[hammers07]

Hi

Im new to allotment growing.

I planted some cabbages a few weeks ago which yesterday were beautifull having grown very quickly in all this wet weather we have been having. To my horror when I went down my allotment today they have been eaten by something (pigeons i think as there was what looked like pidgeon droppings on the raised bed they are in). I have covered whats left with netting (lots of half eaten leaves although the stems look quite strong).

Will they keep growing or i should i dig them all up and start again, assuming i can get some new plants ?

[DD.]

Providing they've not nipped out the centre, you should get away with it.

[corndolly]

We are plagued by pigeons and rabbits , so everything we plant is covered , or by the morning we have very sad half eaten plants.

The cabbages will recover as long as the centre is in tact.

[richyrich7]

Like everyone says if the centre's there you should be OK, if it's any consolation I've been growing veg, flowers on and off since I've been 8 and this year is the 1st time I've had a plot on the pigeon equivalent of gatwick flight path and I've really been hammered by the bl@@dy things. I've really got to look at changing my habits on protection.  :roll:

[bert]

we planted our brussels, cauli,s & cabbages sunday we had to put wire over them straight away the pigeons were in the trees waiting for us to go.

[WG.]

I've really got to look at changing my habits on protection.  

Quite a statement from a guy with 7 kids !!  

[Trillium]

I've really got to look at changing my habits on protection.  

Quite a statement from a guy with 7 kids !!  

     

[hammers07]

they ha ve also eaten some of mybrocoli and cauli - all covered now but
i'm tempted to repalce the lot. Checked cabbages and some appear to have middles , others part middles as they've been half eaten. What do you think is best ?  :cry:

[hammers07]

well took the plunge have now replanted cabbages cauli and brocolli

all netted

now the pigeons are eating stuff in the plot next to mine as they cannot get at my beds

[charliesmum]

I covered all my cabbage and cauli with nets and they are fine, but getting really big.   Is there a point where it is safe to take off the nets ?

[DD.]

I covered all my cabbage and cauli with nets and they are fine, but getting really big.   Is there a point where it is safe to take off the nets ?

If your pigeons are like my pigeons - NO!!

[charliesmum]

Oh, better get bigger nets and longer sticks then,   thanks.

[DD.]

I've tried taking the nets off & ended up with leaves like skeletons & pigeon poo all over the plants.

Last year for the first time they took to squashing the pea plants down so they could sit on top of the row & eat the pods. B*st*rds.

[emmalm]

The pigeons at our allotment have stripped everyone's brassicas  Fortunately I only had a small crop of mispoona planted out, the rest of my brassicas are still in pots growing on. There is an advantage to being behind everyone else as I started late.

I'm going to have to get a large quantity of netting this weekend.

[richyrich7]

I've just made a silhouette of a peregrine falcon and hung that up down my lottie, Will have to see what happens when I take the fleece of my peas.
My hens went into a blind panic when I showed it them, so it might scare the pigeons off for a while.