Last week the chickens dug up {and ran off with} the garlic bulbs I planted back in October. After checking a few places online {they were sold out} I ended up running over to the Garden Sphere in Tacoma. Luckily they had a few varieties left in stock. Including elephant garlic. Have you ever grown it before?
Before planting the new garlic cloves, I let the chickens out to free range. As soon as I pulled the straw back on the garlic bed, Matilda ran over and started pecking for bugs.
After putting her aside, I dug 4 mini trenches, planted garlic {again} and covered it with dirt.
Then, I did what a lot of you suggested. I covered the bed with netting and a few tomato cages to hold it in place. Hopefully this will keep the chickens out of the bed and away from my garlic. We’ll see.
Wish me luck!
~Mavis
Deana says
Well I feel better knowing now that it is not to late to plant my garlic and it hopefully still be able to grow and be harvested this summer. I bought mine back in october and when I told hubby it was time to plant it he asked me to hold off. He found 10 acres of land for us to buy, and build our retirement home on. So he called the person selling it and we can afford it. That is a shocker in its self here in Texas.
So here it is christmas and we are packing up the house, and farm to live in a travel trailer till we get a small apt built that will later be my chick hatchery were I will hatch out my chicks and raise till they are ready to go outside. So sense I have no clue were the garden will go I think I will put mine in pots. I also bought Elephant Garlic and another brand but cannot think of it right now and sweet onions.
Good luck with yours. And will let you know how ours is doing as well.
Deana
Angie says
How exciting Deana! I am writing this in the middle of March so hopefully you are somewhat settled by now? Looking forward to seeing some pictures in due course! Good luck!
Angie says
Having had Chicken Garlic Stealers in my garden too I replanted just a couple of weeks ago – using a garlic bulb from the kitchen which I know you are not supposed to do. Well those little green shoots are popping through big time and the Chicken Burglars cannot get at them as I have rigged up some netting stapled to the side of the raised bed against the wall and then stapled to a wooden pole which I have thrown over the wall. (Complicated much?) Have to say it is really funny watching the girls trying to figure out how to get at them – especially as the netting is almost invisible.
Mavis says
I totally agree, chickens are hilarious to watch!