Grow Your Own Magazine

I'm sure this question must have come up many times but does anyone have a foolproof way to keep badgers out of the crops?

My two neighbouring plots have had their sweetcorn flattened and eaten off just as they were ripening. I reckon mine are next in line!
Last night, as a short-term emergency measure, I put the windbreak material I had to hand, together with some old net curtains off the currant bushes around the sweetcorn to hide it, then soaked string in Jeyes fluid and surrounded the bed with that in the hope that the smell of that would put them off but I don't have much hope really that the sweetcorn will escape their attention, they're determined little blighters. (Still, they might go the neighbours first)

Busy day today but have popped up tp the plot tonight to water seedlings and check the defences - corn still standing with tassels starting to go brown nicely - will check again tomorrow. What a year - blight on the tomatoes and potatoes, now b..... badgers. I know we have to be philosophical about these things (and remember the gardeners' mantra) but it would be nice if I can find a way of deterring the stripey little hellers.

Any suggestions would be more than welcome. Used to love the Brock story characters as a kid. How things change.

Other crops going well, mangetout peas coming outof my ears and all beans and courgettes cropping well. The forecast rain will just come at a welcome time for me - it'll help the seedings along nicely.

If you have badgers get the sets registered and then your land is safe, as they are protected. You can't build in badger sets.

But stopping them eating the crops....sorry cant help.

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We had badgers on our new lottie a couple of years back and then built a huge bunny fence.
As ours was the least accessable for them, they seemed to have gone on to other plots!!!
Worth a try????

Our garden lives on a badger run and for the past 25 years, they come and use part of our garden as a toilet, inspect the bird table for food, steal any loose peanuts and make a regular inspection. (we see the same tracks in the snow every year.)

They leave our fruit and veg alone except blunder through the rasp canes in places.

I just ignore them now.

Thanks all. I'll have to check our regulations Nicos - I have a feeling there are restrictions on our tenancy agreements before I make a fence.

Our allotments are very regulated - no structures over 1.5 metres for instance which has meant we can't have a shed until this year when the town council informed us we may have sheds but at a size and design determined by them As far as I know, nobody has enquired about the size or design yet as we have by now all got tool stores of some description but a lottie without a wonky shed or two? Unnatural.

A fence certainly won't stop a badger as they can easily rip through it.....I think they just made a slightly easier detour!
We aren't on a main run though, so maybe we got off lightly??

"We aren't on a main run though, so maybe we got off lightly??"

Yes. About 24 years ago (!) when we first were here, we attempted to block the run off with wire, wood and more wire. total abject failure. All destroyed.

badgers will get thru anything for sweetcorn. and peanut butter sarnies. p'raps you'll have to get your corn from tes*o ?

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Apparently - according to my friend - you have to surround the plot with your own urine. Don't know if it works - I'll leave the details of how to do this with you.......

the guys on the allotment also have trouble with these sneaky little stinkies eating their sweetcorn. They put up very thick wire cageing making sure they are well burried. eccept for the loss of veg, it must be great to have these on your land.

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good Diggin, Chuffa.

Vescere bracis meis.

We have badgers come through the garden every year, they take all the low pears off the cordons, eat all the raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, sweetcorn, etc . Then they dig holes all over the lawn about a foot deep (just enough to twist your ankle when you trip in one) , they try to get into the chickens and finally mess everywhere.....sticky, gloopy mess that sticks to your flowers, patio, childrens toys etc.

We have tried everything, and each year I optomistically think they won't be able to get in but they always find a way. We stopped the foxes getting in but badgers seem to find other ways.....BUT I will succeed..

Spring Watch had pictures of badgers climbing over a 5 foot high wire fence...

So Cottage Garden, you've got a fight on your hands. Try electric fencing.

Interestingly one of the chaps on our site has said he has a badger that climbs over into his plot to nose around, doesnt seem to do too much damage. Now I am trying to find evidence of the badger(s) so we can get the site registered, hopefully this could throw a rather large spanner in the works for the council's plans to destroy our site with a new road

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Unfortunately they can relocate badgers legally.. The National Trust did it near us...about 1 mile away... destroying the gardens of Biddulph Grange.