Ruqayyah Snyder
Possums are native to Australia and are known to raid vegetable gardens, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. While some sources suggest that possums do not eat tomatoes because they are poisonous to them, others claim that possums will eat ripe tomatoes but leave the plants untouched. To prevent possums from eating tomatoes and other crops, people have tried various methods, including netting, repellents, traps, and providing alternative food sources. The effectiveness of these methods varies, and some people even resort to humourous approaches to deal with the pesky possums.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do Australian possums eat tomatoes? | Yes, Australian possums do eat tomatoes. |
| Where do they eat from? | Australian possums eat tomatoes from gardens and vegetable patches |
| What else do they eat? | Possums also eat fruit, rosebuds, soft fleshy foliage, cucumbers, cauliflowers, carrots, eggplants, mangoes, oranges, pumpkins, beans, and more. |
| How to deter them? | Some methods to deter possums include using chicken wire, possum-deterrent sprays, spotlights with motion detectors, chilli powder, and possum traps. |
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What You'll Learn
Australian possums' eating habits
Possums are protected in Australia, so it is illegal to feed them poison or foods that can harm them. Possums are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter. They indulge in a diet comprising fruits, vegetables, bugs, and even small animals. This diverse diet makes them true food connoisseurs.
Australian possums are particularly fond of eucalyptus leaves. If there are no eucalyptus plants around, they settle for other plants, such as green plum, acacia, and red bush apple. Possums have an extremely low metabolism, so their caloric needs are easily met with simple plants. Fruits are more caloric and provide an easy source of energy, but they can also make possums overweight, so fruit is more of a cheat meal than a main course. Possums can also eat veggies but only in relatively small quantities. Despite their cute and harmless image, some possum species can be quite dangerous for animals around them. For example, brushtail possums enjoy deriving protein from bird eggs and small lizards.
In addition to eating food from gardens, possums can cause damage to plants and trees by stripping bark or digging up roots and bulbs. They also have a knack for climbing, so they often strip tree barks from the top down. This behaviour isn't common among many pests, so understanding their destructive habits is essential to protect green spaces.
Some people choose to live with the possums in their yards, providing them with food. However, it is important not to feed possums directly, as they are foragers and can become dependent, which can make them lazy and incapable of taking care of themselves. It is best to spread the food around and keep the quantities small, so they have to work for it and don't lose their independence.
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Protecting tomatoes from possums
Possums are a common problem for gardeners in Australia, particularly in suburban areas. Possums are native to Australia, but their numbers have increased post-colonisation, and they often raid gardens for food. Possums are known to eat tomatoes, but only once they are ripe. They will also eat other fruits and vegetables, such as mangoes, pumpkins, oranges, cauliflowers, and beans.
Identify the Culprit
Before implementing any protective measures, it is essential to confirm that possums are indeed the culprits behind the damage to your tomato plants. Possums often get blamed for damage caused by rats, especially during winter when citrus fruits are targeted. To differentiate between the two, set up some traps to catch the intruder in the act. Possums are protected in Australia, so if you do catch one, remember to release it within 50 meters.
Secure Your Garden
Possums are reluctant to come to the ground, so they will avoid descending to the ground if they can get their fill from the trees. To prevent this, trim any overhanging branches that provide easy access to your tomato plants. You can also install motion-activated spotlights to deter possums from approaching your garden.
Physical Barriers
One of the most effective ways to protect your tomatoes from possums is to create physical barriers that prevent them from reaching the plants. This can be done by covering your tomato plants with netting or chicken wire, secured with stakes or pegs to weigh it down. Ensure there are no gaps for possums to squeeze through, and consider bending the top of the wire outwards to deter them from climbing over.
Alternative Food Sources
Possums are opportunistic feeders, and if they can find an easier meal, they may leave your tomatoes alone. Try offering alternative food sources that possums find attractive, such as apples, pears, carrots, pumpkin skins, or potato peels. Place these in a tray on top of the chicken wire or netting surrounding your tomato plants.
Repellent Sprays
There are commercial repellent sprays available, such as Yates 1L Ready To Use Possum Repellent Spray or Multicrop 2L Scat Animal Repellent, which can be applied directly to your plants. You can also make your own natural repellent spray by boiling bark chips from the quassia tree, which contains a bitter resin that will make your plants unpalatable to possums.
Decoy Plants
Try planting extra seedlings of vegetables that possums like to eat, such as silverbeet and parsley, away from your tomato plants. These decoy plants may satisfy the possums' appetite and draw their attention away from your tomatoes.
Remember, possums are intelligent and persistent, so you may need to experiment with different strategies to find the most effective combination for your garden.
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Deterring possums from gardens
Possums are a protected species in South Australia, making it illegal to catch, harm, hunt, or kill them in your backyard. However, they can be a nuisance in your yard or home, spreading diseases or trashing your home while looking for food. They are also known to eat fruits and vegetables in your garden, including tomatoes. Here are some ways to deter them from your garden:
Identify and Remove Food Sources
Possums are attracted to your yard if they can easily find a food source. Identify and remove food sources such as pet food stored outside, unsealed trash cans, or fallen fruit from trees. Store pet food indoors, keep trash in bins with tight-fitting lids, and pick up fruit from the ground.
Use Physical Barriers
Prevent possums from accessing your garden by using physical barriers such as wildlife-friendly netting, chicken wire, or hardware cloth. Cover vegetables and fruit crops with netting, and place tree collars or guards near the base of fruit trees to prevent climbing. Ensure that the barriers are securely fastened and buried a few inches underground to prevent digging.
Repel with Scents
Possums are deterred by certain strong scents, including vinegar, garlic, onion, peppermint, and camphor. You can also try natural deterrents like fish oil mixed with water or Lapsang Souchong tea sprayed in affected areas. However, these scents may not always be effective and can be unpleasant for humans and other animals, so use them responsibly.
