Tomatoes are known for being pretty easy to grow, but they are very appetising to pests, so it is important to know how to protect them properly. In spring, tomatoes are just beginning to grow their leaves, which can make them vulnerable to birds and flying insects such as aphids or whiteflies.
If pests chew on young tomato leaves, it reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesise, leading to stunted growth, higher disease risk, and lower fruit production. However, Deborah Elliott, a gardener and creator of Deb’s Garden, has shared a very easy way to safeguard tomatoes is to wrap them up in tin foil.
She said: “I cut thin strips of aluminium foil and wrapped them around branches of the tomatoes and blueberries, very much like icicles on a Christmas tree. I think lots of shiny foil flapping in the breeze should intimidate any bird.”
It might sound bizarre, but the shiny, reflective surface of tin foil can confuse birds by mimicking the movement of predators as sunlight flashes off it.
Birds such as pigeons and magpies are very sensitive to quick, rapid movements as it signals danger for them and will make them feel threatened, so they will avoid the area.
You can use aluminium foil, but anything with a shiny surface can work, such as old CD discs or even the aluminium dish leftover when you buy a steak or pie.
This simple pest deterrent will also work on flying insects such as aphids and whiteflies, as it will confuse them and disrupt their flight patterns to make it harder for them to move about the garden.
It can also act as a protective barrier for ground-crawling insects like slugs and snails, as the foil will trap heat and make it too hot for them to cross.
How to use aluminium foil to protect tomatoes
All you need to do is cut the tin foil into strips, and wrap them around the base of your tomato plant and higher up on stakes, stems or any branches near the plant.
Make sure the tin foil is not tied too tightly on the tomato plant, as it could reduce airflow.
It is fine to use tinfoil in spring due to the mild, warm temperatures, but be careful in summer as it could overheat and damage the tomato plant. Only use this deterrent if the temperature is below 27C.
Keep in mind that birds can be quite clever and may eventually realise that tin foil is not a real threat. To keep them away from tomatoes, it’s best to use a variety of deterrents and switch them up every few weeks, making your garden seem constantly unsafe.
Other methods to deter birds include planting white flowers, scattering foods they hate like broken up peanuts, and placing spikes on fences to make it more difficult for them to land in a garden.
