Will this bean protection/watering system be O.K

[ukmastiff]

LO All, i have had to completely give up on growing outside on my veg patch for now. This is due to the rabbits immediately destroying anything I have the cheek to plant out in ' their paddock'.

Before I realised how bad it would be I planted a 20 foot row of peas and they have come up a treat. As a result I'd like to keep them ( selfish I know), so I decided to make a very simple tee pee over them out of thin plastic sheeting and thus far the bunnies dont seem to want to go in there



Today I realised they would get dry and I cant keep taking it off as it will all rip etc and its a real hastle. As a result I have run ahose along the trench and punched holes in it at intervals intending to give them water as and when advised by turning the tap slightly on. Does this look a go-er or is it a no-no. So far the peas seem to be springing up nicely after 3 days of plastic.

Cheers Mas

[FionaH]

Sounds like a plan mate. Only one question how high are your peas gonna grow? Will that placcy be tall enough?

[ukmastiff]

alledgedly 2 foot to 2 foot 6 as they are dwarf variety, i do realise my placie is only 2 foot to 2 foot 6 tall and if it comes to it it will have to be taken off and maybe replaced with netting :P

What is interesting is that the ones in the ground are about two to three inches tall , and I stuck half a dozen in a pot in the greenhouse just for fun. The ones in the greenhouse are a good 18 inches already , im amazed the diffeence the greenhouse makes so im hopeing the cloche has a similar effect.

Heres preying lol

[Snadger]

I don't know how big your veg patch is but is it not feasible to surround it with chicken wire to 3 or 4 foot high which should keep the wabbits at bay?
A problem I can see with your unventilated cloche is that you could get fungal problems and scorching of the pea leaves if they touch the plastic? Peas are usually quite susceptible to mildew at the best of times.

Good luck though and I hope your tactics work for you!