How to Keep Raccoons Away from Tomato Plants

Raccoons are cute and fascinating creatures but they can be a real nuisance for gardeners and farmers alike. They love to dig in soil, munch on plants, and steal ripe tomatoes from your garden. If you're tired of sharing your tomatoes with raccoons, here are some tips to keep them away.

Build a Fence

One effective way to keep raccoons away from your garden is to build a fence around it. Raccoons are excellent climbers, so make sure the fence is at least 6 feet tall and extends at least 6 inches underground to prevent them from digging underneath. Use sturdy materials like metal or wood, and make sure there are no gaps or holes that raccoons can squeeze through.

Use Repellents

There are several natural and chemical repellents that can keep raccoons away from your tomato plants. Some popular options include:

Hot peppers: Raccoons have a sensitive sense of smell and taste, so spraying hot pepper spray around the garden can help deter them.

Garlic: Like hot peppers, the strong scent of garlic can keep raccoons away. Plant garlic around your tomato plants, or create a garlic spray to apply on the leaves and stems of the plants.

Motion-activated sprinklers: These sprinklers use infrared sensors to detect when raccoons are approaching and spray water at them to scare them away.

Commercial repellents: There are several commercial repellents available in the market that are specifically designed to keep raccoons away from gardens and crops. Look for products that contain active ingredients like capsaicin, ammonium soap, or predator urine.

Remove Attractive Food Sources

Raccoons are opportunistic feeders, and they will seek out any available food source in your garden. To prevent them from feeding on your tomatoes, make sure to remove any other attractive food sources, such as pet food, garbage cans, or bird feeders. Store your garbage in a secure container with a tight-fitting lid, and don't leave pet food or birdseed out overnight.

Harvest Your Tomatoes Early

Raccoons are notorious for raiding tomato plants at night and stealing ripe fruits. To avoid this, try to harvest your tomatoes early, before they reach full maturity. This will not only prevent raccoons from eating them but will also help them ripen faster indoors. If you still have unripe tomatoes on the vine, cover them with netting or small bags to protect them from raccoons and other animals.

Conclusion

Raccoons can be a frustrating pest for tomato growers, but with some simple prevention measures, you can keep them away from your precious plants. Whether you choose to build a fence, use repellents, remove food sources, or harvest your tomatoes early, the most important thing is to stay vigilant and take action before raccoons cause any significant damage.