This is what they do to the zucchini!
I have never seen so many rabbits in all my life...they are hopping all over the neighbourhood in the evenings. I was wondering if it is because so many people are trying to grow their own gardens now, and are basically growing the rabbit population instead?!
I tried out the "Hot Hats" from Lee Valley to protect the beans and peas, and they worked great to grow the little plants. But eventually the plants get too big for the container, and the minute you take the hat off, the rabbits are so happy, and they come running into the garden to chew all the new leaves off!
The tomato plants are coming along well, and I have a few green tomatoes developing, so time will tell whether the rabbits will leave them alone, or add them to their salads.
Next year if I have a garden, it will only be with a big, big, strong fence around, since the amount of effort I have put in is not worth the amount of food that is left for us to eat!
15 comments:
Oh that's a shame!!! Gardens are hard work!!! It looks like you grow good vegetables though, if their enthusiasm is anything to go by :*)
Oh Kathy! I truly feel your frustration. We needed to put some additional fencing up this year because our chickens have found our tomatoes; gardens certainly can be a Love/Hate situation.
I've had luck keeping those bunnies at bay by generously scattering coffee grounds around my plants. Stop into you local coffee shop and ask them to save their grounds for you in case you don't generate enough or fast enough. I've also read that coffee grounds are good for our garden soil.
Good luck.....
Isn't that maddening? And to think that Thumper's relatives are such thieves! Where did they go wrong?
We actually struggle with skunks and raccoons, but the rabbits in our area must all be behind bars.
I've had exactly the same problem this year. All the lettuce and spinach I planted.... gone. I wonder, though, why don't they eat the leaves off the weeds?????
Some will hate me for this but fresh veggies in a rabbit stew...now wouldn't that be delicious!!!I couldn't do it either but it is a thought. Guess you are back to the sturdy fence.My garden is yielding beans and lettuce and a few tomatoes. But cukes not growing so well this year.Need more rain!!
Sorry to laugh, but that is a funny picture! You are probably right that the bunnies are rubbing their paws in anticipation as they see the humans preparing their gardens...
My neighbor has the same rabbit problem. He has discouraged dogs from his property so he has a severe rabbit infestation. I have 2 dogs and no rabbits. Instead of rabbits, I battle leaf cutter ants. I was surprised to observe a tall green lush row of okra reduced to what looked like a fishing pole display without a leaf in sight...OVERNIGHT!
Oh rats, on those rabbits. Sorry they are eating your garden. Your need to get a big dog or coyote to clean them out. I have a few things that are coming back after the hail. Root veggies will be OK and my squash and zucks are coming along, I might get some cucks, little ones starting to develop. Lettus and beans are gone. I had some peas but the later flowers were damaged.
Darn rabbits!
Hi Kathy: My husband pointed out that with the drought we are having there isn't much wild food for the rabbits to eat, so they are going for the gardens that people water! Not that it makes you feel any better about loosing your veggies.
Lisa
I know how frustrating it is too. We put a plastic deer fence up, good! But then we had rabbits eat two holes through the plastic. So then we put chicken wire all around the bottom of that fence and that has worked. Then the whole month of July we did not get any rain so we were watering by hand every other day. Things are not growing real well but we are still preserving. Chicken wire or electric is the answer for rabbits.
So sorry the rabbits are winning. They got mine too. I have all new seed but just need to find time and replant after I put a fence around the beds!
No raskal-y rabbits allowed in the garden. I'm so sorry. Cucumbers are my favorite to eat just with a bit of salt. I had my DH plant the English variety and they are so nice this year. We fight the slugs and ants. Oh and the Neighbors cats that lay on our flowerbed garden. I know we spend way more on our produce to water it than it would cost in the store, but the taste of a meal that you grew and the convenience of going outside to just pick it - outweighs that.
LOL. Too funny, but not really that the bunnies love your garden. I saw my dog pulling with all her might on my tomato plant tonight. She loves tomatoes and pulled off two to enjoy tonight! I tried to get her picture but was too slow....
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