My Garden

My swiss chard and turnip greens are being eaten!

Last post 04-07-2009 6:20 PM by Smiler72. 4 replies.

• 04/07/2009 01:52 PM

  Smiler72 Location: Cheshire Joined on: 04 Jul 2009 Posts: 3

  Reply | Contact  Firstly, hello everyone - this is my first post on the forums. :)   I took the plunge this year and decided to grow some swiss chard, turnips and turnip greens - but they never get any bigger than  three inches high before something chomps them right down, leaving only a few little stumps of stem. The plant quickley starts shooting up new leaves, but again, they get etaten, so the plant never reaches maturity. I'm getting quite frustrated as I wanted to plant some chard and winter radish to last through the winter soon, but if they are going to be eaten too there seems little point.   I've checked for slug and snail trails, and the underside of the leaves for pests but there's no sign of anything. I even go out in the middle of the night with a torch trying to catch whatever it is, but have seen nothing untoward. Infact, it mostly seems to happen during the day while I am at work.  I'm starting to suspect it may be some sort of rodent, or possibly a rabbit. I've seen both in the nearby park.    Any advice, particularly about cheap home made deterrents would be very much appreciated. :)

• 04/07/2009 02:09 PM

  In reply to

  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 3,347

  Reply | Contact  Welcome to the site! You could try putting a handful of grit around the base of each plant. If slugs or snails are to blame then they'll be discouraged. Do you have any netting or mesh? If so, try making a cage for some plants. If these grow and the unprotected ones are eaten then rabbits are likely. An empty wire hanging basket would work well as a cage. Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.

• 04/07/2009 02:31 PM	In reply to
  Smiler72 Location: Cheshire Joined on: 04 Jul 2009 Posts: 3	Reply | Contact  Thank you for the warm welcome! :)   That sounds like a good plan, I will give that a whirl and see what happens. I love rabbits, but I draw the line at them chomping through stuff meant for my table! Pesky things.

• 04/07/2009 04:45 PM	In reply to
  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 3,347	Reply | Contact  I love rabbits too - they're best with carots and peas and a buttery pastry crust. Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.

• 04/07/2009 06:20 PM	In reply to
  Smiler72 Location: Cheshire Joined on: 04 Jul 2009 Posts: 3	Reply | Contact That's the sort of situation I love them in too!   <contemplates buying a poerful air rifle>