8 Rabbit-Resistant Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden

A rabbit in a garden surrounded by vegetation and plants — Credit:
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Few things in gardening can be more frustrating than discovering that your favorite plants have been damaged by animals. All your hard work and planning can be set back by just a few minutes of destructive chewing. And rabbits can be among the most troublesome in this way. Rabbits are small animals, easily capable of squeezing through narrow openings in your garden fence—plus, they're fast and can hide quickly among your plants.

While rabbit-proof fencing is a crucial part of any edible garden, another way to deter these hungry critters is by growing plants they dislike. While no edible plant is entirely rabbit-proof, there are some varieties they prefer to avoid. Ahead, we're sharing an expert-approved line-up of rabbit-resistant vegetables to grow in your garden.

Teri Speight, landscape gardener, gardening coach, podcast host, and co-author of The Urban Garden
Jill Ragan, owner of Whispering Willow Farm and author of The Tiny But Mighty Farm

01 of 08

Tomatoes

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are on many gardeners' short list of must-grow crops each year. The good news is that tomatoes are also usually ignored by rabbits. Gardening coach and author Teri Speight says the rabbits in her garden don't bother her tomatoes, noting that this is likely due to their subtle scent and hairy stems.

02 of 08

Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum) is easy to grow and can be enjoyed two ways—both the cloves and the mid-summer scapes are edible and can be utilized in recipes in several tasty ways. What's more, garlic plants tend to deter common garden pests. "Garlic is one of my go-to crops when trying to deter rabbits," says farmer and gardening author Jill Ragan. "The strong smell tends to keep them from browsing nearby, and I often notice less rabbit pressure in beds where garlic is planted."

03 of 08

Onions

Like garlic, onions (Allium cepa) are a member of the allium family that rabbits will likely dismiss. "Onions are another reliable choice because rabbits generally avoid their pungent flavor and scent," says Ragan. "They’re easy to tuck into garden spaces and can help discourage nibbling in surrounding crops."

04 of 08

Chives

While we're on the topic of alliums, you might consider growing chives (Allium schoenoprasum). They are incredibly easy to grow and produce whimsical, globe-like purple blossoms that welcome pollinators into the garden early in the season. Like other alliums, their strong, pungent scent and flavor help deter rabbits from munching.

05 of 08

Potatoes

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) aren't a target of rabbits, as they contain solanine, a toxic compound to rabbits that they have learned to avoid. While rabbits may nibble on the leaves of potatoes when food is scarce, this isn’t their preferred food source, and it typically goes ignored.

06 of 08

Fennel

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) has a licorice-like flavor and potent scent that many animals don't like, says Ragan. "It’s a beautiful plant in the garden, and the scent alone often makes it less appealing to browsing animals," she notes.

07 of 08

Asparagus

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a long-term garden project. It can live many years in the garden, but must grow for a few seasons before harvesting can take place. "Mature asparagus seems to be on the 'avoid' list for rabbits," adds Speight. She says this is likely due to the tough exterior of asparagus, which makes it difficult for rabbits to eat. Asparagus also has a pungent smell and taste that rabbits find unappealing.

08 of 08

Summer Squash

You can obtain such a bountiful harvest from fast-growing summer squash. Once the plants are past the initial seedling stage and begin to grow large leaves and stems, rabbits are unlikely to munch on them. This is because squash plants produce prickly leaves and stems that rabbits dislike.

8 Rabbit-Resistant Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden, According to Experts