I've got a little bit of room left in our veg plot so had a look to see
what veg seed can still be sown in July. Chard could be an option but
I've never tried growing it before. Are pigeons generally any problem?

We get wood pigeons nesting in neighbours' conifers and by autumn there
are usually flocks of the dratted things congregating. They don't seem
to bother with my beetroot, but we have to put up a netted frame over
the broccoli, otherwise they'd strip the lot and I don't want to give
them a nice juicy alternative.

--
Sue

I've grown chard for years and never had any problems with
pigeons (or anything else) at all. They seem only to eat
cabbage-type leaves. Chard self-seeds here and will happily
start in the autumn and overwinter so you're never without
it. A useful vegetable for the 'hungry gap'.

someone

"Indigo" wrote in message
...
I've got a little bit of room left in our veg plot so had
a look to see what veg seed can still be sown in July.
Chard could be an option but I've never tried growing it
before. Are pigeons generally any problem?

We get wood pigeons nesting in neighbours' conifers and by
autumn there are usually flocks of the dratted things
congregating. They don't seem to bother with my beetroot,
but we have to put up a netted frame over the broccoli,
otherwise they'd strip the lot and I don't want to give
them a nice juicy alternative.

--
Sue

On 02/07/2014 13:00, Indigo wrote:
I've got a little bit of room left in our veg plot so had a look to see
what veg seed can still be sown in July. Chard could be an option but
I've never tried growing it before. Are pigeons generally any problem?

We get wood pigeons nesting in neighbours' conifers and by autumn there
are usually flocks of the dratted things congregating. They don't seem
to bother with my beetroot, but we have to put up a netted frame over
the broccoli, otherwise they'd strip the lot and I don't want to give
them a nice juicy alternative.


I grow Swiss Chard every year. It is a very easy crop to grow and has
very few pests. The pigeons leave it untouched. Originally I grew it as
an alternative to spinach which has a tendency to bold to seed, but
chard is more forgiving of dry spells. The stems are even better to eat
than the green leaves. I now grow it for the leaf stems (as intended)
and chop them fine and use them in soups, stews or fried with some lardons.

--
David in Normandy.

On 05/07/2014 09:53, David in Normandy wrote:
On 02/07/2014 13:00, Indigo wrote:
I've got a little bit of room left in our veg plot so had a look to see
what veg seed can still be sown in July. Chard could be an option but
I've never tried growing it before. Are pigeons generally any problem?
[...]

I grow Swiss Chard every year. It is a very easy crop to grow and has
very few pests. The pigeons leave it untouched. Originally I grew it as
an alternative to spinach which has a tendency to bold to seed, but
chard is more forgiving of dry spells. The stems are even better to eat
than the green leaves. I now grow it for the leaf stems (as intended)
and chop them fine and use them in soups, stews or fried with some lardons.

Sounds delicious - and the red and yellow stems will be attractive too,
which can't be bad. Chard it is then. Thanks David.

--
Sue

On 03/07/2014 00:35, someone wrote:
I've grown chard for years and never had any problems with
pigeons (or anything else) at all. They seem only to eat
cabbage-type leaves. Chard self-seeds here and will happily
start in the autumn and overwinter so you're never without
it. A useful vegetable for the 'hungry gap'.

Oh good, I'll get some seed and give it a go, then. Thanks.

--
Sue