What kind of deer-resistant vegetables can I plant in my garden?
Here's the thing about edible gardening -- deer agree with us most of the time on what's edible. The good, and rather surprising, news is that we eat some herbs, vegetables and berries the deer aren't so crazy about. Keep in mind there is no such thing as a "deer-proof" plant. Deer resistance is highly regional, seasonal, weather dependent, tied to food availability, and deer populations. Also, deer, like people, have different tastes in food. That said, these edible plants are at least worth a try outside the safety of a deer fence. Deer resistance is usually classified in three categories: Rarely Damaged, Occasionally Damaged, and Frequently Damaged. So, if you share your yard with a herd of deer you can still grow food that won't immediately be deer food.
Alliums
Our good friends of the allium family are favored for their pungency by man, but that quality makes beast turn up their noses at an offering of onions. If space in the deer fenced garden is at a premium plant your onions, chives, leeks, and garlic outside. Garlic is a fantastic companion plant for roses, which are on that frequently damaged list. Garlic planted with roses just might make the deer think twice about visiting your roses. Alliums are categorized as rarely damaged.
Aromatic Herbs
We savor the aromas of sage, dill, fennel, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, thyme and mint. Deer however find these herbs too much for their delicate noses to handle. Plant your herbs anywhere you like without fear of deer. These herbs fall into the rarely damaged category. Basil is also considered deer resistant, but slide it into the occasionally damaged classification.
Solanaceous Vegetables
Solanaceous vegetables, also called the deadly nightshade group, are vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. Peppers and tomatoes carry the badge of rarely damaged. Potatoes are best put in the occasionally damaged slot.
Artichokes
Once you have the artichokes growing you can leave one or two to flower -- the bees will arrive en masse to enjoy the bloom! Artichokes are rather prickly, so deer usually find something else to munch on. Grow artichokes from crowns in the winter or from seed in the spring. Artichokes are generally categorized as rarely damaged.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a beautiful edible ornamental. With it's bright stalks and huge leaves it is quite a statement piece in the yard. Rhubarb is considered a rarely damaged plant.
23 comments
Ken, it does depend on the deer, the amount of deer that come through and what they have to eat around them. But I do agree with you, I left my gate open to my garden one night and the deer came in and stripped my peppers (they did eventually come back) and nibbled on my tomatoes. But what they really liked were my cherry trees. They ate every leaf they could reach!
we have a big deer problem where I live. my property is line with state property the deer eat everything they can even things that are suppose to be not to their liking. I have fenced in my tomato plants since after the first year I started my garden when the deer ate them all down every since then I put up tall PVC pipes with netting that seems to help with the problem. I learned my lesson not to take it for granted that the deer will leave things they don’t like alone. Happy gardening.
I do not know how tomatoes and peppers made the list of rarely damaged. I have to place a fence around these plants to deter deer.
I think all new plants are “explored” by the deer as possibly edible. Deer repellant when they are first planted is helpful….plus gives the plant a chance to become established before the first nibble.
Here in Boise Idaho, tomatoes are eaten every year by deer. Until I wrap netting around them. Both leaves and fruit.