Do mice eat alot of your green beans?

14 years ago

They sure do mine! I don't know why they don't just eat the whole bean, instead of biting into a bunch of them just a little bit.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

bagardens (Ohio, Zone 5b)
14 years ago
Not only did they eat my green beans this year but the completely destroyed my beets, swiss chard, and a bunch of my tomatoes that were low to the ground. I have never seen them do so much damage, like this year. Like you said they never eat the entire thing. They eat a little bit and move on to the next. They would eat half of the visible part of about a dozen beets in one night. Or they chop the tops off of my baby swiss chard but do not even eat the tops, just leave them laying there. Then they would cut my been plant at the bottom and not even eat it.

Anyhow it has been very frustrating. It is partially my fault because I should have done something about them when I first noticed a problem, but didn't. I went to the store the other day and bought several different kinds of traps that I figured would catch the mice but not birds. Now I just have to set them. It will probably take me a long time to catch them all though, there are a lot of them around. When I say a lot, I mean dozens!

Thanks for the post, it gave me a chance to vent.
mauirose
14 years ago
Mice? no, not so much. We have two cats so they help to keep the rodent populaton in check. i did find a pheasant in my bean patch the other day! So far he only pecks the beans out of the older pods that have begun to swell. Not a problem right now but could be trouble later.
Related Discussions
Do squirrels eat greens???
Q
Comments (18)
I tend to think rabbit is your most likely culprit, and it really is not unusual to never lay eyes on the little guys. It would be a very normal rabbit to know when you are out during the day. As prey animals they are very sensitive to changes in the environment around them and you make plenty of noises inside the house that they can hear... And they can tell when the house is silent. They are experts at freezing and blending into the background if humans suddenly appear. They also get quite well acquainted with our schedules and will grab a bite to eat when they know we are not usually outside. I once spent an extra half hour outside on a nice June evening at dusk and startled the heck out of two rabbits who frolicked their way up from the bottom of our property to end right by my feet at the clover patch right there. I was also surprised because I assumed they would have come from the much closer tree-farm off to the side. I could tell by their shocked expressions when they realized I was there that they were thinking "you're never out here at this time of day!" Anyway. I had one remaining chard plant in my garden that very slowly got grazed down to a nub, and then they gnawed on the stump of it. So I can attest that my rabbits like chard. A simple solution would be to get some bird netting and wrap it around a tomato cage and place that over the chard plant. Cheers!
...See More
I have deer or rabbits eating my green beans
Q
Comments (14)
Petzold6596...I have the burgundy beans planted, That is what I planted last year also. I read online that squash planted next to beans or corn would deter animals because of the sticky plants. The critters don't like to get a taste of stickers (or whatever they are called). I don't blame them because it itches me when I pick or tend to the plants (same with okra). I break out! I looked today and nobody has any squash plants. And, I can't find any seeds either. I do have a big squash patch planted in another one of my gardens. So, if I plant squash, it would be for the pests. I plant radishes by my squash to deter bugs on those plants. I'm a believer in using natural controls.
...See More
Mice are eating my bean seeds!
Q
Comments (6)
Ladies... Cats certainly do have a place around the garden, preferably not IN IT! I have 2 cats, who make my garden into a race track. They love to hang out there, and when it's cool, (ha ha, comparatively speaking) in the evening, they chase each other all through the garden while I'm holding my breath as they race through the baby tomato plants I've just set out, sometimes breaking a stem, or knocking over a pepper plant. The plus side is that mice, rats, small snakes, or moles don't stand a chance. Fortunately for me, I'm not allergic to them, but some people are, or for other reasons can't have cats. Anyways, gamebird, are you sure it's mice and not rabbits? Until I got my fence put up, they were eating me out of house and home. Don't know about mice ever eating anything. Some folks say that squirrels like garden veggies. But I was wondering if perhaps you could have a 'special place' somewhere in the corner of your garden where you could toss out an amount of bean seeds, or whatever it is you think the culprits like to eat and let them have at it. I saw a turtle in my garden yesterday and I've been rather concerned about him eating the tomatos, or cucumbers. I may have to find him a different home if I start seeing damage. I know it can be very discouraging to work so hard trying to have garden and then seeing it destroyed no sooner than it breaks ground. I agree with Dawn that cayenne pepper may not work. Hopefully, you'll find out for sure what's doing the damage and find a solution. Good luck! Barbara
...See More
how do you season your green beans
Q
Comments (31)
My answer of bacon fond was kind of a tongue in cheek answer because of the thread we had on foods we eat when no one is looking. To cook green beans I much prefer fresh, will use canned and frozen when I must. There really is no comparison to the fresh. I first brown some bacon in a pan until crispy, then remove the bacon and set aside. I deglaze the pan with mostly chicken broth and add a little water and salt. Sometimes I'll crush a few cloves of garlic and add, fishing them out later. Then I add a whole onion to the top of the beans and simmer away. I sometimes fish the onion out when they are finished and sometimes leave it in. When beans are cooked the crispy bacon can be broken up and added to the top of the beans. I love new potatoes cooked in the beans toward the end of cooking time. I don't mean what the grocery stores call new potatoes, but the real thing which you can rarely find.
...See More
josie23
14 years ago
I haven't seen mice, but have seen voles in my garden. Havn't had much trouble with beans, occasionally a bite out of one, but I have more than enough to share.

