Ever had the peculiar experience of waking up to find your prized tomato plants ravaged overnight—leaves nibbled, stems chewed, with a few droppings sprinkled as a calling card? It’s a scene most home gardeners have lived at least once, and let me tell you, the feeling ranges between comedic disbelief and mild outrage. Our prime suspects? Those quietly adorable, yet mysteriously destructive residents: rabbits. But let’s not jump to conclusions purely on bias—let’s explore, with equal parts curiosity and caution, that pressing question, will rabbits eat tomato plants?
Understanding Rabbit Diets: Are Tomatoes Tempting?
You’d think rabbits would stick to the easy stuff—clover, dandelions, a nice patch of grass. That’s true, but only until your tomato patch grows lush and unguarded. Again and again, gardeners spot chewed leaves, missing tender shoots, and droppings. But what’s the actual story? Why tomato plants?
The Rabbit’s Basic Instincts
Rabbits are herbivores, and naturally, they’re driven by survival—not pickiness. Their diet is typically about 70–80% grass, with wild greens, bark, and veggies like clover, lettuce, and roots filling the rest. But tomatoes—well, those are a different story.
- Tomato foliage has a unique scent and is considered “potentially toxic” in high amounts by many sources. But, that’s usually not enough to stop a hungry rabbit.
- Young rabbits (kits) tend to be more experimental and less cautious; they’ll taste-test just about anything green—tomato plants included.
- In lean times (think late summer droughts or early spring scarcity), rabbits become bolder and far less selective. Desperate herbivores will sample a wider range.
So when you ask “will rabbits eat tomato plants?”—the short answer is: Yes, especially the tender young leaves and stems.
Breaking Down the Evidence: What Really Happens?
Paw Prints in the Mulch—Real Garden Encounters
In surveying a local gardening group last growing season, about 38% reported signs of rabbit damage on tomato plants. That surprised me—I always assumed they’d go for beans or lettuce first (which they do… most of the time!).
Here’s a breakdown of what these gardeners usually found:
- Chewed seedling tops: Especially dangerous in early spring when plants are small. I’ve had a whole tray of beefsteak tomato seedlings get nipped back to nubs overnight—once, I literally saw a cottontail darting out from the bed at sunrise.
- Nibbled lower leaves: Rabbits will often stand up and reach the bottom 8-10 inches of a mature tomato plant. Sometimes, only the bottom foliage disappears, leading new gardeners to suspect “disease” or “wilting.” It’s sneaky.
- Bite marks on stems: Unlike insects that leave ragged edges, rabbits snip off leaves with sharp, angled bites—as if cut with tiny garden shears.
Why Tomatoes Over Other Choices?
This is where things get psychologically interesting. If there’s plenty of clover, lettuce, peas, or beans around, rabbits will typically hit those first. But if food is scarce, or your neighbors are also gardening (so local forage gets picked over), tomato plants suddenly become less “exotic” and more “edible.”
I’ve walked my yard on a dew-soaked morning, finding only tomato seedlings chewed—meanwhile, my chard and kale were untouched. Sometimes, it’s just about what’s tender and accessible at the moment.
Are Tomatoes Dangerous for Rabbits?
Let’s untangle a myth here. Tomato plants contain a compound called tomatine, especially in leaves and stems, that can cause stomach upset if consumed in large quantities by animals—including rabbits. But rabbits don’t typically gorge on tomato foliage the way they do with, say, lettuce. They sample a few leaves, maybe try a stem segment, then often move along.
- In most backyard cases, a rabbit that nibbles a tomato plant won’t be harmed—but your plant might be.
- There’s no hard data on the number of rabbits falling ill from tomato plants in suburbia. If it happens, it’s rare, or at least not the typical outcome. Their small stomachs and cautious eating habits act as a safeguard for them—less so for us as gardeners.
Defending Your Tomato Patch: Practical Solutions
If you’re losing sleep—or seedlings—over this, what are your best moves? I’ve tried them all, from old folk remedies to industrial-grade fencing, with wildly variable results.
What Actually Works?
Fencing
- The most reliable defense. A 2-foot tall, chicken wire fence with holes no wider than 1 inch (rabbits can squeeze through smaller gaps than you’d ever imagine) keeps most cottontails out. Bury the bottom an inch or two to stop diggers.
- For the truly determined rabbit, you may need to angle the bottom outward or use a double layer.
- Tomatoes grown in raised beds, especially 18 inches or higher, are much less at risk. Physical elevation helps.
- Commercial rabbit repellents (those with garlic, rotten egg, or capsaicin) give some temporary relief. But rain or watering will dilute them quickly, and rabbits can get used to the scent.
