# Critter-resistant vegetable garden **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 4, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020 "2013-03-04T18:11:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/1 "2013-03-04T18:11:47Z")
I want a garden plot this year, I have room for a 10x10 section or so. I can do partial shade or mostly sun, depending upon where I choose to put it. The problem is that I have squirrels and rabbits in abundance. I don’t want to have to string up a bunch of fence, netting, etc. Are there veggies that are _less_ interesting to squirrels and rabbits? Or, am I stuck choosing between no garden and a veritable fortress of veggie-tude? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/2 "2013-03-04T23:03:04Z")
If you like eating it, someone else does, too. 🙂 However, you could probably rig up a motion-sensor attached to a sprayer of some sort as a deterrent - YouTube is full of this sort of thing. Scattering bloodmeal around is supposed to help deter prey-type critters as well. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/3 "2013-03-04T23:13:32Z")
I’ve wondered if I could hire the raccoons as enforcers. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/4 "2013-03-04T23:46:30Z")
Very easy. Just plant enough to share. Everyone is happy. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/5 "2013-03-05T00:32:03Z")
rabbits will prefer new growth and flowers on plants. animals don’t share. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/6 "2013-03-05T00:41:14Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > If you like eating it, someone else does, too. 🙂 However, you could probably rig up a motion-sensor attached to a sprayer of some sort as a deterrent - YouTube is full of this sort of thing. Scattering bloodmeal around is supposed to help deter prey-type critters as well. And you can religiously trap and release pest animals with a Havahart-type trap. With "abundant’ rabbits though, I’d strongly recommend fencing - with the bottom six inches or so buried to keep tunneling animals out. Or get a dog to patrol the yard at night, or even better a hyena. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/7 "2013-03-05T01:37:38Z")
Weasels. Lots and lots of weasels. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/8 "2013-03-06T00:23:08Z")
Sounds like your garden is best suited for growing meat. Potatoes are not too badly bothered by rabbits or squirrels, I think. Squashes should be OK if you can protect them when they are small and tender. Peppers, especially hot ones, should be left alone by mammals. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/9 "2013-03-06T00:30:09Z")
We use [Liquid Fence](http://www.liquidfence.com/) to keep the critters off our herbs, hostas, and tulips in the summer, and it works great. Just gotta remember to spray it according to directions (I think every week at first, then every month.) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/10 "2013-03-06T00:51:55Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Squashes should be OK if you can protect them when they are small and tender. Squash beetles have always destroyed any squash that I tried to grow. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/11 "2013-03-06T01:06:05Z")
I’ve been using [coyote pee](http://www.allegropatio.com/leg-up-enterprises-predator-urines-16oz-shake-n-go-coyote-urine-granules-x487b2.html?gclid=COvQwsny5rUCFY9AMgodQz4ALg) as a pest repellent for several years. It works best in areas that already have a healthy coyote population. Seems to deter squirrels, rabbits, and even deer to some extent although not at all effective against lettuce-loving turtles or thieving birds. ---
**Author:** ![theR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@theR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theR)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/12 "2013-03-06T01:14:43Z")
We have lots of rabbits and squirrels, but they rarely bother our small garden or at least eat so little that we don’t notice. The only thing the rabbits ate last year was the snow pea stalks, which stinks because it of course kills the plant. They seemed to leave alone the buttercup squash, tomatoes, bell peppers, strawberries, green beans, cucumbers, and blueberries. Our dogs may help, but I doubt it. We have so many rabbits that we see them in the yard regularly when the dogs are inside, and the dogs even found a rabbit hole with babies right outside the back door last summer. In my experience, which is admittedly not that extensive, deer are much more destructive than small pests like rabbits. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/13 "2013-03-06T01:20:20Z")
Putting up a fence will take less effort than any other means of protection, and will be more effective. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/14 "2013-03-06T01:32:26Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Putting up a fence will take less effort than any other means of protection, and will be more effective. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/15 "2013-03-06T03:23:41Z")
Marigolds will repel a number of insect pests but [Mexican marigolds](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes_lucida) are said to actually repel wild rabbits. > [@](#): > > Mexican marigolds, Pot marigolds, or English marigolds, are members of the calendula genus. They are short-stemmed flowers that work well when placed in the front of your garden and for borders. Plant them in a sunny spot so that you can enjoy their bright orange and yellow flowers throughout the summer and fall. The unpleasant scent in their leaves repels rabbits. Also, daffodils and hyacinth: > [@](#): > > A favorite spring flower is the daffodil. It is a perennial and is one of the first flowers to greet you after a long winter. Hyacinths are often planted with daffodils. They are a shorter stock loaded with fragrant flowers that range in color from deep purples, pinks and white. These two flowers are not favorites among rabbits. Plant them with your tulips to help deter the rabbits in your spring garden. [From this link.](http://www.ehow.com/info_8475262_flowers-rabbit-repellent.html) I say you should just shoot the squirrels. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/16 "2013-03-06T04:22:57Z")
Do what my grandfather did when he had problems with groundhogs: get an electric fence. I’m not talking about one of those big ones for livestock – it was just a small wire running around the perimeter. It seemed to work. It wasn’t lethal – it just gave them a shock. Hurt like hell, but it wasn’t fatal. (And before anyone asks, yes, I know this from first hand experience. In my defense, I was only eleven, and a couple of my cousins touched it too. It’s one of those stupid kid things) ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critter-resistant-vegetable-garden/652020/17 "2013-03-06T05:04:13Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Putting up a fence will take less effort than any other means of protection, and will be more effective. I agree with this. I ordered a kit, was amazed how quickly the kit arrived and how little time it took to set up. In addition to the fence I decided to construct a makeshift lookout tower, originally to keep watch for any approaching deer, rabbits or woodchucks but basically we just go up there and hang out. [**Deluxe Garden Fence Kit** (and homemade woodchuck/rabbit lookout)](http://medias.photodeck.com/b36f8576-0def-11e2-897f-ddf248741715/11443_xlarge.jpg)