Protecting tomatoes from the “one biters”.

Poohtoo8 · May 4, 2018

Last year I probably threw away two bushels of tomatoes that had one big bite out of them. Any suggestions as to what I can put around my plants to discourage this waste?

We did catch a possum in a trap, but I believe it’s coons, possums and rabbits.

kath · May 4, 2018

Not sure what is biting your tomatoes, but I save torn pieces of summer weight row cover, but it into appropriate sized pieces and attach to each fruit that is about to ripen using yarn, clothespins, etc. Labor intensive but if you don't have too many plants it saves a lot of frustration from losing beautiful tomatoes to bird pecks, etc.

JerryHaskins · May 4, 2018

I saw this discussed a few years ago. Somebody said it was birds pecking tomatoes to get the liquid.

They said that if you put a bird bath near the tomatoes and keep water in it, birds would drink from the bird bath instead of pecking your tomatoes.

I was skeptical but tried it and it seemed to work. I rarely get bird pecked tomatoes nowadays.

rhoder551 · May 4, 2018

I use those mesh drawstring bags sold as reusable produce bags. They work great and last several seasons.

I think my tomatoes get bit by rats!! shiver....

Nan_PA_6b · May 4, 2018

I had a critter eating a bite or two out of every low-hanging fruit that blushed. I put one in an organza bag. It, too, was removed from the plant, and bite marks all over it. The critter (rabbit, I found out) didn't get to eat it, but mangled it nonetheless.

A good fence with no gaps works.

Nan

GrowingCoastal · May 5, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhoder551

I use those mesh drawstring bags sold as reusable produce bags. They work great and last several seasons.

I think my tomatoes get bit by rats!! shiver....

Yes. Works for me too. I bleach the mesh bags at season's end and reuse next year.

ScottinAtlanta · May 5, 2018

I use quart plastic bags with the zip. Just one zip and you are done. Fastest approach ever.

FourOaks · May 10, 2018

If its a 4 legged critter, you could try Blood Meal.

Nan_PA_6b · May 10, 2018

Blood meal may attract some critters, such as raccoons or rats.

Nan

brownrexx · May 10, 2018

Blood meal definitely attracted some kind of digging critter to my plants last year. I think that it was a skunk but they can dig up your whole plant while they are trying to get to the blood meal. I would not use that.

Worth1 · May 10, 2018

Old socks.

Worth

Poohtoo8 · May 10, 2018

Could you explain to me what you meant by old socks please?

Worth1 · May 10, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poohtoo8

Could you explain to me what you meant by old socks please?

I dont throw away old socks.
I put them over the prized tomatoes until they get ripe.
Nothing bothers them birds deer or anything and they stretch.

A smelly sock will run the deer away.

Worth

SueCT · May 10, 2018

Problem is, not sure I would eat a tomato you pulled out of a smelly sock.

Worth1 · May 11, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by SueCT

Problem is, not sure I would eat a tomato you pulled out of a smelly sock.

A smelly sock tomato in the hand beats two non smelly sock tomatoes in a deer's mouth.

Worth

May 4, 2018	#1
Poohtoo8 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Independence, KY Posts: 48	Protecting tomatoes from the “one biters”. Last year I probably threw away two bushels of tomatoes that had one big bite out of them. Any suggestions as to what I can put around my plants to discourage this waste? We did catch a possum in a trap, but I believe it’s coons, possums and rabbits. Last edited by Poohtoo8; May 5, 2018 at 12:04 PM.

May 4, 2018	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Not sure what is biting your tomatoes, but I save torn pieces of summer weight row cover, but it into appropriate sized pieces and attach to each fruit that is about to ripen using yarn, clothespins, etc. Labor intensive but if you don't have too many plants it saves a lot of frustration from losing beautiful tomatoes to bird pecks, etc.

May 4, 2018	#3
JerryHaskins Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Mississippi Posts: 166	I saw this discussed a few years ago. Somebody said it was birds pecking tomatoes to get the liquid. They said that if you put a bird bath near the tomatoes and keep water in it, birds would drink from the bird bath instead of pecking your tomatoes. I was skeptical but tried it and it seemed to work. I rarely get bird pecked tomatoes nowadays.

May 4, 2018	#4
rhoder551 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 219	I use those mesh drawstring bags sold as reusable produce bags. They work great and last several seasons. I think my tomatoes get bit by rats!! shiver....

May 4, 2018	#5
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	I had a critter eating a bite or two out of every low-hanging fruit that blushed. I put one in an organza bag. It, too, was removed from the plant, and bite marks all over it. The critter (rabbit, I found out) didn't get to eat it, but mangled it nonetheless. A good fence with no gaps works. Nan

May 5, 2018	#7
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	I use quart plastic bags with the zip. Just one zip and you are done. Fastest approach ever.

May 10, 2018	#8
FourOaks Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NC Posts: 511	If its a 4 legged critter, you could try Blood Meal.

May 10, 2018	#10
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Blood meal definitely attracted some kind of digging critter to my plants last year. I think that it was a skunk but they can dig up your whole plant while they are trying to get to the blood meal. I would not use that.

May 10, 2018	#11
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Old socks. Worth

May 10, 2018	#14
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	Problem is, not sure I would eat a tomato you pulled out of a smelly sock.