · March 16, 2010

Are you kidding?! My horse loved tomatoes. I had a 5' fence put up and then had to put pallets around the perimeter so she couldn't lean over and get to the foliage. It was a constant struggle with her.

mythkat · March 16, 2010

Oh well

I guess I'll start saving for hot wire and a charger. I love watching them from the back door but I don't want to run the Sagebrush Buffet.

March 11, 2010	#1
mythkat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Stagecoach, NV Posts: 14	Big and little pests Hi all, I am planning to build a new raised bed, fill it with strawbales, plant my tomatoes in those and by next year the bales will have composted in the beds along with the chicken bedding i'll add in the fall. This bed will be outside the current fence. The master gardner at our local nursery said rabbits and horses don't bother tomatoes. Is this true or should I wait until I can install electric fencing to keep the mustangs and jackrabbits out? Thanks.

March 11, 2010	#2
whistler Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: PA Posts: 100	Rabbits and horses may not bother tomatoes, but a few years ago something got into my fenced yard and ate my newly planted cucumber seedlings and my 2 tomato plants. I'm guessing it was groundhogs... I can understand nibbling the cucumber leaves, but eating a whole 1 foot high tomato plant without any tomatoes? That's just gross - AND rude!!

March 14, 2010	#3
David Marek Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St Charles, IL zone 5a Posts: 142	Horses usually don't eat them but they might step on them. Horses and soft dirt are like kids and puddles. If the tomatoes are caged I think they would stay away. I have also found they leave prickly squash vines alone unless they are really desperate.

March 16, 2010	#4
mythkat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Stagecoach, NV Posts: 14	Thanks for the confirmation. I am going to plant the tomatoes and squash in hay bales set inside the new raised bed. By next year the bales and chicken bedding will have composted and I will have extended the fence.

March 16, 2010	#5
mensplace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,013	I would be amazed if horses loose around tomatoes, with or without cages, did not destroy them. My quarter horses used to chew and/or rub against virtually everything. Once I made the mistake of leaving my Dodge RAM in the pasture. When I came back they had chewed the wind deflectors off the front and around the windows. Anything freestanding was an open invitation to chewing and rubbing. A bright red tomato looks a lot like an apple...if they lasted that long.

March 16, 2010	#6
lumierefrere Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Zone 4 NY Posts: 772	Are you kidding?! My horse loved tomatoes. I had a 5' fence put up and then had to put pallets around the perimeter so she couldn't lean over and get to the foliage. It was a constant struggle with her.

March 16, 2010	#7
mythkat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Stagecoach, NV Posts: 14	Oh well I guess I'll start saving for hot wire and a charger. I love watching them from the back door but I don't want to run the Sagebrush Buffet.