What's eating my 'maters

OK...So SOMETHING is eating my 'maters. I've babied these plants all summer and some of them are almost as tall as my head. Nothing has bothered them all season...until now. Whatever it is only eats the -ripe- tomatoes and then only about half of each fruit (which REALLY pi**** me off). I've seen some little "chippies" hanging around the house but am not aware of any other critters (for several reasons I've ruled out deer). Anyone have any ideas on what is committing this dastardly crime ? I'm thinking I'll start with some "rat traps" at the base of each plant and if that doesn't work I'll work my way up to explosives.

Wish I could help. ( Sigh) We had three good sized tomato plants with about 16 tomatoes total, varying in size from ready to pick to little green babies, and one day I went out to pick a couple and - they were all gone. Every single one. The next day, my neighbor's were all gone as well. We are certain that deer got ours. I guess they had a nice feast. Dang! Farmers' markets, here I come!

OK...So SOMETHING is eating my 'maters. I've babied these plants all summer and some of them are almost as tall as my head. Nothing has bothered them all season...until now. Whatever it is only eats the -ripe- tomatoes and then only about half of each fruit (which REALLY pi**** me off). I've seen some little "chippies" hanging around the house but am not aware of any other critters (for several reasons I've ruled out deer). Anyone have any ideas on what is committing this dastardly crime ? I'm thinking I'll start with some "rat traps" at the base of each plant and if that doesn't work I'll work my way up to explosives.

Chipmunks are to small for rat traps. Use mouse traps. Could be anything eating them including possums, coons,squirrels, even rats.

Go to the local garden center and get some netting and throw over the plants. It will discourage most animals.

And besides, they get half .. leaves you with half. Don't be a wuss and harvest your half.

OK...So SOMETHING is eating my 'maters. I've babied these plants all summer and some of them are almost as tall as my head. Nothing has bothered them all season...until now. Whatever it is only eats the -ripe- tomatoes and then only about half of each fruit (which REALLY pi**** me off). I've seen some little "chippies" hanging around the house but am not aware of any other critters (for several reasons I've ruled out deer). Anyone have any ideas on what is committing this dastardly crime ? I'm thinking I'll start with some "rat traps" at the base of each plant and if that doesn't work I'll work my way up to explosives.

Chipmunks are to small for rat traps. Use mouse traps. Could be anything eating them including possums, coons,squirrels, even rats.

Go to the local garden center and get some netting and throw over the plants. It will discourage most animals.

And besides, they get half .. leaves you with half. Don't be a wuss and harvest your half.

It's not the half-and half thing that bothers me...it's the they are out smarting me thing (which probably isn't all THAT difficult) that sticks in my craw. You are right though...I should probably start out with mouse traps and then work my way up through the firearm arsenal before resorting to explosives (perhaps a reprise from the closing scene from "Caddyshack")

I'm having the same problem. We live in an area with no trees near our house, so it's not squirrels, we don't have deer, so my only conclusion is chipmunks. We've started leaving a few half-eaten tomatoes on the bottom of the plant hoping they'll just chew on those and share an occasional ripe one with us. Strangely, they don't bother the cherry tomatoes at all.

Were having a problem as well. Our tomatoes our late this year due to the crazy weather. On top of being late they are getting eating up at a alarming rate. I know we have deer out here and I think thats mainly our issue,that and I did see the neighbor walking out of the garden one morning. If you have ruled out deer,my guess is that you have a raccoon problem. These guys can be found in any garden from rural to urban. They are very good about waiting for the red ones before they raid the patch. One product that works very well as a repellent for both deer and other critters is called PlantSkyd. It comes either in a liquid or powder that you apply on and around the plants. It is basically dried blood and is certified organic. It needs to be reapplied after a heavy rain though. Im hoping we will have our tomatoes at market in a couple weeks,if the deer dont ruin it for us.

and then work my way up through the firearm arsenal before resorting to explosives

Explosives should do the trick.

It is basically dried blood and is certified organic.

I guess even vampires keep certain dietary restrictions.

If by "chippies" you mean chipmunks, there's a good chance that's your problem.

I've had two run-ins since we've been in our current house, and ended up waving the white Alvin flag. The first time was a year after we moved in. I decided to plant flower bulbs, a lot of bulbs. Eighty bucks worth of the things. Within two days our yard was turned into a holey mess and all but a few bulbs were gone - I guess they had their fill.

A few years later I decided to try my hand at growing vegetables, and dug and planted a small plot with tomatoes and green peppers. There were no major problems at first, save for the asian beetles munching on the leaves, but they were easy enough to eradicate. Then, just as the tomatoes ripened I went out to harvest some and found them all pretty much munched off of the vine, most likely by chipmunks.

And at least up here they're not shy at all, we see them running between the blueberry fields out back to the yard around the house quite often. I figure they like a little variety in their diet.

I've read that commercial deer repellent helps keep chipmunks away. It smells like rotten eggs.

Quick, for a bonus point name the other two TV chipmunks besides Alvin.

It's your vegetarian neighbors ... These "Vegites" are known to keep late hours and conduct sneak attacks on tomatoes. What next ! Is nothing sacred?

We put chicken wire around ours, and it keeps 4 leggers out pretty well. Those 2 leggers are more difficult

We put chicken wire around ours, and it keeps 4 leggers out pretty well. Those 2 leggers are more difficult

See, that's why I think it's chippies. I've got a nice 36" wire fence around the garden and it shows no signs of being crawled over or dug under. It's definitely not deer (no tracks), Ya think it might be an Oh-possum or maybe a Coon...I dunno. Someone told me it was likely Slugs but I haven't see a single one of those creatures.

BTW, here's a picture of me on station last night...The filthy stinking bast**** didn't show their faces (and no tomatoes we're eaten)...but just wait, I'll get 'em.

It could be a coon. They are very clever, and stand up on those legs good. We were trying to get them out of a friend's chimney a while back. We were throwing firecrackers in the insert to scare them out, and all of a sudden here comes this little brown furry hand, and really fast it drops something-----it was throwing the thing back at us!!! God strike me dead if I'm lying!!! If its' coons , you're in for sum fun!

Tree rats or Rabbits are your problem.

Try spreading mothballs around and leaving a dish of water so the animals can drink. I have been told the animals are only after the liquid. That is why there is only a small area missing. The eat out a big enough hole so they can drink out all the juice.

Ditto on putting out a water dish. Stopped my thief immediately.
John- does the product you are talking about work better than blood meal? Used it for years to keep rabbits away, but love better options...