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Runner bean stems bitten through

jimandtinajimandtina Posts: 4
in Problem solving
I am growing runner beans in our greenhouse. In the last couple of days I've found 3 stems bitten through, a couple of inches above the ground. I had thought it was a snail, put down masses of slug pellets but today found further broken stems. Could it be mice or rats? 

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    How big are they?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • jimandtinajimandtina Posts: 4
    I hope you mean the size of the stems and not the mice!  The plants are very much established, and we have harvested some beans this year. So the stems are quite thick.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    My local voles nip off my peas, green beans, grape vines, and a few other things like that.  They are terribly difficult to catch, as they don't like the typical bate used for mice.  Do you have any little gaps in the greenhouse they can get in?  Or open low windows or doors?  
    Utah, USA.
  • jimandtinajimandtina Posts: 4
    I leave the doors open at this time of year. We are very close to the river, so I suppose it could be voles. What gets rid of them? Do you have any suggestions? We've grown veg in the greenhouse for years, and never had this problem before. I'd be grateful for any ideas!
  • AuntiemandAuntiemand Posts: 51
    My neighbour has had all his beans bitten through by rats.   The cut is diagonal.   The same happened to a few of my corn plants earlier this season.   V easy to see the tooth marks.   Grrr.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Can you take a few pictures of future bean stem damage?  If it happens again, get some clear close-up shots with your camera.

    Voles are very difficult to get rid of.  I haven't found a way yet, and have been dealing with them for years.  They are in my raised bed, make tunnels above ground through my grass, live in my 'wild area', and have paths through my cane fruit, etc.  Mostly I just leave them to it.. I consider their nipping a form of pruning or thinning.  😁. But really, I've tried a dozen things to keep them out of my garden and leave them to the wild area.. but it's not a battle I can win.  
    Utah, USA.
  • jimandtinajimandtina Posts: 4
    I put mice bait down yesterday, which has gone, and there's no more nibbling. So hopefully that's done the trick.
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