[siani]

My dwarf broad beans are about their full height now, and full of lovely flowers, doing well - just wondering, should I take the net off them? I put a frame and net around them when they were small to keep the pigeons off and it did the trick, now they are about 18 inches high, should I remove the net to enable them to be pollinated as I'm worried they won't fruit if they are not pollinated, is this the case?! will the pigeons leave them alone at this size? The net has about 3 inch gaps so its not a fine weave. Please advise!!

[grenhouse]

Broad beans do not need pollinating, however if insect pollinated they will produce more beans. I would take off your netting now, they should be fine from the pigeons.
Don't forget to pinch the tops out to avoid blackfly.

Steve

[siani]

thankyou!!! will do that today

[Goosegirl]

I have collared doves in my garden - don't know if they are as greedy for broad beans as pigeons, but I have never had to net. Had the odd pigeon too but so far hasn't bothered anything that I can see.