[reianki]

Hi, new to this site, but glad I joined as it seems there is a lot of friendly helpful people here. Just wondering, I am about to transplant curly kale from my seed bed to final position, do I need to protect it from pigeons? I know they like sprouts etc as well as cabbages, I saw what they did to my neighbours! thanks Reianki x

[compostqueen]

I would protect it from pigeons while it's small and tender as it will disappear either by pigeon or rabbit. They tend to leave them alone as they get bigger  but better safe than sorry 

[sunshineband]

Oh yes!!! Pigeaons rip leaves off at a tremendous rate  turn your back and your plants'll be stripped 

[RichardA]

yes protect from pigeons is a priority though touch wood at least the butterflies and other insects do seem to leave it alone.
R

[celjaci]

It may also need protection from pigeons in the winter.
 If we get snow and the ground is covered anything green ( kale, sprouts, PSB ) becomes a target for all the pigeons for miles around. They can strip the lot in 1/2 hour!

[Rangerkris]

Does kale need protection from butterflies.  My dwarf kale is at the moment its only small should i keep it covered.  my plot is looking like a see of green netting at the moment as most of my stuff is covered.  Not sure what needs to be and what dont hahaha im doing it to be safe.

[Sharonx]

Hi Kris,
Will PM you later regading your reply on my post 
Now Kale was a success for me last year, both dwarf and Cavelo Nero. I did have alot of White cabbage butterfly, but they do very little damage. They are very annoying when they fly out everywhere when disturbed though. When we had snow the pigeons did strip a few plants, but who can blame them I would if i was hungry too 

[8doubles]

Does kale need protection from butterflies.  My dwarf kale is at the moment its only small should i keep it covered.  my plot is looking like a see of green netting at the moment as most of my stuff is covered.  Not sure what needs to be and what dont hahaha im doing it to be safe.

Net them up , my curly kale had lots of caterpillar last year but not much whitefly which are normally the main problem.

[Rowan]

a word of caution. we protected our smaller kale with fleece but it caused some fo the leaves to snap off once they got big and pressed on the fleece.

I would deffo protect them, the pigeons round here nip at them