Those wascally wabbits

My sister keeps rabbits as pets and I am very familiar with their appetite for vegetables.  Having seen wild rabbits around our allotment, I guess I should have expected it.  In fact, when I saw a huge rabbit, which Pete said is more likely to be a wild hare, across the path beside our plot, I should have known they would be causing some problems at our garden.  Our plot is the nearest to a small cluster of trees and bushes and they are likely to have made that their home.

We have put up a fence using chicken wire.  It should be enough to keep away the rabbits but we have no gate so the gaping hole will let the rabbits in.  We still have a lot of things to work on both in the garden and at home so we're trying to pace our purchases.  We have decided to not spend too much on the garden as yet since we're going to treat this as a long term project.  A beautiful wooden fence with a nice gate is something we both want but not just yet.  But after this attack, I think we would need to look for a solution to keep the darn rabbits out.

Why am I so frustrated with the rabbits?  Well, they have nibbled up all the lovely green leaves on our pea plants and now they are not growing any more.  Where I used to have luscious, healthy green plants, only stringy stalks are left.  The bean plants are also not showing more growth and I am worried they are being attacked by the rabbits too.

I have planted more pea and bean seeds in the planters.  We have covered them with the fleece so I hope these will be more protected.  I have sowed some peas on my balcony.  No matter what, I am going to have fresh peas from my own plants this year!

What's a bit surprising is that the lettuces that are growing well are left pretty much alone.  I remember how my sister used to prepare a salad of greens for her rabbits and they love it.  I am surprised they have not eaten the lettuces.  But she did tell me that the rabbits are choosy about lettuces.  Maybe the ones I planted are not to their taste, which means more lettuces for me.

The potatoes are doing very well.  They are tall and strong and healthy.  We are very encouraged so we have planted another row of that.  Last week, we bought small potatoes, left them in a dark cupboard and let them bud.  Today, we took them out, halved each of them, making sure there's at least one bud on each half and then planted them.  Hopefully there'll be more plants to look forward to. 

It is really fun going to the garden to spot new growth.  Every time I see a new leaf or sprout or flower, I get so excited.  The feeling is almost similar to how I felt when my pupils were able to understand what I taught and ace their tests.  I have sowed some flower and herb seeds along the fence.  I hope by the time my family comes to visit, they would have sprouted and there's something for them to spot too.