I did just find one of my giant kohlrabe hollowed out. The varmit made a hole from both sides and right through the center. Had to LOL at that one, again I have more than enough to share so it didn't bother me.

I have more troubles with coons shredding my sweet corn, but so far we have kept them out....keeping my fingers crossed.
mike1970
14 years ago
No mice, but the rabbits completely stripped the leaves from my bush beans and left just the stems sticking out of the ground like a sad little skeletons. I put up some better fencing and am trying for a fall crop now.

Mike

Related Stories

LIFE Easy Green: Modern Homesteaders Stake a Claim

By Laura Gaskill

With more options for raising chickens, growing edibles and keeping bees than ever, suburban and city folk are rediscovering a lost art

Full Story

By Mitchell Parker

In his new book, Slim by Design, eating-behavior expert Brian Wansink shows us how to get our kitchens working better

Full Story

141

GREEN BUILDING Why You Might Want to Build a House of Straw

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Straw bales are cheap, easy to find and DIY-friendly. Get the basics on building with this renewable, ecofriendly material

Full Story

119

GARDENING GUIDES Get on a Composting Kick (Hello, Free Fertilizer!)

By Matt Kilburn

Quit shelling out for pricey substitutes that aren’t even as good. Here’s how to give your soil the best while lightening your trash load

Full Story

112

By Pauline Warlet

Houzzers from around the world share their tips for transforming housework into child’s play

Full Story

290

FUN HOUZZ There's a Mouse in the House

By Becky Harris

No need for 'eek' and capture schemes. These mouse toys, decals and artistic renderings have all the trappings of cute

Full Story

101

PETS Pet-Proofing Your Home: A Room-by-Room Guide

By Marianne Lipanovich

Not all pet dangers are obvious. Keep furry friends safe and sound by handling all of these potential hazards

Full Story

161

EDIBLE GARDENS Garden BFFs? Why Your Vegetables Are Begging for Companion Plants

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Foster friendships among plants for protection from pests, pollination support and color camaraderie

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Oh, Deer! 10 Native Flowers That Stand Up to the Herds

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keeping a garden amid hungry deer can be hard, but these plants should fare well

Full Story

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING World of Design: 10 Home Gardeners Show Us Their Sweet Summer Harvests

By Houzz

From New York to Tokyo, these gardeners have turned their yards, terraces and rooftops into places of bounty

Full Story

Do mice eat alot of your green beans?

Comments (4)

bagardens (Ohio, Zone 5b)

mauirose

Related Discussions

josie23

mike1970

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US