Rabbit danger - what's at risk

[The Sage of Brouhaha]

I'm very excited because I planted out my first vegetables (runner and broad beans) in the allotment I've made at the bottom of the garden of my new house.

But anyway, I saw a wild rabbit in the garden the other day chewing at the grass. Could anyone tell me what vegetables I should protect from them as a priority? I'm assuming they'll be after the lettuces. I'm planning on growing a fairly wide selection of veg.

Thanks in anticipation!

The Sage of Brouhaha

[ugly gourd]

Welcome to the vine Sage I suggest anything that is green and growing needs protecting but saying that they have never attacked my spuds so they may be safe!!

[JennieAtkinson]

I would echo that!

......... and welcome to the vine!

[The Sage of Brouhaha]

It's getting a bit dark now to head out with some chicken wire, but if any of those beans that I've been cherishing got hurt... Maybe I should invest in a shotgun.

Do I really have to put chicken wire around all of the veg beds? Will they even eat the rhubarb? Can I put something around seedlings and take it off once they're big enough to defend themselves?

[welsh veg grower]

Rabbits will tend to eat anything. Do you ahve a dog pref male to wee around the veg patch (not on the veg obviously )
Protect with wire also, and plant more you can always share with the bunnies that way.

Other options, shoot them and put them in pie with your spuds and carrots - free tea. Sorry for those who think thats cruel but rabbits are big pests and we have aways eaten them.

Just to point out they also eat flowers like lavender I know why

Good luck with the bunnies, cute they may be but big eaters thats for sure.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Sage and welcome to the Vine!
Bernie aka Dexterdog

[has-bean]

Snares are excellent and theres notyhing like a trapped bunny to scare off his mates for a while. Careful bunny is healthy before eating him though and learn how to dispatch him as quickly and painlessly as you can.

[Alice]

Hello Sage, I'm not one of the kill them, shoot them brigade. BUT 2 exceptions to my rule - rabbits and rats. Kill them on sight. Rabbits eat everything ! And if you have 1 today you will have thousands shortly. It's not possible to garden with rabbits. Rats are disease carrying vermin - and they breed like rabbits. 6 this week - 6 thousand at the end of the year.
There are all kinds of remedies on the go but in my experience only 1 solution to these 2 pests.

[JennieAtkinson]

If they don't eat it, they will dig it up. It took me four years to get my veg field adjacent to the house rabbit free and now the garden (unfortunately thanks to a gun) also rabbit free. If you are going to exterminate any pests, do make sure it is cleanly and painlessly done.

In Shetland we have a major problem with rabbits. They are destroying the farmlands of the south end of the island and gradually moving north. At the moment the pay is 15p per tail. Thankfully we have no major disease here, so what we kill we eat. A young active dog is also a good deterrant, but not complete! Our Aimee caught a rabbit in the adjacent field last week (naughty as she's not supposed to be out of the garden) and brought it back, totally unharmed, carried by the scruff of its neck and just dropped it at my feet! The rabbit (and me) was stunned. That one lived to see another day thankfully, as we only get rid of those that come into the garden.

Unfortunately rabbits and gardening just do not mix.

[Paulottie]

Hello Sage and welcome

No, I think Rhubarb may be an exception, but i'm afraid that chicken wire is probably the best bet and go down a foot as well.

Whatever hasbeen says about putting his bunny mates off- a screaming rabbit is a sickening sound most likely to put you off as well- I can't stand it and I've been happily and remorslessly killing them since I was 10. Although a gun and a halogen lamp is pretty efficient it requires certain skills and understanding neighbours. however good you are there are always more as they do indeed breed like ....rabbits

[Matt.]

When putting chicken wire in make sure it is burried a spades depth and that it is folded flat (outwards) in the bottom of the trench. Like and outward pointing L. The idea is that rabbits will still dig down to go under the fence but if the hit horizontal fencing they will stop.

Also if you're going to be shooting I'd advise on a rifle not a shotgun otherwise you'll have no plants left either

[Tyto Alba]

Run rabbit run rabbit RUN RUN RUN....

[LaurenGrows]

Hello Sage and welcome to the Vine.
Lauren

[Still Learning]

For years I was plagued with rabbits and spent too much time fencing. However, 18 months ago a feral cat and her 3 kittens turned up and consequently adopted us. We look after them and in return they keep all furry nibbling creatures at bay - well recommended.

[slow-worm]

You could make your garden rabbit proof with chicken wire around the boundry of your garden or the cheaper version is to cover with netting