There are a few culprits that might be eating your tomato plants at night. One possibility is rabbits. If you have evidence of small, neat holes in the leaves or chewed stems, then rabbits are likely the cause.
You can exclude them from your garden by installing a fence that is at least 2 feet tall. Another possibility is deer. Deer will eat just about anything in a garden, including tomatoes.
The best way to keep deer out is to build a fence around your garden that is at least 8 feet tall. Finally, slugs and snails love to munch on tender tomato plants. They are often active at night when it’s cool and damp.
To control them, you can use baits or traps specifically designed for slugs and snails.
If you’re a tomato lover, you know there’s nothing quite like a ripe, juicy tomato fresh off the vine. But if you’ve noticed your tomato plants looking a bit worse for wear, with leaves chewed up and fruit missing, you may be wondering what’s eating your tomatoes at night.
There are a few culprits that could be to blame, including rabbits, deer, mice, rats, slugs, or snails.
If you live in an area with any of these critters, they could be responsible for nibbling on your tomatoes. The best way to figure out who (or what) is eating your tomatoes is to do some detective work.
Take a look around your garden at night and see if you can spot any culprits in the act.
If not, try setting up a game camera near your plants to see who’s paying them a visit after dark. Once you identify the offender (or offenders), you can take steps to keep them away from your precious tomatoes.
So don’t despair if your tomato plants are looking less than perfect – there’s likely a simple explanation (and solution!) for the problem.
Contents
Whats Eating My Tomatoes ?
What is Eating My Tomato Plant Leaves at Night?
If you’ve found your tomato plant leaves looking chewed up and tattered, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Many gardeners have found their tomato plants under attack by pests that seem to only come out at night. But what exactly is eating your tomato plant leaves?
The most likely culprits are caterpillars, earwigs, or slugs. All of these pests are attracted to the juicy, tender leaves of tomato plants, and can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Here’s a closer look at each of these nighttime pests:
Caterpillars: Caterpillars are the larvae of moths and butterflies, and there are many different species that feed on crops like tomatoes. Some common caterpillar pests include the tobacco budworm, corn earworm, and armyworm. These voracious eaters can strip a plant of its leaves in just a few days if left unchecked.
Earwigs: Earwigs are small insects with pincers on their rear end. They love damp places and often hide in crevices during the day before coming out at night to feast on soft-bodied insects—and occasionally plant leaves. While they don’t typically cause serious damage to plants, large populations can skeletonize leaves and stunt plant growth.
Slugs: Slugs are slimy creatures that leave behind a telltale trail of slime wherever they go. They’re fond of eating tender young leaves (including those on tomato plants), as well as fruits and vegetables that are close to the ground. Slugs can do a lot of damage to a crop in just one night, so it’s important to take steps to control them early on.
How Do You Stop Tomatoes from Being Eaten?
One way to stop tomatoes from being eaten is to grow them in a greenhouse. Greenhouses provide a controlled environment that can deter pests and animals from getting to the tomato plants. Another way to keep tomatoes safe is to surround the plants with a physical barrier like chicken wire or fencing.
This will create a barrier between the plant and potential predators. Finally, using netting around the plants can also be effective in keeping animals away from the fruit.
Do Squirrels Eat Tomatoes at Night?
There is no definitive answer to this question as different squirrels have different diets. However, it is generally believed that squirrels do not eat tomatoes at night. This is because they are mostly active during the day and prefer to sleep at night.
Additionally, tomatoes are not a typical food source for squirrels, so they are unlikely to seek them out specifically. If a squirrel did happen to eat a tomato at night, it would probably be by accident.
How Do I Protect My Tomatoes at Night?
One of the best ways to protect your tomatoes at night is by using a floating row cover. This will keep your tomatoes from being damaged by frost or cold temperatures. You can also use mulch to help insulate the soil and keep the roots warm.
Another option is to bring your tomato plants inside at night, if you have the space.
Credit: pender.ces.ncsu.edu
How to Protect Tomato Plants from Being Eaten
If you grow tomatoes, chances are good that you’ve had problems with animals eating your plants. Whether it’s rabbits, deer, groundhogs, or something else, it can be frustrating to see all your hard work go to waste. There are a few things you can do to protect your tomato plants from being eaten, though.
One option is to build a physical barrier around your plants. This could be a fence or some other type of structure that the animals can’t get through. If you go this route, make sure the barrier is tall enough and buried deep enough that the animals can’t just dig underneath it.
Another option is to use repellents. You can either buy these at a garden store or make your own using things like garlic cloves or hot pepper flakes. Just sprinkle them around the base of the plant and they’ll help keep the animals away.
Of course, sometimes the best solution is just to accept that some of your tomatoes will probably end up as animal food and plant extra so you’ll still have plenty for yourself!
Conclusion
If you have tomato plants that are being eaten at night, there are a few possibilities as to what the culprit could be. It could be slugs, snails, earwigs, or even deer. The best way to find out for sure is to set up a camera to record footage of the plant-eating in action.
Once you know what’s eating your tomatoes, you can take steps to deter them (like using slug bait for slugs).