Onions/Links/Pests

Farmette · January 7, 2011

This year I would like to plant onions and leeks. I have moved my raised beds and may not have enough room inside the fence that encloses them. So, I am thinking of planting my onions and leeks in an area that I had pumpkins last year. Soil should be good, but it is not fenced in. Do you think I will have trouble with deer, etc. eating the onions and leeks or should they be fairly safe.
Thanks much!
Chris

barefootgardener · January 7, 2011

Even though onions might not be a favorite..Deer will eat just about anything if they are hungry..other critters might like to peck on the plants or even dig them up..like my chickens did last year!

Be safe rather than sorry!!

tjg911 · January 7, 2011

i think you are ok. in my experience deer eat just about anything, didn't they eat your pumpkins? when i planted pumpkins out back and let them come thru the garden fence onto the lawn the deer ate them in both places. my fence is only 28" high so they do walk thru the garden but usually eat very little! but i know others that have terrible problems with deer eating everything.

that said, just about nothing bothers onions or garlic, not familiar with leeks or shallots as i never grew them. there is an insect that can bother onions, forget the name, but that's about it. so i'd feel safe growing them outside your fence. you can put a temporary fence around them if need be. i use crw to cover my garlic in fall and my onions when i plant them out in spring so the deer do not walk thru the beds inadvertently. i bend the crw 12" from each end to raise it and lay it over the bed. i use 2 pieces, the beds are 12-14' X 5'. now if your onion bed is wider than 5' you might want to use an additional piece of crw. if chickens are a problem i suspect the crw will keep them away too.

tom

Farmette · January 7, 2011

Thanks for your replies...now that I think about it, there are wild turkeys too. The deer bothered the batwing pumpkins and I eventually fenced them in. The turkeys carved out places for themselves to sit during the night or at least it looked like it.

yopper · January 8, 2011

I have an electric fence around my gardens as the deer and other critters here will eat most any thing that isn't fenced in.It sounds like the turkeys are using your garden to dust them self as they normaly roost off the ground in trees. GOOD LUCK TO YA ! YOPPER

January 7, 2011	#1
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	Onions/Links/Pests This year I would like to plant onions and leeks. I have moved my raised beds and may not have enough room inside the fence that encloses them. So, I am thinking of planting my onions and leeks in an area that I had pumpkins last year. Soil should be good, but it is not fenced in. Do you think I will have trouble with deer, etc. eating the onions and leeks or should they be fairly safe. Thanks much! Chris

January 7, 2011	#3
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i think you are ok. in my experience deer eat just about anything, didn't they eat your pumpkins? when i planted pumpkins out back and let them come thru the garden fence onto the lawn the deer ate them in both places. my fence is only 28" high so they do walk thru the garden but usually eat very little! but i know others that have terrible problems with deer eating everything. that said, just about nothing bothers onions or garlic, not familiar with leeks or shallots as i never grew them. there is an insect that can bother onions, forget the name, but that's about it. so i'd feel safe growing them outside your fence. you can put a temporary fence around them if need be. i use crw to cover my garlic in fall and my onions when i plant them out in spring so the deer do not walk thru the beds inadvertently. i bend the crw 12" from each end to raise it and lay it over the bed. i use 2 pieces, the beds are 12-14' X 5'. now if your onion bed is wider than 5' you might want to use an additional piece of crw. if chickens are a problem i suspect the crw will keep them away too. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

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January 7, 2011	#2
barefootgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Zone 4b Posts: 1,291	Even though onions might not be a favorite..Deer will eat just about anything if they are hungry..other critters might like to peck on the plants or even dig them up..like my chickens did last year! Be safe rather than sorry!!

January 8, 2011	#5
yopper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: U.P. Michigan Posts: 91	I have an electric fence around my gardens as the deer and other critters here will eat most any thing that isn't fenced in.It sounds like the turkeys are using your garden to dust them self as they normaly roost off the ground in trees. GOOD LUCK TO YA ! YOPPER