I've had frequent four-legged nibblers to my lush raised beds this summer. They've topped the buds off the sunflowers, eaten all the leaves off the bean bushes, stunted my kale with their daily snacking, and sheered off the tops of the new potato foliage. But those deer haven't touched the tomatoes, nor the tomato foliage. (Truth be told, they haven't touched the fennel, either, nor the eggplant, nasturtiums, nor garlic.)
I only grow tomatoes because they are easy, good to give away, and their grand branching growth supports heaving clumps of large fruit, making me look as if I know what I'm doing in the garden. I do not, really.
I wouldn't eat a tomato in a sandwich on a dare. I will not be attempting to consume tomato foliage. I greatly dislike the smell of the foliage left on my skin after rummaging around for the ripe ones.
Now if someone can figure out how to make all the acorns under my oak tree palatable, I might be interested.
