## Deer-Resistant Vegetables for Your Garden
With their voracious appetites and keen sense of smell, deer can be a major nuisance to home gardeners. They’re known to nibble on a wide variety of plants, including flowers, fruits, and vegetables. However, there are some deer-resistant vegetables that you can grow to help deter these pests.
### Factors that Influence Deer Resistance
Several factors can influence a vegetable’s resistance to deer, including:
– Taste: Deer tend to avoid vegetables with bitter or pungent flavors.
– Texture: Vegetables with tough or hairy leaves are less appetizing to deer.
– Smell: Certain vegetables have strong scents that deter deer, such as onions and garlic.
– Toxicity: Some vegetables are toxic to deer, making them unpalatable.
## List of Deer-Resistant Vegetables
Here is a list of deer-resistant vegetables that you can grow in your garden:
### Brassicas
– Brussels sprouts
– Cabbage
– Cauliflower
– Collard greens
– Kale
– Kohlrabi
– Mustard greens
– Rutabagas
– Turnips
### Onions and Garlic
– Garlic
– Leeks
– Onions
– Shallots
### Solanums
– Eggplant
– Peppers (hot and sweet)
– Potatoes
– Tomatoes
### Other Deer-Resistant Vegetables
– Asparagus
– Beans (snap beans, lima beans, soybeans)
– Beets
– Carrots
– Celery
– Corn (sweet, popcorn)
– Cucumbers
– Herbs (basil, cilantro, dill, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme)
– Lettuce (certain varieties, such as romaine)
– Melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon)
– Peas
– Pumpkins
– Radishes
– Rhubarb
– Squash (acorn, butternut, spaghetti, summer)
– Sweet potatoes
– Swiss chard
### Additional Tips for Deer Control
In addition to growing deer-resistant vegetables, there are other measures you can take to help protect your garden from deer:
– Fencing: Build a fence around your garden that is at least 8 feet tall. Make sure there are no gaps at the bottom of the fence that deer could crawl through.
– Deterrents: Use deer repellents or scare tactics, such as motion-activated sprinklers or ultrasonic devices.
– Companion Planting: Plant deer-resistant vegetables near deer-attracting plants to help draw deer away from your prized crops.
– Avoid Fertilizing: Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they can make plants more attractive to deer.
– Keep Your Garden Clean: Remove any fallen fruit or vegetables from your garden, as they can attract deer.
By following these tips, you can help keep deer out of your garden and enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious, homegrown vegetables.