G: Yes. Deer will absolutely eat tomatoes if they get the chance.

The interesting part is that their preferences vary:

Tomato foliage: Deer often nibble the leaves and stems, especially if food is scarce. (The leaves contain compounds that are toxic to many animals, but deer will still browse them.)
Green tomatoes: They'll sometimes eat these.
Ripe tomatoes: These are often a favorite because they're soft and high in moisture and sugar. Some deer will strip a plant clean overnight.

Given what I remember about your garden backing up to the woods, I'd assume tomatoes are at fairly high risk unless you protect them.

Some practical options, from most to least reliable:

A physical cage of wire mesh or hardware cloth around each plant (the most dependable).
A 7–8 foot deer fence around the garden if you're protecting multiple plants.
Commercial deer repellents (egg- or putrescent-egg-based) reapplied after rain. These work best before deer develop a habit of visiting.
Motion-activated sprinklers, which can be surprisingly effective for backyard gardens.

If you're only planning to grow one or two tomato plants, I'd go with a simple wire cage wrapped in plastic or metal mesh. It's inexpensive and much more reliable than relying on scent repellents alone.

Out of curiosity, are you thinking of adding tomatoes to the garden we've talked about before, or did you already plant some?

2026-06-19 17:40:12 EDT

M: I have a neighbor that's putting some near their house, and I was just wondering whether I should warn them or not. Now, to be clear, the neighbor has them almost right up directly against the house. At least I think that's what's going on there. There's the cone-shaped growth cages that they have for tomatoes. That's why I'm making the assumption.

G: That changes things a bit.

If the plants are right up against the house, they may actually fare better than tomatoes out in the open. Deer generally prefer to avoid getting very close to occupied buildings, especially during the day, though they'll absolutely do it at night if they feel safe.

A few things I'd consider:

If your neighborhood already has deer regularly walking between houses, then the tomatoes are still at risk.
If the house has lights, people coming and going, dogs, or a lot of activity, the plants may be left alone despite being tomatoes.
If the tomatoes are only a few feet from a wall or on a porch, that often provides enough of a psychological barrier that deer choose easier meals elsewhere.

So I wouldn't necessarily go over and say, "Your tomatoes are doomed." But if you happen to be chatting with them, a casual comment like:

"Just so you know, deer around here sometimes go after tomatoes. Being close to the house may help, but if you start seeing bites overnight, it probably isn't insects."

is the sort of heads-up that most gardeners appreciate.

Given what you've told me about your property bordering the woods, you probably have a better sense than they do of how comfortable the local deer are around homes. If you've actually seen deer walking between the houses or into yards, then I'd lean more toward mentioning it. If they mostly stay near the tree line, the house placement may be enough protection.