[Mazzie]

Ok so despite saying no to brassicas when i took on the lottie im being swayed... slowly.

What do i need to know about them?  Ive been rather put off by various books saying how hard they are to protect and the first thing the manager saying when he showed me around was "You will need lots of netting, blasted pigeons had all my cabbages last year" (and i still took the site lol) as he has a plot on a near by site its a comment i have yet to forget!

Im dabbling in un-netted kale at the moment and we have had a fair few lovely summer meals with kale, a few have suffered from catterpillar damage and i lost two seedlings to nosey pigeons but they are good strong plants at the moment and ive even turned a fellow (older) plot holder who was fascinated with them.

Where do i go from here?  What do i take the plunge with first?

[DD.]

Nows the time to be sowing your cabbage and caulis for planting later in the year to harvest in the spring.

Reliable cabbages are "Durham Early" & "April". Cauli-wise "Winter Pilgrim" have stood me in good stead, but just to experiment, I'm trying a couple of different  varieties this year, so can't really comment on them.

Seeds are started outside, one seed per cell in modules, (the size that 20 will fit into a half seed tray).

When they have their second leaf, they're potted on into 3" pots and planted into final positions when about 6" high, with a handful of lime in each hole.

I have to net against pigeons, but the only other thing I do then until havest is the occasional hoe.

[Kleftiwallah]

We grow the black kale and the pidgeons don't touch it.     Cheers,   Tony.

[Christine]

I follow DD's advice but agree with Tony that pigeons don't seem to like kale.

[DD.]

Don't you mean "I follow DD's advice AND agree with Tony that pigeons don't seem to like kale. "

We're not mutually exclusive, you know! 

[Mazzie]

Thanks guys, i will be brave

I am really a rubbish gardener, im happy yo stick to easy things hence my 8 squash/pumpkins and far too many beans but when it comes to anything remotely 'pesty' i panic 

I had read pigeons didnt like kale, its the only reason i was brave enough to put them in   Although mine dont seem to mind pecking them up for a bit of fun occasionally