Runner beans being dug up (Squirrels or Magpies?)

rabbits?

Hmmm. Possible, but we've never seen a rabbit in this garden, and we have lived here for MANY years.

Pigeons?

We bought a trail camera -

probably slug damage, especially with wet weather beans are well behind in growth, and slugs like warm wet nights.

A simple protection is to cut through 2L cola bottles .. neck is big enough for stalk.

In message , David Chapman writes

Hmmm... One or two seedlings cut through at ground level points to Chafer Beetle Larvae. If you dig around the root soon after the damage is noticed you may find a large white grub with a brown head.

IME organic slug pellets do not kill slugs and are eaten by birds. You need Metaldehyde (sp).

Alternatively, Carrion Crows will dig down beside some new plantings hoping to find the seed. Often breaking the stem in the process. Usually identified by a cone shaped excavation.

Rather late to be planting out runners:-)

regards

In message , David Chapman writes

If it's squirrels, spiky holly leaves, buried a couple of inches deep, seem to deter them pretty well (at least in plant pots). You don't need many. I guess that after they've pricked their paws a few times, they get the message, and are wary about trying anywhere in the area.

I'm now pretty convinced that squirrels are responsible - exactly the same style of excavations have been appearing on our grassed area too and I've seen them digging those.

The holly suggestion is brilliant and eco=friendly as well. I've obtained a number of really hard and sharp holly branches which I'll half-bury around the bases of more potted bean plants which I'm about to plant out.

I'll try the holly idea first before considering removing the squirrels using other methods of "termination with extreme prejudice'.

Many thanks - Dave.

In message , David Chapman writes

Best of luck. Can you let us know if it works (or not)?

Slugs did for the sunflowers I planted out just like this. Second time, I grew them indoors to about 18" high, and put a ring of copper tape around the base of the stems before planting out, and that worked. (Tape needs replacing every month or so.)

Make sure you apply the tape so the stem can still grow in girth.

Actually, 3 of the seedlings, I threaded the stems through some offcuts of 15mm copper pipe. I failed to take into account that the stems would grow bigger than this, and the pipe has constrained the growth of these 3 plants. The largest plant this year would have needed 28mm copper;-)

Copper tape needs to be around any support canes too, but I've yet to see a slug or snail make its way along thin plastic garden twine. Also, position the plants so snails can't climb across to them from some other plant or structure.