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What's eating my sprouts?
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? TIA Cat(h) |
What's eating my sprouts?
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. With all the recent rain, our garden is awash with slugs and snails. The rain washed away the alu sulphate granules and stops it working. Nightly visits with torch is all I can do now. I grab them and fling them to the jungle side of the garden; handfuls at a time it seems. Could still be a rogue slug; or sluggish rogue (ho ho ho). TIA Cat(h) |
What's eating my sprouts?
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What's eating my sprouts?
Cat(h) wrote: But maybe it's a really clever caterpillar that comes, eats, and then legs it real quick when he sees me approaching... The damage done looks like it was made by a small "mouth" if you see what I mean. Pixie? |
What's eating my sprouts?
La Puce wrote: Cat(h) wrote: But maybe it's a really clever caterpillar that comes, eats, and then legs it real quick when he sees me approaching... The damage done looks like it was made by a small "mouth" if you see what I mean. Pixie? A possibility which should never be overlooked. What is an environmentally sound method of pixie control? Cat(h) |
What's eating my sprouts?
Cat(h) wrote: La Puce wrote: Pixie? A possibility which should never be overlooked. What is an environmentally sound method of pixie control? LOL!! Grow enough veggies on your plot so that you can share with them :o) |
What's eating my sprouts?
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What's eating my sprouts?
Gary Woods wrote: Not acceptable. I'll make contact with the wee folk however I can. The general feeling is that they're an asset, and don't eat much. And they're pretty too cute smile |
What's eating my sprouts?
Robert wrote: "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? : : 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 ? Starlings won't touch them but pigeons will scoff the lot if you turn your back and the clever little things will nearly always leave the growing tip 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? Cat(h) www.rraa.moonfruit.com |
What's eating my sprouts?
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. |
What's eating my sprouts?
wrote in message
ps.com... Cat(h) wrote: La Puce wrote: Cat(h) wrote: But maybe it's a really clever caterpillar that comes, eats, and then legs it real quick when he sees me approaching... The damage done looks like it was made by a small "mouth" if you see what I mean. Pixie? A possibility which should never be overlooked. What is an environmentally sound method of pixie control? Sobriety! Des Cat(h) No, no, wrong approach, it never works. If you are worried about Pixies, you need to go for a drink. Once you get to the stage where you are no longer worried but joining in the party, you can stop drinking. |
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. : : 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 |
What's eating my sprouts?
The message
from "david taylor" contains these words: "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? I have had a lot of trouble with woodpigeons over the years. They tend to devour and strip brassicas rather than just nibble, and I used to net brassica plants to protect them. Last year I witnessed a collared dove attacking some brocco;i plants which were in a pot. It had a more delicate nibbling style than the wood pigeons and is a possible culprit. This year has been very cold and it could be that some birds are becoming desparate in their eating habits. An interesting thought. I have never had trouble with pigeons eating brassicas until for the first time this year. I hadn't thought to blame the weather. Janet G |
What's eating my sprouts?
Janet Galpin wrote: The message from "david taylor" contains these words: "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? I have had a lot of trouble with woodpigeons over the years. They tend to devour and strip brassicas rather than just nibble, and I used to net brassica plants to protect them. Last year I witnessed a collared dove attacking some brocco;i plants which were in a pot. It had a more delicate nibbling style than the wood pigeons and is a possible culprit. This year has been very cold and it could be that some birds are becoming desparate in their eating habits. An interesting thought. I have never had trouble with pigeons eating brassicas until for the first time this year. I hadn't thought to blame the weather. Janet G 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? Cat(h) |
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) |
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