I am starting my first hop garden in St. Louis. I built a raised bed arbor/trellis with 3 foot walls, 10 feet long and 12 feet high. My Chinook was taking off very well, then, right as I strung up the lines and was patiently waiting a few more weeks to train them, they started to disappear. Last Saturday they were about 6 inches high and looking very healthy. After cutting the grass I returned to find them little stumps of their former selves. I scouted the yard from the upstairs bedroom and found birds poking around the area, but at that time there was nothing left for them to eat. There is no evidence mites, slugs, snails, etc. Anyone have experience with this? I have been told they eat young, tender plants and the damage should die down once they are big, if they get the chance to grow. I just want to grow these things and make a delicious beer in the fall. Is that too much to ask?
Here is a photo. Maybe it isn't from birds, but they sure look torn up to me.
Here is a photo. Maybe it isn't from birds, but they sure look torn up to me.