What should I net?

[janeyo]

We have a lot of pigeons.

I was wondering what I should net over when I get them out?
Got caulis, broc, dwarf peas, runners, lettuce, sweetcorn, baby corn, all in cold frame at the mo.
Also pumpkin courgette leek coming up too.

Do people net everything?

janeyo

Strawbs I know to net!

[peanut]

Out of that lot I would only net the Caulis and Broc, but I only netted mine over the winter. They didn't bother with anything earlier in the year....guess there's plenty of natural foods around then.

The main problem I had was the Cabbage Whites laying there blinking eggs, hence caterpillars all over my Broc....took ages squishing them!!!

[Cutecumber]

Pigeons can go for anything, unfortunately.

I had no problems for many years then suddenly they started eating my brassicas, lettuce and leaf beet - basically anything at just the right height.

I have lost carrot seedlings to smaller birds, too, but not on a regular basis.

Usually, it is the brassicas and pea and bean shoots that are most attractive, but if you have a lot of pigeons you may have to be even more careful.

[Eyren]

Anything with tasty leaves near ground level (below about 12") is vulnerable. They probably won't bother with courgettes as the leaves are tough and prickly, and I generally find that runner beans are OK, but anything else...

Last year I grew my peas inside a wigwam covered in bird-netting, which protected them when young and gave them support later on. This year I have set up an enclosure of chicken-wire, but I'm a bit worried that the pigeons might poke their heads through the gaps - might have to reinforce it with netting!

[hawthorns]

i have netted cabbages,broccoli, peas and beetroot. i will also be netting french and runner beans

[jacob marley]

The next 2 months is when the Pigeons are at there worst they have young to feed so if you want to eat the stuff you are growing cover it or else they will eat it jacob

[peanut]

Maybe I don't have a problem because I grow at home, not a lottie, so I'm about a fair bit plus I feed the birds.

[janeyo]

Best get more netting in then - lol.
What size netting (holes) are best. I have the sort that I use to cover my strawbs and grass seed.

Thanks, j

[gojiberry]

I don't have much of a problem with pigeons but the crows love pulling the peas and any sort of bean out.

Ian

[Lavenderblue]

get a sparrowhawk. No pidgens on our plot!

[Mike and Louise]

We are netting everything this year.

If you look at our site you will see we have made 3 small cloche frames over our beds. These now have netting on them.
The netting gauge size is small (7mm) so it will be enough to keep almost anything off the beds, including big slugs, snails, butterflys (damm cabbage whites), ect...
However it will still allow most smaller bugs in like ladybirds and lacewings that eat greenfly, ect...

[hypnophil]

I have loads of pigeons too!
planning to net as much as possible,
may just nip down the sparrowhawk shop and get a couple which will hopefully not fly away from my plot!

[Two_Sheds]

i will also be netting french and runner beans

why?
I grow tons of beans and they've never been attacked by birds, only slugs.

[nemo]

net the pigeons the Brest meat is nice for a change only pigeons from the country side don't eat city pigeons

[Muddy-G]

we have problems with pigeons, pheasant, rooks etc. somthing almost destroyed our entire bean plantings and went at the brassicas last yr - suspect it be the pigeons!. We have, today, purchased a Hawk Eye bird scarer. We'd seen them cropping up in most of the surrounding fields where we live in Berks. apart from all the locals raving about them, they are a bit of fun too!

I got mine in a local farmer supply shop. however a little search on the web will find them or BIRD SCARER CROW SCARECROW