Grrr carrot thief...

Legacy_user

I have been trying to grow carrots for ages now, every time the little seedling shows it's head, something takes it clean out the ground. Now, I assumed it was the wood pigeon as they're always in the garden eating one thing or another. So bought some netting and covered them best I could - I need to get hold of some wire so I can do it properly, but for now, its held up by bamboo and pinned in to the ground with hooks. Anyway, so far so good, new sprouts have been safe. Until today. I went out there and something has been eating them. Now, only the leaves have been munched and there are little stems poking out the ground. So whatever it is, has leaned on the netting and eaten what it could.... which makes me think it isn't pigeons at all. Rabbits maybe? Rats? I don't know...

I'm starting to feel like I should give up trying. I'm going to attempt to grow them properly once more when I have a proper netted frame and if that fails then I won't try again.

I read somewhere that putting hot sauce or similar on the leaves could help. Not sure whether that would damage the carrots though?

Just needed to moan a little!!

GreenQueen

No real advice, but some sympathy. People always say that carrots are one of the easiest things to grow, but I always end up with them being chewed to bits - even when they look as if they've grown and have lovely feathery tops, the roots are full of holes. Afraid I've given up on them. GQ

paddyrg

slugs and snails?

Dizzy_Ditzy

Sounds like slugs or snails to me

We are having to go on a slug mission 3-4 times a day at the mo :mad:

System

Thanks guys. I have noticed a lot of slugs around with this rainfall atm... sooo annoying. Will have to look at keeping them away! x