Do Rabbits Eat Tomato Plants

If you’ve found your carefully tended tomato plants nibbled to stems, you might be asking: do rabbits eat tomato plants? The sad truth is yes, rabbits are voracious garden invaders that see your tender seedlings and juicy leaves as a salad bar. These cute but frustrating creatures can decimate a crop overnight, leaving you with nothing but stubs. This guide will help you understand why rabbits target your garden and, more importantly, give you clear, effective strategies to protect your tomatoes for good.

Rabbits are herbivores with a broad appetite, and unfortunately, tomato plants are often on the menu. While they typically avoid the toxic leaves and stems of mature plants when other food is scarce, they will eat them. The real danger is to young plants. Seedlings and transplants are tender and full of moisture, making them irresistable to a hungry rabbit. They will often eat the entire plant down to the ground.

It’s not just the leaves either. Rabbits will also gnaw on the softer stems and, if they can reach them, might even take bites out of low-hanging green tomatoes. The damage is usually clean-cut, at a sharp 45-degree angle, unlike the ragged tears left by insects or slugs. You’ll often find their small, round droppings nearby as a clear sign of who the culprit is.

Why Your Garden is a Rabbit Buffet

Understanding what attracts rabbits helps you make your garden less appealing. They look for three main things: food, shelter, and safety.

Food Source: Your vegetable garden is a concentrated source of easy meals. They love beans, peas, lettuce, carrots, and of course, young tomatoes.
Cover and Shelter: Tall grass, brush piles, and dense shrubs near your garden provide perfect hiding spots from predators.
Safe Access: Gaps in fences, low-hanging deck edges, and overgrown perimeter areas offer safe pathways right to your plants.

Plants Rabbits Tend to Avoid

While rabbits will eat almost anything when hungry, they have dislikes. Planting these around your tomatoes can provide a protective barrier.

Strong-smelling herbs: Rosemary, thyme, oregano, mint, and lavender.
Flowers with pungent foliage: Marigolds, snapdragons, alyssum, and geraniums.
Plants with fuzzy or tough leaves: Lamb’s ear, yucca, and ferns.

Building the Ultimate Fortress: Physical Barriers

The single most effective way to stop rabbits is to put a physical barrier between them and your plants. This method is reliable and long-lasting.

Fencing: Your First Line of Defense

A well-built fence is your best investment. Rabbits can dig and squeeze through small spaces, so your fence must address both.

Material: Use 1-inch or smaller mesh chicken wire or hardware cloth.
Height: At least 2 feet tall is needed, as rabbits can jump but not very high.
Burying the Fence: This is crucial. Bury the bottom edge at least 6 inches deep, angling it outward to block digging. Alternatively, bend the bottom outward into an “L” shape and cover it with soil or mulch.
Check for Gaps: Ensure the fence is secured tightly to posts and that there are no gaps wider than an inch at ground level.

Individual Plant Protection

For smaller gardens or potted tomatoes, protecting individual plants is practical and cost-effective.

Wire Cages: Create cylinders from hardware cloth to surround each plant. Ensure the cylinder is 18-24 inches tall and pushed into the soil a few inches.
Cloches: Use plastic or wire mesh cloches to cover seedlings until they become more established and less tasty.
Tree Guards: Spiral plastic tree guards can be wrapped around the main stem of young plants to prevent girdling.

Natural Repellents and Deterrents

When fencing isn’t fully possible, repellents can be a helpful supplement. They work by making plants taste bad, smell bad, or by creating an environment that feels unsafe to rabbits.

Homemade Spray Repellents

You can make effective sprays from common household items. Reapply after rain or heavy dew.

Garlic and Pepper Spray: Blend two garlic bulbs and a tablespoon of cayenne pepper with a quart of water. Steep overnight, strain, and add a teaspoon of dish soap to help it stick. Spray on and around plants.
Vinegar Spray: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray it on the soil perimeter and on hard surfaces, but avoid direct foliage as it can harm some plants.
Egg and Water Mix: Whisk one egg into a gallon of water. The slight sulfur smell can deter nibblers.

Physical and Sensory Deterrents

These methods aim to startle or annoy rabbits, convincing them your garden is not a peaceful place to dine.

Motion-Activated Sprinklers: Devices like a ScareCrow spray a sudden burst of water when they detect movement. They are highly effective for many garden pests.
Ultrasonic Devices: These emit a high-frequency sound unpleasant to rabbits but inaudible to most humans. Their effectiveness can vary.
Predator Urine: Granules or liquid containing coyote or fox urine can be sprinkled around the garden’s edge. The scent signals danger.
Shiny Objects: Old CDs, aluminum pie plates, or reflective tape strung between posts can create flashes of light that spook rabbits.

