In my search for ways to have a vegetable garden while living with deer, I came across this 8 x 4 foot crop cage on Amazon for $72.99. I bought 3 to install them in a bed that I wasn’t ready to work on this year.
Last year, my husband cut down the oak tree in this bed and dug it out. My neighbor teased him constantly about digging his own grave. I was just impressed that an almost 60-year-old guy could dig out a 20-year-old oak tree stump. With this bed receiving full sun for at least 6 hours, it seemed like the best place to put a vegetable garden.
However, we haven’t figured out how to create a garden that fits within the restrictions of our HOA covenant. In the meantime, I put woodchips mixed with chopped leaves on the bed last fall and sprinkled alfalfa pellets over it in January of this year. My plan was to improve the soil while we worked on a plan.
Note the round green cover at the bottom of the picture. The original owner put in an underground water system which has been an enormous blessing.
Because I have to plant SOMETHING, I decided to go ahead with a temporary vegetable garden. The biggest problem in our neighborhood is the deer. I don’t mind spraying plants with deer protection, but I don’t want to spray my vegetables.
As you can see, there are 2 zippered openings on the crop cage. I planted broccoli and Swiss chard. As I’m looking at this picture, I realize it will be somewhat difficult to access the plants in the back without stepping inside the cage. When I do the next crop cage, I think I’ll organize the plants a little differently.
Amazon offered the option of black netting or green netting. I preferred the appearance of the black netting. The crop cage comes with a storage bag for holding the parts and pieces after the season is over.
2 dogs and a house 
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