my father is having a problem with his very healthy tomato plants. He has found red-ripe tomatoes ripped off his plants, within two or three feet of the garden. Each of these tomatoes has been bitten into by some varmint, sections removed that amount to about a 3/4"-1" bite diameter.

This does not appear to be happening to any of the green tomatoes, only the ones that are well on the way to being ripe. It also does not seem to be one variety of tomato that are being ruined, both plum tomatoes and "Better Boy" tomatoes are being attacked.

He does have deer, raccoons, and oppossums in the area which he has spotted at night when the motion detectors kick on the outside lights.

Are any of these critters the likely culprits? What can he do to repel them? His solution right now is to pull off the tomatoes as they are JUST starting to ripen, and ripen them the rest of the way indoors.

Will dried blood products work to repel these varmints?

 

Couple of years ago, I had same problem--just after the city made my nieghbor mow his waist-high weeds. Saw rats going under ny deck, and got some bait from county as svc and that ended problem -- took two/three weeks. I can't remember what it was called--Ramik, I think.
chuck

 

Sorry-- on earlier post should have said county ag svc --and also should have noted that bait came w/bait stations (those cost extra) with openings only large enough for rats, mice, etc. Too small for cats (dang !!!!!). At least the rats didn't dig up and crap in every new bed I formed.
chuck

 

thanks for the suggestion to check out the county agricultural extension - - - I will have him check with his agent and see if they have an idea of the pests and the material that will discourage them

 

WE HAD SAME PROBLEM FOR 2YRS. TRIED ALL THE COMMON ADVICE ...BLOOD MEAL,BONE TAR ETC....N.G. WHAT DID WORK AND HAS BEEN WORKING FOR TEN YEARS NOW IS IRISH SPRING SOAP (ORIGINAL). OUR GARDEN IS 50'X30' ANDTHE WAY WE DO IT IS PLACE 2' TO 4' 3/8'' DOWELS IN ALL FOUR CORNERS OFGARDEN AND 1 IN THE MIDDLE, TAKE FRESH SOAP BARS DRILL OR CARVE OUT A HOLE 1-1/2'' DEEP LARGE ENOUGH TO FIT ONTO DOWELS... SAVE THE SHAVINGS, YOU WILL NEED THEM LATER .... YOU CAN PUT THE HOLE IN ANY EDGE. PUT THE SHAVINGS IN A CONTAINER CUT UP ANOTHER BAR INTO SMALL PIECES AND ADD 1GALLON OF VERY HOT WATER STIR AND SAVE. YOU WILL USE THIS SOLUTION IN SPRAY BOTTLE OR HOSE END SPRAYER THE LATTER BEING EASIER. WE SPRAY AT LEAST 6 TIMES A SEASON (MORE IF ITS RAINEY) AND JUST MAKE SHUR TO GET ALL PLANTS, AND, NO, WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE ARE BEING PUNISHED FOR USING BAD WORDS WHEN EATING TOMS. LONG LIVE BETTER BOYS!!!!!!!!!

 

this idea of yours is very smart. I feel a lot better about using soap on the produce than any insecticide, and I doubt it would give an opossum more than a belly ache, and probably only ONCE!

My father saw the opossum out there grazing off the lower tomatoes, so we are pretty sure it is the critter doing the damage. I printed up your reply, and he will definitely try it out next growing season.

Thanks for your joke, too!

 

Do you just put the whole bar with the hole down over the dowel then? This keeps the critters away from all vegetables. Will spraying the soapy water on vining plants keep those little brown/gray bugs away that eat the vines?

 

I'VE FOUND THAT BY ADDING CHEWING TOBACCO (UNCHEWED) TO SOAP AND HOT WATER AND LET COOL STRAIN OUT THE TOBACCO ADD INTO A HOSE END SPRAYER AND MAKE EM' SICK! ABOUT HALF A POUCH TO ONE GAL. OF SOAP SOLUTION. AND YES JUST PLACE SOAP ONTO DOWEL AND PUT IN ALL CORNERS OF GARDEN AND 1 OR 2 IN THE MIDDLE. THE IDEA IS TO GET THE SCENT OF THE SOAP SPREAD OUT SO THE VARMINTS GO NEXTDOOR. THE TOBACCO IDEA, WITH THANKS TO JERRY BAKER.

 

I hope I'm not misleading anyone, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that Nicotine Tea (the chewing tobacco solution) will not agree with tomatoes.

Hope someone more in the know about this will read and correct if I'm wrong.

Howie

 

I had a similar problem with tomatoes and was told it was local rats?? from an "in the know person". I put up wire fencing around the raised beds and didnt have any more problems. THe fence is chicken mesh galv stuff 24" high stapled to wood stakes. Its worth a shot. -Josh

 

Hi howiek

You are right about the Tobacco. As long as I can remember Gardeners who Smoke, are warned to wash their hands thoroughly before working with their Tomatos. The disease is called Tobacco Mosaic & comes from processed Tobacco.

The Tobacco is a carrier of this very bad disease that will, just by touching the tomato plants injure or kill the infected plants.

Best to keep tobacco products, well away from the Tomatos.

Marturo

VIN FIN would you mind please taking your caps lock off? It makes your posts much harder to read. Thanks Marturo

Please don't take offence, I did write you a Private Message a couple of weeks ago. We all try to send a PM, when we don't want to say something in public.

 

Sorry about that folks, my better half just informed that using caps. on line is the same as shouting in public. Still learning here in cyberville, thanks for your help!

 

No Problem, we all had to find the on button that one fateful day. Now we are living with Blue screens of Death (BSOD) Windows crashing, and 101 other things that make life with a PC so wonderful

If my Puter was half as reliabile as my Troy Bilt, I would be in E heaven LOL.

Marturo

 

Amen to that Marturo But imagine having to deal with it day in and day out It's what I do. Tech support is not fun. I'm just waiting for the day where I can just walk out of there.

On a much different and interesting note, I found a pleasant surprise today at my grandparents house. Two more carrots. My friend and I went down there to pick apples, and I dug up two more carrots. Even in late October, the stuff is still there. Of course, I'm still picking jalapeños and cherry peppers. But hey, its a labor of love

 

Hi Eric,

Hey, you can dig carrots all winter if you like. As long as the fork will got into the ground, and there are still carrots there.
happy diggin'

fred

 

Hey Fred,

Been a while since we've seen you here. Oh yeah, I knew that. My point was I was surprised they were still there. I though I had gotten them all The same thing with the scallions. We are leaving them there all winter