Rabbits!

[spud57]

Hello everyone - we have just taken over a large shared plot. It is in a rural location and the plot has not been cultivated for years. The problem is that it is not fenced, although most of the others on the site are. We wont be able to fence it this season, but I wondered if there was anything that I could plant that would be relatively rabbit-proof! Any suggestions gratefully received!

[Nicola.P]

I have 3 pet rabbits in my garden and so far the only plants (veg or otherwise) that I have found they do not like to eat are daffodils!

[ann-the-nan]

rabbits!

Small prickly hedge?

[tootles]

Mine wasn't fenced last season, until the flopsys got all my psb and spring cabbage seelings and started on the courgettes.
I fenced it pretty quickly!

I am expanding the fenced area to include my expanded veg plot. I have no intention of planting ANYTHING until I can be sure that I will be the one to eat it................
Personally, in a rabbity area my priorities would be; dig, fence, plant.

They will eat it and you will kick yourself.

[taff]

The only thing ours wouldn't eat was spinach beet. Fence it all!!

[Nicola.P]

Small prickly hedge?

Had one. It too was eaten! The only surviving plants in my garden are 3 large bushes which are bald for about 2 ft underneath, they cannot reach the top to eat all of it!

Plus point is i have never had to mow my lawn in 3 yrs, they keep it lovely and short

[tamsin]

My three pets aren't too keen on butternut squashes, not sure whether they'd eat the leaves before you got a crop though.

[ann-the-nan]

rabbits

By prickly hedge, I meant holly.

[Iamhanuman]

i have found that our rabbits will eat pretty much everything (thankfully they are now in a permanent enclosure rather than free-range)

the only things they haven't touched have been the spring flowering bulbs
but that probably doesn't help much for veg.... garlic maybe??

i would go for a fence, dug a foot deep and about three feet high - sorry!

[spud57]

Thanks everyone! I was going to put in some potatoes but I guess I had better fence a few beds at least first...

[beckibrown]

My pet rabbit has eaten its way through most things but he wont touch garlic. I've had to build little shelters around anything delicate because he's the world's most accomplished fence-leaper. :S

[Spiderling]

Rabbits

Hello Spud 57. Our allotment site has quite a population of bunnies and in my experience, they eat everything,including onions,and leeks which we thought were safe! We couldn't fence the entire plot that first year either, but my husband devised a cunning plan. He bought rolls of chicken wire 3' wide, cut it to length of the row and folded it in half lengthwise (so it looks like a tent) Cover your plants with the "wire tent " and stake it down with canes. Don't forget to cover the open ends too or the bunnies will still get in!!! It has worked extremely well for us and we still use them to keep pigeons off seedlings etc. We used the plastic coated wire netting and it is still in use 5 years later as protection and as supports for peas too. We managed to get it all fenced by the second year. Happy growing!

[Iamhanuman]

heckfire that's a lot of work Spiderling but well done to you both and may your crops grow plenty

[Spiderling]

Hi. It's not as labour intensive as it sounds, believe me!!! Quite quick, in fact. Once you have the wire cut into desired lengths it's simple. When you have finished with it, just roll it up and store it.

[Iamhanuman]

you should post a pic!!