An animal ate our first tomato :(

**Ramona** · 09-03-2011, 03:36 PM

Darn it, I should have picked it sooner. Serves me right.

There are several green ones on the plant, I'll try and pick them as soon as they turn pink.

**shoiji** · 09-03-2011, 03:39 PM

I had a neighbor that would pick mine when they were green and put them in my mailbox.

Hope you are able to enjoy a tomato before the season ends.

**madhen** · 09-03-2011, 04:39 PM

I feel your pain. I found out the hard way that my chickens like fresh tomatoes as much as I do!!

**frugalfranny** · 09-03-2011, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by shoiji

I had a neighbor that would pick mine when they were green and put them in my mailbox.

WHAT??

As a joke, or just being a butt? All the time? I would have had one dead neighbor! (I am waiting for one of my 'gutsy neighbors' to ASK for some of mine!)

Originally Posted by Ramona

There are several green ones on the plant, I'll try and pick them as soon as they turn pink.

I hope you get some before the season ends............I WOULD SHARE-- if I lived closer!! It was iffy this spring, with all our rain, but they have kicked in and doing great.

**Debbie-cat** · 09-03-2011, 09:54 PM

Yep, lost some here too....deer and rabbits. I hope you get some after all the hard work you put into them!

**sinopa27** · 09-03-2011, 11:29 PM

I had a few deer to eat my tomato plants down to the stem. I left it in the soil and they have grown back. I put a fence around my greenhouse and they can't get in. I have tomatoes now but they are small. I hope to enjoy them soon.
You know when it is time to harvest.....when the animals come to eat your veggies!! I hate it!!

**Ramona** · 09-04-2011, 12:04 AM

Adding insult to injury, the little bugger only ate part of it!

**pollypurebred39** · 09-04-2011, 04:00 AM

I'm sorry Ramona. That really stinks. We've got deer that LOVE our pear and apple trees. They give a test bite for ripeness. We end up with trees full of fruit with bite marks every year. We do our best to beat them to the harvest, but more than once they've stripped our trees clean.

**Contrary Housewife** · 09-04-2011, 10:37 AM

I hate squirrels. That sounds like what you have. They will get any tomatoes they can reach from the ground.

IMO, you should leave the fruit to ripen. If you pick it pink it may turn red, but the flavor will never improve.

**Winkie** · 09-04-2011, 01:26 PM

I feel your pain. Critters invaded my garden early on, even with an electric fence. I have now added chicken wire and a motion activated alarm that emits a high pitched sound (according to the advertisement). These lousy varmits ate the plants & leaves of cucumers, zuchhini, beans & peppers. I have never had a problem with peppers before. I new fencing plan is in the works for next year... The tomatoes have been fine until this week, I found some bites. GRRRR.....