[Maryann]

Hi
Can anyone tell me what is the purpose of all the upturned plastic bottles I have seen this year sitting on top of runner bean poles in allotments and gardens?

Its driving me nuts trying to work out what they are there for.

Hardley to prevent poking your eye out unless your are extremely tall  :shock:

Maybe to collect bugs or something - but what ones? and why is it I haven't noticed them in previous years?

We have just started growing veg again after many years of having our garden lay idle - usual poor excuses of work and not enough time. We have a small veg plot with Runner and French beans, lettuce, beetroot, spring onions, courgettes, spinach, parsnips, swede and carrots. Sounds a lot but actually just the 2 of us so only small rows of each.

Lettuce has been great, mixed leaf cut and come again type, very tender and tasty. Small slugs a bit of a nuisance but raised bed helps. Loads of French beans from just a few plants, spinach also full of flavour. Wish we hadn't left it so long to start again. Runners just getting ready for picking and also we have 2 tomato plants with quite a lot of fruit on them, so quite pleased with our efforts. Made a few mistakes but hoping being on here now will help us get better.

Love to hear from anyone.

Maryann

[lucywil]

i could be wrong coz i am new at this but i think the people on our site use them to scare the birds, they bang about when the wind blows. sorry if its completely wrong

[mum of 3]

we use them to stop our eyes getting poked when bending over weeding the beds,good luck with your growing you sound as if you are doing well there.we only started this year and have learned tons but theres still loads to learn

[John]

Often people use them as mini cloches, with the bottom cut out. An easy way to store them, as they are light and blow around, is to stack them on a cane.
Why they would put a bottle on a bean pole is a mystery to me, though. Try asking the owner. Worst case is that they smile at you.

[lentil987]

My neighbour uses upturned plastic bottles on his canes. He does this to scare the birds as they rattle around in the wind making a noise.

I purchased quite a few of those round football coca cola plastic bottles during the world cup as they were a nice size to drink at the lottie, now I have them I have decided to put them on the tops of the shorter canes to stop me poking my eye. Also good for putting on the canes before draping the netting across the crops as this holds the netting on the top of the canes and does not let it slip down.

One of the best things about allotments is that people are always quite resourceful, I love wondering around the site looking at what other people have recycled.

[Oliver]

...  learned tons but theres still loads to learn

My humans have been at it for 35 years and they are still learning!

[GrannieAnnie]

Only Mother Nature knows everything about gardening!!!

We mere humans (and pussy cats) can only strive to learn more!!!