Onion & Garlic Eating Pest(s)

GreenPete

I don't know if anyone can give me some advice.
I've been given a quarter of an acre of farm land to grow on. I've got something or several things pulling out the Japanese onions and eating them. I found today that something had been digging down to the garlic that was coming through and eating that as well. I've netted half of it how because there are pheasants, pigeons and crows about just in case it was any of them. The area planted is 4 meters by 10 meters so there would be a lot of crop to lose. I can't poison (I wouldn't want to) if it is mice because there are horses in the field next to me. I was wondering if anyone may know who the main culprit may be and how to keep them away.

CSL_2

Yes, you are dead right. Mice love the smell and taste of Japanese Onions. They also like the taste and smell of Chives a remote cousin to these. I know this to my cost as the mice borrowed under the Chives and turned the soil up quite violently.

Unfortunately, there is no easy remedy. All we can hope for is a prolonged cold spell for at least 8 weeks and the majority of them will die off!!

CSL
Monday 26th Nov 2007

nodwah

Thanks CSL I never knew that and congrats Greenpete on getting a fantastic size plot to grow on. (I'm the jealous type)

Davesnave

If you want to kill mice,and only mice, the organic way is to put the old fashioned snap traps inside 2' pieces of drainpipe. Longworth traps are humane, though whether it is kind to remove the mouse from its home territory & release it some place else is another matter! If your plot is in the countryside, you might find the mice breed faster than you can trap them anyway. You could keep ferrets & leave their (unwashed) bedding near the onions & the poo (they can use cat litter) around the perimeter. Bet that would work!

GreenPete

Thanks for the advice, I'll see if I can find anyone who has ferrets. Failing that I'll try the traps in the drainpipes.
I just wish there was somewhere I Could put up some owl nesting boxes to see if I could get them occupied, that would keep them under control.