As noted, we have a huge problem with fruit rats (cute small rats, but are still rats), that eat tomatoes, corn and most anything else that they can find in the middle of the night to munch on.
Typically they choose tomatoes that are just about ripe, but occasionally just bite a green one, probably for spite.
I’ve used powdered Cayenne (one pound shake jars/Amazon) in the past but you have to refresh it after watering and it’s tough to get it onto the plant leaves and fruit. I suspect that if the critters try to walk through it and lick their paws, it gets a bit toasty for them, but not if they jump onto the plant from a higher platform which they have been known to do.
So, the search was for something else as a deterrent and I discovered Mint or Peppermint Extract from Walmart or any food store. Just pour a small amount into a spray bottle, add water and spray all over the plant, pot dirt and surrounding area. Much easier than sprinkling powdered Cayenne.
Rather than being a deterrent, it confuses the critter’s internal smell programs (ISP’s) and doesn’t smell like anything that registers as something good to chew on.
I spray in the morning, afternoon (mainly for the squirrels) and then in the late evening. So far, on my Campari tomatoes, no signs of our fruit rats. I’ll check in with further results. The Campari’s are just turning red.
I also spray our 28 cup vertical hydroponic “Tower Garden” to protect the Strawberries.
(I’ve even put out a Trail Cam (“AimTom” brand/Amazon) to record the varmints, just in case).
Now to the Campari tomato seeds and where I got them…
I squished a few overripe Campari’s, put the seeds pods into a fine screen colander ran water over the mass, picked out the non-seed parts, added some dish detergent, swished the goop/seeds around for a while with my fingers, then washed all the goop off the now separated seeds.
I mention this because the common method of harvesting tomato seeds is to put the mass into a jar, add water, let it sit for a couple days to ferment (yuck) and then drain away the stinky stuff. A colander, dish detergent and water is much more appetizing.
Some won’t germinate but they are free.
I do this same exact seed harvesting with Cantaloupes and various melons. Very easy to do and did the same with the tiny seeds from overly soft Blackberries. Small screen colander, dish detergent and water. Simple…
Bob/Bradenton
I’ve been using Campari seeds for years. I just squeeze out the seeds onto a paper towel and spread them around and leave them on a windowsill for a few days to dry up. Then I stick them in an envelope and label them. It works for me. It’s the only small cherry type tomato we grow.