GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

23-05-2006, 08:03 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

"Cat(h)" wrote in message
oups.com...

wrote:
Cat(h) wrote:
I planted brussels sprout seedlings acquired from the local garden
centre about 3 weeks ago. They are taking well to the garden, and I
have sprinkled the immediate surroundings with environmentally friendly
anti slug pellets. However, the leaves of two of the seedlings have
been nibbled to the central rib - yet I cannot see any likely guilty
party - caterpillar or other.
What could be eating my sprouts, and what can I do to stop it?

Birds like Brassicas apparently but I have not grown any in ages so
cannot comment specifically. I have been watching starlings grab
handfuls of foliage from me herb garden and fly off with them (nesting
material??; lumps of sage and oregano!!). Pigeons are supposed to eat
cabbage leaves.

They're only small seedlings, wouldn't a pigeon or a picking starling
simply pluck them out of the ground rather than neatly eat the leaves
to the ribs ?

No, the pigeons would just eat the leaves.

I did try putting something bright red near my sprouts last year and it
seemed to work, apparently pigeons do not like bright red things

Alan