[Ciexyz]

I grow tomatoes in pots on my patio. If you grow enough of them, you'll only lose a small percentage to the critters and deer. (They have to eat, too.)

[I Buried My Guns]

"...you'll only lose a small percentage to the critters...

The critters are my mnemesis. I noticed the other day all my new corn shoots were gone. Don't know who ate them, but I have constructed a blind in my backyard and am prepared to wait them out with my Daisy BB gun. I say I don't know who the miscreant is, but I have an idea, as there are recurring troublemakers in our neighborhood.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"If you grow enough of them, you'll only lose a small percentage to the critters and deer. (They have to eat, too.)"

That's the way I look at it as well. We farm in addition to gardening and lose a great deal of harvest to deer, hogs, racoons and bears every year. The squirrels don't do quite as much damage, but they are a problem.

We planted 5 acres of watermelons three or so years ago and discovered that melons are the best deer attractant in the world. They can smell which are ripe and then with a few swift kicks the melon is open. Lost probably half of the crop. Found watermelon vines all through the woods that autumn. LOL!

You simply have to plant more than you plan on harvesting. We also look at it as fattening program for the critters that we end up harvesting during hunting seasons. One way or another we get fed. ;-)