So I got one of those Aerogrow things.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

That indoor hydroponic gardening thing.

I got one for my Dad for Christmas and he's had really good results growing salad greens. So then I got myself one so I could start some vegetables before planting my garden this year. I decided to start out with green beans (since I had such sucky luck with them in the garden last year).

In due time the beans sprouted and began to grow. And then the other day I noticed that some of the leaves were all raggedy and had little holes in them, as you can see if you look carefully at this photo:



Garden pests? In my kitchen? NOOO! How could that happen? What in the world is eating my bean plants? What heinous, pernicious pest is mangling my little indoor garden?

Well, as it turns out, that would be...


So how do you keep ravening cats out of your bean crop?

[TZ]

1. LOL

I knew as soon as I saw the damage it was cat grazing..the only thing I can suggest in put them in an off limits room

[Kali]

2. out of reach or barrier

I have a spot on my bathroom sink that looks just right with a small houseplant on it but I can only put one there about 5 minutes before guests arrive and have to move it back out of reach as soon as they are gone. Even then the poor thing will likely need recovery time from the feline pruning.

You can try growing some wheat or barley grass just for them but...

[Jamastiene]

3. I had to grow my herbs and stuff in the closet.

I just ran an extension chord in there and made sure I was with it while it got light (paranoid about fire hazards). Then again, my closet didn't have anything else in it (no clothes or anything) at the time.

Once a cat discovers greens, they'll continue to munch on them. You could try growing cat greens (rye or oat grass seeds) and gently reminding the cat when he starts to munch on your veggies to go munch on his own little "garden."

I had marginal success doing that, except for Sunday Girl, who just enjoyed the pure evilness of pulling my Sunflower seedlings up by the roots and dropping them. She has THAT kind of a sense of humor. You'll be playing with her and she'll scratch you, grin, and lick your skin out from under her nails. I swear that cat grins when you scream and bleed after playing with her. I love her though. She's my baby.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Cats are carnivores. They do not eat beans.

Why don't they know that?

[TZ]

5. My cat eats popcorn

:shrug:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. One of mine likes green olives.

But beans?

[tabbycat31]

7. I had one that ate cantaloupe

and I'm growing cantaloupe in the computer room right now (it will be moved outside around 5/1) and I keep the door shut away from kitty.