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| I'm in zone 5a, Ohio. Some animal is eating my tomatoes and zucchini in broad daylight. I figured this out, because I watered this morning and came back later this evening to find two nearly ripe tomatoes on separate plants munched from the inside of the plant (stem side, not exterior side). Nearly half of the tomato was eaten. Whatever is responsible does not bother the green ones. Yet. Then I was inspecting my zucchini plant and noticed that the stalks on several otherwise healthy leaves were bent in half and torn along the stalk. Upon further investigation I found that a baby zucchini had been munched in two sections that definitely looked like the work of teeth (not a beak). Whatever it is may have also eaten a couple of leaves from my brussels sprouts plants. (Entire leaf was gone down to stem. I don't think a caterpillar could do that.) We have plenty of squirrels and a large chipmunk population closer to the house (veg garden is over 50 feet away). We also saw a large ground hog run across our backyard a couple of months ago. And we're pretty sure our trash has been visited by raccoons. Do you think it's any of these or some other varmint? I sprinkled some coyote urine around the plants and garden tonight. However, I'm doubtful. I hate to see the fruits of my labor eaten up. Any suggestions for how to discourage? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by CurlyJenny none (My Page) on Wed, Jul 23, 14 at 11:34
| Inspected this morning and found it had not revisited my tomatoes. However something (same animal?) had a feast on my leafiest brussels sprouts plant. This was not the work of worms (which I have also had) - entire leaves were gone to the stem. It also pigged out on my zinnia plants, the three on the row perimeters. Munched the bud heads right off. Again, I've had insect problems on some of these plants, but I don't think a Japanese beetle could do this type of damage. See photos. Whatever is doing this new damage has to be fairly tall as some of the zinnia and brussels leaf damage is at least two feet high. The zinnias are surrounded by cayenne and jalapeno plants, which were of course untouched. This reminded me that some people use pepper spray to deter animals. Anyone had luck with this? I know you have to re-apply after rain. Homemade? Store bought? I'm willing to try anything!!! Tho a fence is a last resort. Not sure |
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- Posted by CurlyJenny none (My Page) on Wed, Jul 23, 14 at 11:37
| Brussels leaf damage. |
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- Posted by potterhead2 z5b NY (My Page) on Thu, Jul 24, 14 at 20:21
| Could be deer damage due to the height. Are the cuts ragged or smooth? |
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- Posted by CurlyJenny none (My Page) on Fri, Jul 25, 14 at 11:12
| Pretty smooth cuts. We live in a fairly urban area and our yard is fenced between neighbors on all sides. We have seen deer in a nearby ravine but can't imagine that they are trekking thru the neighborhoods. I've sprayed pepper spray on everything, but the damage continues. I may have to start picking the tomatoes half-ripe and letting them finish on the windowsill. :( |
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| If you don't have a fence, it is unfortunately likely to be c) all of the above. I know if I didn't have my fence rabbits would be eating my beans, groundhogs would be eating my squash and brassicas and deer would be eating everything. With the fence, I only have to contend with squirrels eating my tomatoes and voles eating my root vegetables and peas. So from my experience, I would suggest you have squirrels eating tomatoes and groundhogs eating your zucchini and Brussels sprouts. |
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