Yes, squirrels will eat tomato plants, but usually only the fruit
Squirrels eat ripe and ripening tomatoes directly off the vine. They bite into the fruit to reach the seeds and soft interior, often leaving the rest of the tomato partially eaten or knocked to the ground. A squirrel may sample many tomatoes in a single visit, taking a few bites from each one rather than finishing any single fruit.
The good news: squirrels rarely damage the plant itself. They do not strip leaves, chew stems, or dig up roots the way some garden pests do. The damage is limited to the fruit. If you have squirrels in your yard, your tomato plants will survive—but your harvest will shrink.
Squirrels are after the seeds and the moisture inside the tomato, not the plant material. This is why they ignore green, unripe tomatoes most of the time. A tomato that is still hard and sour holds nothing they want.
Key Takeaways
- Squirrels eat ripe tomatoes by biting into them to reach seeds and soft flesh, often leaving partially eaten fruit on the ground.
- Green and unripe tomatoes are usually safe because squirrels do not bother with fruit that is hard and sour.
- Squirrels do not damage the tomato plant itself—leaves, stems, and roots are left alone.
- Physical barriers like netting or cages around individual plants are the most reliable way to stop squirrel damage.
- Taste deterrents and motion-activated sprinklers work for some gardeners but require consistent reapplication or maintenance.
When squirrels start eating your tomatoes
Squirrels begin eating tomatoes as soon as the fruit starts to ripen and develop color. The moment a tomato shifts from solid green to showing any red, orange, or yellow, it becomes a target. Peak damage happens in mid to late summer when tomatoes ripen fastest and squirrels are actively foraging to build fat reserves before winter.
A single squirrel can damage dozens of tomatoes in a week. Because they sample multiple fruits rather than eating one completely, the waste is often worse than the loss. You may find a tomato with one or two bites taken out, then another, then another—all unusable for eating or preserving.
Young squirrels learning to forage are sometimes the worst offenders. They have not yet learned to be efficient and may destroy more fruit than an adult would while eating less.
Physical barriers that actually work
Netting is the most reliable defense. Drape bird netting or garden netting over individual plants or over the entire tomato bed, securing it to stakes or a frame so squirrels cannot push underneath. The mesh must be small enough that a squirrel cannot reach through to grab fruit—quarter-inch mesh or smaller works. Check the netting regularly for holes and repair them when ready, because squirrels will exploit any opening.
Cages made from wire or hardware cloth also work well. Build a frame around each plant or a group of plants, covering the top and sides. Leave the bottom open so the plant can still access soil and water. A cage needs to be tall enough that squirrels cannot reach over the top—at least 3 to 4 feet high for most tomato varieties.
Fencing around the entire garden bed is less effective for squirrels than for other pests because squirrels climb. A fence taller than 4 feet may slow them down, but determined squirrels will scale it or jump over it. Fencing works better when combined with an overhang or angled extension at the top that makes climbing harder.
Taste deterrents and repellents
Capsaicin sprays—made from hot peppers—can discourage squirrels from eating tomatoes. The spray makes the fruit taste bad without harming the plant. You spray it directly on the tomatoes and reapply every 7 to 10 days or after rain. The downside is that you must reapply often, and the spray can wash off or degrade in sunlight.
Predator urine (coyote or bobcat) sold in garden centers may deter squirrels through fear, though results vary widely. Some gardeners report success; others see no difference. These products also wash away with rain and need frequent reapplication.
Taste deterrents work best as part of a layered approach rather than as a standalone solution. A squirrel that is hungry enough may eat the tomato anyway, even if it tastes bad. Combining a spray with a physical barrier gives you better odds than either method alone.
Motion-activated sprinklers and noise makers
Motion-activated sprinklers startle squirrels with a sudden burst of water when they approach. They work best in the short term because squirrels eventually learn that the sprinkler is harmless and stop reacting to it. You may get two to four weeks of protection before the squirrel figures out the pattern.
Noise makers—ultrasonic devices, radios, or wind chimes—have mixed results. Some gardeners swear by them; others find squirrels ignore them from day one. Squirrels are intelligent and curious animals, and they learn quickly that a sound is not a real threat. Rotating between different noise sources sometimes extends the effectiveness, but do not expect long-term results.
These methods work better for preventing squirrels from settling in your garden in the first place than for stopping an established squirrel population. Once a squirrel knows your tomatoes are there, a sprinkler or noise maker alone usually will not keep it away.
Planting strategies to reduce losses
Plant more tomatoes than you need. If squirrels eat 30 to 40 percent of your harvest, growing extra plants means you still have enough for your own use. This is not a solution, but it is a practical way to live with squirrel pressure if barriers are not an option.
Choose varieties that ripen at different times. If all your tomatoes ripen in a two-week window, squirrels will focus on that window and cause maximum damage. Planting early, mid-season, and late varieties spreads the ripening across the summer and may reduce the concentration of damage in any single week.
Plant tomatoes in containers on a deck or patio away from trees and fences. Squirrels are less likely to jump to an isolated container than to a garden bed they can approach from multiple directions. Containers also make it easier to install a cage or netting if needed.
What does not work
Mothballs, ammonia-soaked rags, and other strong-smelling deterrents do not stop squirrels from eating tomatoes. Squirrels have a poor sense of smell compared to many other animals, and they are motivated by hunger, not by odor.
Poison and traps are not practical for garden pests because squirrels are protected in many areas, and killing one squirrel does not solve the problem—another will move in. Check your local regulations before considering any lethal control.
Companion planting—growing certain plants nearby to repel squirrels—has no scientific backing. Squirrels do not avoid tomato plants grown near marigolds, garlic, or other "repellent" plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will squirrels eat green tomatoes?
Squirrels rarely eat green tomatoes because they are hard, sour, and contain few seeds. They wait for fruit to ripen and soften. If you see damage to green tomatoes, it is usually from a different pest like hornworms or beetles, not squirrels.
Can I use chicken wire to protect tomato plants?
Chicken wire has large openings—usually one inch—that squirrels can reach through to grab tomatoes. Use hardware cloth or bird netting with quarter-inch mesh or smaller instead. Chicken wire works better for keeping larger animals out of a garden bed.
Do squirrels eat tomato leaves or roots?
No. Squirrels focus on the fruit and ignore the plant itself. They do not strip leaves, chew stems, or dig up roots. If your tomato plant is losing leaves or wilting, the cause is something else—disease, insects, or water stress.
Will removing fallen tomatoes stop squirrels from coming back?
Removing fallen fruit may reduce the attraction slightly, but it will not stop a squirrel that knows ripe tomatoes are on the vine. A squirrel will continue to visit as long as ripening fruit is available. Removal helps with overall garden cleanliness but is not a standalone solution.
Is it safe to eat a tomato a squirrel has bitten?
A tomato with a small bite mark is safe to eat if you cut away the damaged section. Squirrels do not carry diseases that spread through tomato plants. Wash the tomato before eating it, as you would any garden produce.