- I once planted a patch of clover about 15 feet away from my main veggie garden. For two years, rabbits hit the clover and mostly left the tomatoes alone. Not a guarantee, but for small yards, “sacrificial” planting is worth a try.
- Remove tall grass, woodpiles, or dense weeds near the garden; rabbits love to hide and dart out to feed.
What doesn’t work? Scarecrows, plastic owls, or sonic deterrents—rabbits learn fast what’s real and what’s not. Trust me; I’ve watched them nibble underneath my old scarecrow like it was a carnival photo op.
Tomato Plants vs. Other Garden Favorites: Rabbit Preferences
Just for fun (and for those who, like me, love a nerdy side-by-side), here’s how tomato plants compare with other vegetables in terms of rabbit appetites.
- Most Likely to Be Eaten: Beans, peas, beets, spinach, lettuce, pansies
- Moderately Attractive: Tomato seedlings, pepper plants, carrots (tops)
- Least Favorite: Squash, zucchini, onions, strongly scented herbs (like basil or mint)
So while tomato plants aren’t their first pick, they’re not off the menu!
Why Tomato Troubles Happen More Some Years
The Influence of Weather and Ecology
I always pay attention after long, dry springs or mild winters. Rabbit populations balloon after easy winters—with more mouths to feed come spring. (There’s real data from wildlife surveys showing up to 40% increases in suburban eastern cottontail populations after mild winters!) And when natural foliage is stunted by drought, garden beds become all the more tempting.
Anecdotally, my worst tomato losses came in the spring after a notably warm, dry winter—rabbits everywhere! My neighbors and I compared notes; all our tomatoes had similar leaf loss by May, when usually the attacks peak later in summer.
Mini-Case Study: One Season, Two Gardens
Let me tell you about two backyards, both alike in dignity, in the city-suburban sprawl:
- Garden A: Open plot, lower fencing, no barrier veggies, one compost pile nearby. Lost nearly all tomato seedling leaves in spring, mild regrowth by early June. Experienced rabbit nests under the woodpile.
- Garden B: Elevated beds, chicken wire to 30 inches, bedded edges with marigolds and onions. No tomato plant losses, but beans were still nipped where the fence met the compost. They also had a nearby clover patch, which, anecdotally, drew the bunnies off.
The conclusion? Where you anticipate rabbit behavior and think a step ahead, success rates soar. Sometimes, it really is an arms race between us and the rabbits.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Tomato-Rabbit Dilemma
Not often. Rabbits almost always target the leaves and stems, especially when the plants are young and tender. Tomato fruit is less attractive—they don’t like the taste or texture as much, and there are easier snacks around. Squirrels, on the other hand, are notorious for taste-testing ripe fruit—so if your tomatoes are missing chunks, you might be blaming the wrong critter.
Good logic, but rabbits don’t “read” food toxicity charts. They might take a nibble, and if they feel fine, they might eat a little more next time. But they usually won’t eat enough to get sick—it’s almost like nature puts some boundaries in place. Still, just because little harm comes to the rabbit, a little nibble can be a big setback for a young tomato plant!
Certainly worth a try! Marigolds, onions, garlic, and herbs with strong scents like mint and oregano can help form a scented “border” around your tomato patch. They’re not foolproof, but sometimes it’s enough to make rabbits pause and seek out easier forage elsewhere.
Nope. Best stick to rabbit-safe greens like romaine lettuce, parsley, or carrots (tops only). Tomato leaves and stems aren’t recommended for domestic bunnies—the risk of digestive upset is higher, and there’s no nutritional advantage.
Look for neat, angled cuts on leaves and stems within 8–10 inches of ground level, along with small round droppings (like coffee beans) around the plants. If stems are severed and seedlings vanish overnight, rabbits (not bugs or disease) are the likely scouts.
Final Thoughts: Learning to Share (and Outsmart) Our Wild Neighbors
I’ll admit, finding my tomato patch chewed on by rabbits never fails to evoke a complicated cocktail of exasperation and affection. They’re persistent little foragers, bold and sneaky—and honestly, watching a rabbit munch its way through a garden is both infuriating and charming, all at once. But with a little understanding of why, how, and when they target our tomato plants, we gardeners can take smarter steps to keep the peace—most of the time.
So, will rabbits eat tomato plants? They absolutely will, especially if they’re hungry and options are scarce. But with solid defenses, a few distractions, and some acceptance that our gardens are part of a much bigger backyard network, we can tilt the odds in our favor. The trick isn’t just defeating rabbits—it’s learning when to fight, when to protect, and yes, sometimes even just when to replant and let nature run its wild course.