Something eating my tomatoes - Ask Extension
I don’t know if foxes and/or birds and/or squirrels are munching on my early tomatoes. Can you tell from the pictures attached? And what to do?
Knowledgebase
Something eating my tomatoes #799027
Asked July 01, 2022, 3:28 PM EDT
I don’t know if foxes and/or birds and/or squirrels are munching on my early tomatoes. Can you tell from the pictures attached? And what to do?
Baltimore City County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi,
We cannot tell from the photos what animal is feeding on your tomatoes.
Birds, squirrels, and rats are all possibilities. Fox are fruit eaters although I have not heard of them feeding on tomatoes.
We suggest you consider protecting the plants with fine mesh insect netting, tulle, bird netting, or some other suitable material. The problem with bird netting is that it that the mesh can catch and trap snakes and birds.
Also, harvest fruits when they are just barely starting to turn. They will ripen perfectly on the kitchen counter.
Jon
We cannot tell from the photos what animal is feeding on your tomatoes.
Birds, squirrels, and rats are all possibilities. Fox are fruit eaters although I have not heard of them feeding on tomatoes.
We suggest you consider protecting the plants with fine mesh insect netting, tulle, bird netting, or some other suitable material. The problem with bird netting is that it that the mesh can catch and trap snakes and birds.
Also, harvest fruits when they are just barely starting to turn. They will ripen perfectly on the kitchen counter.
Jon
