Can't get anything to grow

Submitted by RandRRanch on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 09:02
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Printer-friendly versionI moved a year ago. I went from a bountiful garden that I created from a a barren plot to a existing garden where almost everything dies. I have planted a enormous amount of seed and seedlings only to have something attack it. My current battle is with beets. I have planted 2 rounds of seeds only to have something eat the tops immediately after they sprout. Eggplants, artichokes, and herbs are the only things that have not meet this terrible end. I had my chickens scratching at this plot for a month before I planted (now locked in the coop for starting seeds) and I don't see any cutworms. Any Ideas?
‹ HELP!!!! Tormenting Woodchuck! ›

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disgett's picture

Rabbits are even eating our

Submitted by disgett on Sat, 10/04/2008 - 11:36.
Rabbits are even eating our pears this year. We don't see them but they leave their droppings behind.

Dale, Photo Team Leader & Good Will Ambassador

Lavender2's picture

Rabbits?

Submitted by Lavender2 on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 09:16.
You most likely would have noticed these in the garden, but I'll throw it out there anyway. Rabbits are my biggest problem with beets... I couldn't grow them without fencing them in. Woodchucks love the greens, too... as well as deer. None of these will eat the other things you have mentioned that have survived. Cutworms will cut the plant at the ground and leave it lay. So sorry about your garden... that's so frustrating when you go to all the work of planting. I have had to battle many creatures, too.
mawnature's picture

I Agree With Lav....

Submitted by mawnature on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 11:42.
....it's probably rabbits. They are tricky little critters, who feed at night! You may never see them unless you go to the garden after dark and look with a flashlight. I suggest you search online for deterrants that would keep them away. If there is brush, or woodsy areas near you, they are likely coming from there. Hope you get the problem solved...sorry about your plants being eaten!

Annette/ maw We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between, we garden. Author unknown http://www.gardenhere.com/content/MAWNATURES-TRADE-LISTCmon-lets-make-trade

treeman's picture

Rabbits

Submitted by treeman on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 11:32.
Rabbits came to mind to me too. Rabbits will leave a very clean cut on the stem. it looks as if someone went down the row with a knife and clipped the plants off. Deer on the other hand will leave a ragged looking stub as they grasp and tear. of course on something that is not rooted well yet they would probably pull the entire plant up when they went to tear it off.

"Business...Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance and benevolence were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

Mice?

Submitted by RandRRanch on Fri, 10/03/2008 - 14:42.
It is always a very clean cut. No woodchucks in our area. The garden is fenced in by a picket fence with chicken wire stapeled to the inside. I don't see any holes dug or anywhere a rabbit would. I did see 2 feild mice when I was cleaning the garden shed. Could they be the my seedling killers?
Lavender2's picture

Other pests

Submitted by Lavender2 on Sat, 10/04/2008 - 12:20.
If your fence is at least 3 feet tall and has NO holes in it or under it, it will usually keep out the rabbits. Like Dale mentioned though, look for rabbit droppings around the garden. Mice WILL eat young plants, as will chipmunks and squirrels. They usually aren't as high on the possible culprit list for eating SO much vegetation, but still a possibility. You could try baiting some mouse traps with peanut butter and put them near the plants, or dust the soil around the plants with flour and see if you can get a footprint ID. LOL! Hey, I heard it works. One other culprit could be sow bugs/woodlice...although your garden would have to be very damp or have an area near that stays very moist (like a compost pile). They won't hang out long where it's too dry. I did read on another forum that a gal had sow bugs attack her beet tops. Google 'sow bug garden' and you'll find all kinds of tips on these buggers. Here's some info, too... Good luck! http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=821&bhcd2=1223140091