Garden Hygiene and Habitat Modification

Making your yard less hospitable to rabbits is a proactive, long-term strategy. It removes the reasons they want to be there in the first place.

Remove Hiding Places and Food Sources

Keep grass mowed and weeds trimmed, especially near the garden.
Clear away brush piles, tall grass, and leaf litter where rabbits might hide or nest.
Seal off areas under decks, sheds, and porches with sturdy wire mesh.
Pick up fallen fruit and vegetables promptly.

Strategic Planting and Layout

How you arrange your garden can influence rabbit activity.

Plant a sacrificial border of clover or alfalfa away from your garden. Rabbits may prefer this easy meal.
Raise garden beds. The added height can make plants less accessible, especially if the bed sides are smooth.
Interplant your tomatoes with strong-smelling companions like onions, garlic, or marigolds mentioned earlier.

What to Do If Rabbits Have Already Struck

Don’t despair if your plants have been damaged. Act quickly to save them and prevent a second attack.

Assess and Repair Plant Damage

Tomato plants are surprisingly resilient.

If the main stem is completely severed, the plant is likely a loss.
If leaves are eaten but the stem and growing tip are intact, the plant will usually recover. Give it a boost with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.
If the stem is gnawed but not fully cut through, you can sometimes bridge the damage with grafting tape. The plant may heal.

Immediate Action to Secure the Area

Install temporary fencing or individual cages around damaged and remaining plants immediately.
Apply a repellent spray to mask the scent of damage, which can attract more pests.
Look for and block the exact entry point the rabbit used. There’s often a clear trail or gap.

Long-Term Coexistence and Considerations

Complete eradication of wild rabbits is rarely possible or desirable. The goal is intelligent management to protect your specific crops.

Pets and Predators

A dog with free run of the yard is one of the best rabbit deterrents. Even their scent can keep rabbits away. Outdoor cats may also hunt young rabbits. Encouraging natural predators like hawks and owls by providing perches can help, but this is a broad ecosystem approach.

When to Call a Professional

In severe cases, usually more common with groundhogs or large infestations, professional help may be needed. Licensed wildlife control operators can humanely trap and relocate animals, but always check local regulations first, as relocating wildlife is illegal in some areas.

FAQ: Your Rabbit and Tomato Questions Answered

Do rabbits eat tomato plants or just the fruit?

They primarily eat the tender leaves and stems, especially of young plants. They may sample green tomatoes if accessible, but they prefer the foliage. Ripe fruit is more often targeted by other animals like birds or squirrels.

Are tomato plants poisonous to rabbits?

The leaves and stems of tomato plants contain solanine and tomatine, which are toxic in large quantities. Wild rabbits seem to instinctively avoid eating large amounts of mature, bitter foliage, but they will consume young plants where toxin levels are lower. It’s a risk for them, but not a reliable deterrent for your garden.

What is eating my tomato plants at night?

Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk. If damage appears overnight, rabbits, along with cutworms, slugs, or deer (depending on your location), are the prime suspects. Look for the clean-cut stems and rabbit droppings to confirm.

Will coffee grounds keep rabbits away?

Used coffee grounds sprinkled around plants can act as a mild repellent due to their smell and texture. However, the effect is temporary and washes away easily. It’s best used as part of a larger strategy, not a sole solution.

Do marigolds really repel rabbits?

Marigolds have a strong scent that rabbits often find unpleasant. While not a foolproof barrier, planting a thick border of marigolds around your tomato patch can help discourage casual browsing. They are a great companion plant for many reasons, including nematode control.

How high can a rabbit jump?

Most cottontail rabbits cannot jump very high vertically. A fence of 2 feet is usually sufficient. However, they are excellent at climbing over loose or flimsy fencing, so stability is key. Some larger jackrabbits can jump higher, so know your local species.

Protecting your tomato plants from rabbits requires persistence and a layered approach. Start with the most effective method—a proper fence—and then add supporting tactics like repellents and garden hygiene. Remember that rabbit pressure changes with the season and local food availability; a method that works in spring may need reinforcement in late summer. By understanding these voracious garden invaders and implementing these practical steps, you can enjoy a bountiful, rabbit-free tomato harvest. Your hard work in the garden will finally pay off without sharing the fruits of your labor with every passing bunny.