What Will Rabbits Not Eat In A Garden

Last updated on May 18th, 2021 at 04:22 pm

We have a bunny problem in our backyard. Even with fencing and other deterrents, these pesky little critters still somehow keep sneaking into our backyard and nibbling in our garden. You probably have the same problem. To help, I've developed a one-page printable list of vegetable plants rabbits won't eat for you to download and use. This free printable list will help you plot and plan your vegetable garden so that YOU (and not your furry friends) will enjoy your harvest.

Find out which vegetables and herbs rabbits love, and which they avoid

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Backstory

If you follow my blog, you know that I'm at war with my rabbits in my backyard. This spring I focused on the various methods to deter rabbits and other critters from attacking my tulips. We increased fencing around our entire backyard as well as tried a homemade odor repellent to spray directly onto the tulips.

Unfortunately, these pesky foragers are STILL sneaking into my fenced in backyard. ARGH!!!! (sidenote – I am trying to find the holes using this nightcam with some luck.)

But I can't wait until I've found all the holes in the fence. Now it's time to plant my vegetable and herb garden.

We do have a fenced raised garden bed (proven last year to be rabbit-proof), but here's my problem. This year, I want to expand my vegetable garden. But I don't have room for another bed. But I DO have these amazing small sun-filled nooks and crannies in my backyard where I could grow more vegetables and herbs.

So my strategy? To maximize my nooks and crannies with the list of vegetable plants that rabbits won't eat, while safely planting the veggies that rabbits love inside the raised garden bed.

List of Vegetable Plants Rabbits Won't Eat

Not being a vegetable garden expert, it's impossible for me to remember which vegetable plants rabbits go crazy for, which ones they avoid. So I designed this printable list that helped me plot my garden.

Relying on these gardening experts, I created this printable of the top vegetables commonly grown in home gardens.

The Old Farmer's Almanac
The Spruce
Bonnie Plants
Advice from the Herb Lady

List of Vegetables that Rabbits Love and Avoid in the Garden (free printable)

What did I learn? Rabbits flip for lettuce, beans, broccoli and peas (which includes green beans), and avoid asparagus, garlic, and potatoes.

But I learned something else- that there is a third category of vegetables that rabbits will "tolerate". What does this mean? "Tolerate" plants are those rabbits will:

Eat if food is sparse and nothing else is available.
Eat parts of the plant. For example, peppers. They won't eat the actual pepper, but they will the young, tender shoots.

My vegetable garden strategy this year? It's going to take some organization (and perhaps a lesson on square-foot gardening as recently recommended by a friend) to squeeze these vegetable plants into my raised garden bed.

List of Herbs Rabbits Won't Eat

Like most vegetable gardeners, I plant herbs alongside my vegetables. So as a bonus, I also created this free printable with a list of herbs that rabbits won't eat.

List of Herbs that Rabbits will eat and not eat in your vegetable garden (free printable)

What did I learn? I was surprised that rabbits don't favor most herbs, especially the most fragrant. But it does makes sense considering all the rabbit odor repellents I discovered while protecting my tulips. So to save room in my raised garden bed, I plan to create small herb gardens throughout my backyard.

How to Use These Lists

Keep this list handy while planning and plotting your vegetable garden this spring. For added vegetable garden organization, try one of these 7 Amazingly Free Vegetable Garden Planners. Last year I stumped upon the idea of using a garden planner, which I found immensely useful this spring. Why hadn't I thought of an organizer before?!?!?!?

Are there Truly "Rabbit-Proof" Vegetable Plants and Herbs?

Sadly, the answer is no. NO vegetable plants or herbs are truly rabbit-proof. Like us, they have their favorite foods. BUT if food is scare they will eat anything. For example, rabbits love lettuce, but if food is hard to find, they have been known to chew on the usually-avoided tomato leaves. And for me, I despise green peas. But if I'm hungry enough….

Think of "rabbit-proof" vegetable plants more as "rabbit-resistant".

Also note that some of the experts disagreed with the "rabbit-proof" nature of some vegetables and herbs on this list. For example, The Spruce lists basil as a rabbit-avoid food, but discussion on The Herb Lady shows that homeowners have seen bunnies chomping away at their basil plants.

If you use this planner, please let me know how your garden turned out!

Garden planner will help you grow a successful, bountiful vegetable garden. Check out these 7 FREE printable garden journal templates to get organized. Get your free copy today! #garden #gardeningtips #gardenplanner — 7 Amazing & Free Vegetable Garden Journal Printables

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