What's eating my sprouts?
 

Cat(h) wrote:
Interesting indeed. As well as a multitude of wood pigeons all over
the area, I have at least one couple of ring-necked doves nesting in
the trees above my garden. The CD idea sounds interesting, and I might
try that. I assume I need to thread them onto strings hanging from
poles above the plants so that they catch the light and frighten the
cabbage lovers?

No no no. I find little speakers with a max output power of 2W is
enough. The CD however is another problem; one would feel that the
Op.62 No.6 of Spring Song by Mendelssohn would be appropriate, but the
cabbage lovers will start pecking at your speakers. It is now clear
that the public of Europe has spoken in unisson: Finland entry at the
Eurovision Song Contest *is* the definitive voice of Europe. I very
much recommend this CD, so do all the Pixies ;o)

What's eating my sprouts?
 

"La Puce" wrote in message
oups.com...

Cat(h) wrote:
Interesting indeed. As well as a multitude of wood pigeons all over
the area, I have at least one couple of ring-necked doves nesting in
the trees above my garden. The CD idea sounds interesting, and I might
try that. I assume I need to thread them onto strings hanging from
poles above the plants so that they catch the light and frighten the
cabbage lovers?

No no no. I find little speakers with a max output power of 2W is
enough. The CD however is another problem; one would feel that the
Op.62 No.6 of Spring Song by Mendelssohn would be appropriate, but the
cabbage lovers will start pecking at your speakers. It is now clear
that the public of Europe has spoken in unisson: Finland entry at the
Eurovision Song Contest *is* the definitive voice of Europe. I very
much recommend this CD, so do all the Pixies ;o)

Obviously not a Puce D'amour.
Hang the CDs so they swing about 1ft above the ground-the reflections look
uncannily like nearby movement.
Wood pigeons can devastate a field of sprouts during a winter cold spell.
Many years ago a market gardener friend was going spare during a cold spell.
A week into the new year his field was been raided by large flocks of
pigeons.
Regards
David T

What's eating my sprouts?
 

"La Puce" wrote:

It is now clear
that the public of Europe has spoken in unisson: Finland entry at the
Eurovision Song Contest *is* the definitive voice of Europe.

Hums to self

Finland, Finland, Finland
It's the place where I wanna beeee....

I try to play "Rite of Spring" as the equinox passes through, and just
think on the renewal going on all about me.

43F in the Northeastern American colonies this morning; a fine November
day!


Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G

What's eating my sprouts?
 

La Puce wrote:
Cat(h) wrote:
Interesting indeed. As well as a multitude of wood pigeons all over
the area, I have at least one couple of ring-necked doves nesting in
the trees above my garden. The CD idea sounds interesting, and I might
try that. I assume I need to thread them onto strings hanging from
poles above the plants so that they catch the light and frighten the
cabbage lovers?

No no no. I find little speakers with a max output power of 2W is
enough. The CD however is another problem; one would feel that the
Op.62 No.6 of Spring Song by Mendelssohn would be appropriate, but the
cabbage lovers will start pecking at your speakers. It is now clear
that the public of Europe has spoken in unisson: Finland entry at the
Eurovision Song Contest *is* the definitive voice of Europe. I very
much recommend this CD, so do all the Pixies ;o)

You may be onto something here.
I reckon I can do a double whammie and frighten *any* bird, man or
beast if I use the Lordi DVD instead.
And suddenly, a great recycling option opens up of what to do with all
those free CD's of the best summer tunes of 1955 and Elvis's
Scratchiest Hits our daily and Sunday newspapers are so keen to dump on
us.

Cat(h)

What's eating my sprouts?
 

"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

What's eating my sprouts?
 

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

La Puce wrote:
Cat(h) wrote:
Well, my back is mostly always turned, seen as I can only give some of
my week ends to gardening... There are lots of pigeons in my area, and
at least one couple of ring-necked doves nesting in the trees above the
garden.
What can I do to discourage them?

You need nets or cages.

I am starting to get flowers and early fruits on my strawberries,
raspberries, gooseberries and other currants... I think I am going to
build one HUGE cage all around my garden. Last year, I tasted ONE
raspberry.
Birds are evil.

Some birds are evil!

Alan

What's eating my sprouts?
 

"Robert" wrote in message
...

"Cat(h)" wrote in message
ups.com...
:
: La Puce wrote:
: Cat(h) wrote:
: Well, my back is mostly always turned, seen as I can only give some
of
: my week ends to gardening... There are lots of pigeons in my area,
and
: at least one couple of ring-necked doves nesting in the trees above
the
: garden.
: What can I do to discourage them?
:
: You need nets or cages.
:
: I am starting to get flowers and early fruits on my strawberries,
: raspberries, gooseberries and other currants... I think I am going to
: build one HUGE cage all around my garden. Last year, I tasted ONE
: raspberry.
: Birds are evil.
:
: Cat(h)

They've just got good taste. We always net all fruit and cabbage stuff but
tie it taut so the birds don't get caught in it

Does it matter if the bloody pigeons get caught in it?

Alan

What's eating my sprouts?
 

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...
: They've just got good taste. We always net all fruit and cabbage stuff
but
: tie it taut so the birds don't get caught in it
:
: Does it matter if the bloody pigeons get caught in it?
:
: Alan

Yes, well it does to me as even though they would eat my produce, they are
beautiful birds and at the very least should not suffer with being trapped
in netting

What's eating my sprouts?
 

Robert wrote:
Yes, well it does to me as even though they would eat my produce, they are
beautiful birds and at the very least should not suffer with being trapped
in netting

Just think: Pigeon Friendly Cabbages ;o)