What's eating my beans?

[fisheye]

I don't know what happened to the original poster? I also don't know what animals are in the San Diego area - but when you search online; they list deer/mule deer. Deer have a sweet tooth for beans. It is almost impossible to discourage them after they get their first taste. About the only cure is to put your garden in protective custody - fence it in.

Rabbits and groundhogs also love beans. I did not see any groundhogs listed for that area. I would be more than willing to send some out that way! I don't see why we should suffer alone back east!

[wwill]

Reemay (spun polyester) can be used to cover the plants until they are mature and that will keep the rabbits from eating off the young leaves. I've had this problem every year and I know it's not slugs because the stems are chewed off and some are left on the ground with the leaves! As for slug control, used coffee grounds surrounding the plants (available for free at Starbucks) works 100%. I've been doing this for 2 years and have had slug-free lettuce crops.