Vegetables: What's eating my tomatoes?

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mackowack Shreveport, LA (Zone 8a) June 11, 2009 02:23 PM	Has this happend to any of you? I went to check my garden this morning and most of my good size tomatoes are just gone. Not nibbled on, no previous sign of stress just gone. The only thing I can come up with is there was a decent storm during the night with some crazy winds. Perhaps the wind knocked them off the vine and squirrels enjoyed a free breakfast? I am so upset. Do you think some other creature came and picked off the plant? I live in a city area so I wouldn't think anything other than cat, squirrel or maybe the stray opossum would come our way.
Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX (Zone 9a) June 11, 2009 03:03 PM	Mackowack, Alas..perhaps you have missed that allusive, two-legged creature who stealthily appears in the cloak of night, sight unseen, and does his/her dastardly deed, leaving no trace except bare branches to be lamented upon in the wee hours of the morning....
threegardeners North Augusta, ON June 11, 2009 03:17 PM	yup...that would be my guess...
mackowack Shreveport, LA (Zone 8a) June 11, 2009 10:31 PM	I would agree with you, however this is a fenced in back yard in a quiet neighborhood. I suspected my golden retriever, but I would have seen big muddy footprints as it's still quite wet. Can cats pick tomatoes? I just don't understand. Is chicken wire the best barrier for various critters? Thanks for reading.
Bodecoa New Port Richey, FL (Zone 9b) June 12, 2009 01:48 AM	Do Raccoons eat tomatoes?
Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX (Zone 9a) June 12, 2009 03:34 AM	Ok, so you gave me more details... Wet ground and no tracks. Coulda been something capable of running along your fence, and a definite night stalker? Rat, racoon, or possum would be my next best guess. Linda
Ozark Ozark, MO (Zone 6a) June 12, 2009 06:16 AM	My bet's still on fence-climbing neighborhood kids. I don't know about the lack of tracks, though. Are the tomato stems still on the plants? Seems to me that when wind or animals take a tomato, the stem stays on the plant. When people pick a tomato, they often pick it with the stem attached. If the stems are gone, it was kids.
crazyfish3 Pensacola, FL June 14, 2009 01:26 AM	Hey don't rule out them nutrarats. Yes racoons eat tomatoes,possems and my squirels is giveing mine the dickings. Hey i don't leave tracks in the wet garden this time of year eather, the soil has setteled. Don't rule out UFO'S , we have a bumper crop around here every few years. I think it is something the barkeeps put in them little glasses with the ice cubes.
1lisac Liberty Hill, TX (Zone 8a) June 14, 2009 03:57 PM	I "lost" a few tomates that I was just ready to pick. Then I found Petey, our peacock, out there eating some. I thought he might peck them but I had no idea he would eat the whole thing. My children have been known to steal and eat them also. Lisa
mackowack Shreveport, LA (Zone 8a) June 29, 2009 01:52 PM	I found the culprit last night. My 80 lb golden retriever was casually chewing on a green tomato last night, can you say busted. I guess I'm off to Lowe's to find a solution. Maybe some bird netting will keep her out. I know she''ll eat "anything" but green tomatoes, really??
1lisac Liberty Hill, TX (Zone 8a) June 29, 2009 03:01 PM	Thanks for the good laugh I needed it. How can an 80lb anything sneak anywhere? Years ago I was waiting for my first tomato of the season to get perfectly ripe, well I guess my Basset Hound was too because she got to it first. I caught her but I didn't want it then! I'm off to Lowes also. Lisa
Ozark Ozark, MO (Zone 6a) June 29, 2009 05:34 PM	We used to have a big fat dachshund that liked cucumbers. I tried my best to keep him out of my garden, but he'd get into the cucumbers anyway. Finally I realized it wasn't so bad. He only ate one or two cucumbers a day, and he really didn't damage the vines in getting them off. He'd look and look, pick a big one, then go lay in the shade and eat it. I had lots of cucumbers and he wasn't doing any damage, so I just let him have it his way.

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