[mumofstig]

There were 3 of us that got plots at the same time, 5 years ago, and when we started growing brassicas under netting - the OBs laughed!
They were proper allotment growers - implying that we never would be, and that they didn't mind losing a few plants to pigeons and caterpillars  :blink:
Since the birds have started eating everything in sight  they've all gradually started covering theirs as well 

[hamstergbert]

Talking of old boys wisdom I was chatting to a plot neighbour, (he's an absolutely lovely chap) - he was saying about one of the garden pests and how years ago, you could buy such and such spray "that's been linked to cancer now...if I'd known what I know now I'd have bought loads of it and stored it" and there was me thinking he was going to say he'd have never used it at all!!

Like the OB you mention I certainly would have stockpiled a pile of Fumite cones myself before they were banned as being dangerous, had I known.  Mind you, I reckon they were not in practice actually that dangerous back in those far off days when we were capable of using our brains to consider that seeing as the things were designed to poison the nasties we probably shouldn't be standing in the sealed greenhouse when we fired them off and must ensure that we vented thoroughly afterwards before re-entry etc.   

(Those that were too bone to work that out presumably would nowadays escape that fate thanks to those wunnerful, wunnerful EU health and safety people banning anything remotely useful, and go on to drown due to those same EU health and safety people unaccountably failing to ban jumping into resevoirs with two hundredweights of scrap iron in your pockets.) 

Amazing that any of us survived really.

[Trillium]

Yes, but what sort of talc will you use as well, Trills..;0)

Cornstarch talc, what else?  Might as well come down heavy boots on them 

[Growster...]

There were 3 of us that got plots at the same time, 5 years ago, and when we started growing brassicas under netting - the OBs laughed!
They were proper allotment growers - implying that we never would be, and that they didn't mind losing a few plants to pigeons and caterpillars  :blink:
Since the birds have started eating everything in sight  they've all gradually started covering theirs as well 

It used to be said that 10% going to the birds was acceptable, now it's more like us struggling to get 10% if we don't net at all!

We've lost several broad beans, because some hooligan bird has just walked up and pecked them out of the soil, and left them there! It might even be a pheasant, unless there are pigeons with 12" necks..!

[Growster...]

Hamstergbert's post sums up several issues, that all revolve around innovation, invention and new technolgy bringing new and better ways to conquer disease and severe loss, and then it takes another generation of 'law-makers' to come along and undo all that good work!