Provide Alternative Food Sources
Offer possums alternative food sources they enjoy, such as native plants like banksias and hakeas. This may distract them from your garden plants.
Use Repellents and Traps
Commercial repellents and traps are available, such as store-bought powders and sprays designed to repel possums. You can also contact a wildlife control professional to set humane traps and relocate the possums to a new habitat.
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Possum-resistant plants
Possums are highly adaptable and can gain access to almost any garden, even those on upper-storey balconies. They are also not fussy eaters and will feed on almost anything, but they particularly enjoy young shoots, buds, fruits, and leafy vegetables.
There are two species of possums that feed in gardens: Brushtails and Ringtails. Brushtails are the larger of the two, weighing up to 2.4 kg, and are therefore responsible for more significant damage to gardens. Ringtails, on the other hand, are much smaller at around 800g and have a curled, bare tail that helps them navigate.
While it is unlikely that any plant is 100% possum-proof, there are certain plants that may be more resistant to possum damage due to their physical characteristics or odour. Here are some examples of plants that may be less appealing to possums:
- Acanthus (Oyster Plant): This plant has dark green lobed leaves that are shiny and light-reflecting. In the sun, it shoots up purple and white flower spikes.
- Agapanthus: A tough and beautiful plant in the summer, with lovely fountains of broad strappy leaves.
- Buddleia: Even if Brushtails or Ringtails damage this plant, it will regrow from stumps if coppiced.
- Buxus (Box): This attractive low hedge may serve as a first line of defence against smaller possums that cannot jump over it.
- Crinum: A bold waterside plant with large starry white flower heads and broad strappy leaves.
- Ligustrum (Privet): A popular hedging plant that is evergreen, dense, and neat, and likely rabbit-resistant.
- Liriope: An evergreen and dense grassy ground cover with spires of purple flowers.
- Mangave: Big, bold agave hybrids with leaf-edge spines that may deter even the largest possums.
- Myoporum (Yareena™): This variety is reported to stand up to possum predators and is also drought-resistant, frost-resistant, and suitable for clay soils.
- Nepeta (Cat Thyme and Lemon Thyme): This ornamental catmint has a strong aromatic scent that may deter deer and possums.
- Phormium (NZ Flax): A fountain of firm, dark-coloured leaves that provides year-round interest.
- Rosemary: A good low hedge plant that, for unknown reasons, possums don't seem to find as appealing as humans do.
In addition to choosing plants that possums may be less interested in, you can also try the following methods to make your garden less appealing to possums:
- Physical barriers: Erecting physical barriers is one of the most effective ways to keep possums out of your garden. This can include possum-proof fencing around the perimeter, covers for individual plants, or tree guards. Ensure that existing fences do not provide easy access for possums and consider using spikes or floppy wire to deter them.
- Deterrent sprays: There are commercial deterrent sprays available, such as Yates Possum Repellent Spray, or you can make your own by using a concoction of crushed garlic and hot chilli.
- Odorous products: Possums are reported to dislike the smell of blood and bone, so spreading this around the base of plants may deter them.
- Netting: Using fine-gauge netting or shade cloth can help prevent or limit access to your plants. Securely tie down the netting to structures to ensure possums cannot get caught in it.
- Alternative food sources: Try offering alternative food sources that possums find appealing, such as badly bruised apples or pears, carrot offcuts, pumpkin skin, or potato peels, to distract them from your plants.
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Possum-friendly plants
Possums are known to feed on almost anything, but they particularly enjoy young shoots, buds, developing fruits, and leafy vegetables. They are also fond of eucalyptus plants and have been known to eat tomatoes, although some sources suggest that they avoid them as they are poisonous.
If you want to deter possums from eating your plants, there are several methods you can try. One approach is to use physical barriers, such as fine-gauge netting or shade cloth, to prevent or limit their access to your plants. You can also try deterring them with odours or tastes they find unpleasant. For example, possums reportedly dislike the smell of blood and bone, crushed garlic, chillies, and Indonesian fish sauce. Possums may also be repelled by certain plants, such as rosemary, acanthus, agapanthus, and buddleia.
On the other hand, if you want to attract possums to your garden, you can try planting trees with hollows, such as mango trees, as possums use these for resting and nesting during the day. You can also offer them food such as squash, capsicum, eggplant, pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini, green beans, and turnips.
It is important to note that while these methods may help deter possums, they are not always effective, and persistent efforts may be required. Additionally, it is worth ruling out other possible culprits, such as rats, before assuming that possums are responsible for any damage to your plants.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australian possums do eat tomatoes. They tend to eat ripe tomatoes and ignore the unripe ones.
There are several ways to keep possums away from your tomatoes. You can try using a possum-deterrent spray, such as Yates 1L Ready To Use Possum Repellent Spray or Multicrop 2L Scat Animal Repellent. You can also use physical barriers such as chicken wire or netting to protect your plants. Another option is to hang fur from a dog, such as a husky, in stockings around your vegetables.
Australian possums are known to eat a variety of plants and vegetables, including new shoots of plants (especially eucalyptus), fruit, lettuce, radishes, cauliflowers, broccoli, silverbeet, parsley, spinach, broad bean leaves, mangoes, pumpkins, oranges, chilli, snow peas, cucumbers, capsicums, beetroot, carrots, eggplants, cabbage, and potatoes.
Some plants that Australian possums are less likely to eat include sweet potatoes, potatoes, zucchini, mustard greens, and Goji berries.
Australian possums raid vegetable gardens because they are hungry and looking for food. The clearing of large eucalypts and other indigenous trees has reduced their natural food sources, so they turn to gardens for nourishment.
