Vegetables and Rodents

[maff]

I'm planning on turning my hand to veg gardening this year but have some concerns.

My plot is a field in the middle of nowhere that is riddled with bank voles and such.

Although I'm planning raised beds covered in fleece (very windy here) should I be concerned about the rodents eating my crops ?

Any ideas as to what eats what ?

Cheers

Maff

[tufftie]

I'd avoid soft fruits if you have bank voles ...but then you could always put netting round them when the fruiting season starts?

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by maff

I'm planning on turning my hand to veg gardening this year but have some concerns.

My plot is a field in the middle of nowhere that is riddled with bank voles and such.

Although I'm planning raised beds covered in fleece (very windy here) should I be concerned about the rodents eating my crops ?

Any ideas as to what eats what ?

Cheers

Maff

try putting a kestrel nest box - or a barn owl box (if you're over 2km from a major road)on a pole by the plot, if kestrels (or barn owls) move in you'll probably have no rodent worries at all!

[maff]

We have plenty of kestrels and the odd buzzard.

Problem with my patch is that everywhere around is grazed by sheep but the grass in my old padock is long (To steep to mow regularly), so it's a haven for voles.

Last year they relished the first growth of Alium Moly and Aquilegia.

Wandered if they have ant vegeable favorites ?

[m1.carson]

Sorry tuftie,

I don't think netting will stop bank voles, they'll chew their way through that in a trice, raised beds isn't too good an idea, if they're anything like rats they can climb our fig tree.

I can only suggest you plant one for yourself, and two more for the voles.

Good luck,
Max.

[tufftie]

lol - you'll have to invent some holographic kestrels!

[dragonfly]

HYA i HAVE AN allotment for for about twenty years in all that time I can say the biggest pests are humans you will find that most wild life wont be a problem only on e that will is hedge hogs they love cabbage more than rabbits pigeons also love pea seeds even when buried they will dig them up storeage is important put everything in tins if you can
mice will eat stored veg and so wll rats

[shirl]

I have raised beds in most of the veg garden, and I do get some losses especially courgettes, it's an organic garden (hard work) but my biggest problem isn't rodents it's snails - they are little devils. Got song thrushes too and they don't keep the snails under control at all. We have a small orchard with soft fruits etc, I put netting round the redcurrants & that seems to work.

Shirl

[Geoff F]

Badgers will walk miles for carrots. I make open topped growing frames, a wood frame covered with glass, and that keeps most pests away, but it does mean a bit of time and expense initially. The average size is around 4ft x 2ft x 1ft high. Which means standarized glass panels of 2ft x 1ft arranged to suit and slid into top and bottom groves. They can be stripped down for storage when not needed.

The alternative is to get a cat; but they can do more damage than rodents.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by maff

We have plenty of kestrels and the odd buzzard.

Problem with my patch is that everywhere around is grazed by sheep but the grass in my old padock is long (To steep to mow regularly), so it's a haven for voles.

Last year they relished the first growth of Alium Moly and Aquilegia.

Wandered if they have ant vegeable favorites ?

So stick a kestrel box up, kestrel chicks need a lot of voles and they'll always take what's easiest (so close by) first....