Rascally Rabbit?

Well it is the first week of June and I am past due for a garden update.  Back in early April I planted my 2013 raised bed garden with romaine lettuce, spinach, flat parsley,and a cherry tomato plant.  My husband built my raised beds out of cedar last year,click here for more on our first garden.

Recently I added some sugar snap pea and cucumber seeds. Just last week I added a "mortgage lifter" tomato plant.  This tomato plant is supposed to produce a meaty, mild flavor that has few seeds, and is ideal for slicing.  The unusual name of this plant is credited to the fact that a radiator repairman from the 1940's was able to pay off his $6,000 mortgage from his sales of this tomato plant. He developed this plant by crossing four of the largest tomato plants at the time: German Johnson, Beefsteak, an Italian variety, and an old English variety . The information above on the "mortgage lifter" was sourced from the "Bonnie" plant tag that came with the plant and http://www.veggiegardener.com/mortgage-lifter-heirloom-tomato/.  Having such a colorful history, I can't wait to try the first "mortgage lifter" tomato.
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All of the rain and sunshine has really gotten things going, but I must say that it seems that some rascally rabbits  are enjoying my garden even more than me.  It started with my romaine lettuce.  Every day I would go out to check the garden and find another lettuce plant mysteriously missing.  It didn't take long for all nine of my lettuce plants to meet their dismal fate.  It may be prejudicial, but we do have several rabbits running around so they are my "usual" suspects.  I know that I could have tried wire fence to keep the rabbits out, but I didn't get anything in place  before the crimes had all been committed (these guys are too quick for a busy mom).

My spinach plants seemed to be immune to the "sneaky green leaf eater" aka "rascally rabbit", that is until today.  I went to do my daily garden check and to my dismay two of my spinach plants have been vandalized.  I have got to come up with a battle plan quick!  Suggestions anyone?






Garden on April 8, 2013.  I had just planted the spinach and lettuce. 





Garden April 22, 2013.  The lettuce vandalism had begun.



Aside from my troubles with the my lettuce thief the garden is doing great.  The flat parsley has doubled in size and my cherry tomato plant has some little green tomatos on it. 

 

 

Cherry Tomato Plant

Flat Parsley

 

I added some marigolds to the garden for color, but I am also told that these flowers can help deter pests.

 

Last but not least, one lesson learned from my garden last year is that the plants take a lot more space than I expected.  With this knowledge I realize that my garden is pretty well filled for the season.   Hoping for a good harvest again this year.  I am sure to share photos of all the fruits of my labor. 

 

I would love to hear what my readers are planting this year.  Have a great week!