Protecting my crops, what do i need?

[Chef_uk]

Veg Patch
Broad Bean
Brussels Sprout
Cabbage (slug pellets)
Carrots (fleece)
Leeks
Lettuce (polytunnel)
Onion (CD's/Milk Cartons)
Parsnip
Radish
Runner Bean
Spring Onion
Greenhouse
Cherry Tomato
Peppers

After planting my onions earlier in the week and stringing up CD's and 4 pint cartons, I still have an uprooted onion so now i'm getting worried. Am I missing anything that I really do need to help protect the crops? I'm about to order some collars for the cabbages and have been looking at the netting to build around bamboo canes to sort of cage off the onions but not sure whether the cheaper and wider holes will be suffice or if I need the fine mesh stuff?

Also cats, how can I stop them doing their business on my beds? Is there any 100% sure fire way of stopping them?

[miker2d2]

air rifle for the pigeons!

[zazen999]

Sorry - what are the CDs and cartons for - for the onions?

[oldie]

There are a number of recent posts where people reckon that birds do not pull out onions, it's just the soil is to firm and the roots push the onion out. I'm assuming you are using the CD's and cartons to scare birds away. They very soon get used to them and ignore them. There is no sure fire way of keeping cats off, especially newly dug beds. Netting, chicken wire, strong smells and your own cat help.

[binley100]

The only thing that's ever attacked my onions was wabbits, went along them like a pair of scissors. So now they go behind a wabbit proof fence....

[Two_Sheds]

I have some garlic and onion sets in the greenhouse. A bird has never been in there. At least four of them have come out of their modules (pushed out by their own roots)

[bazzaboy]

I've never seen a bird yank an onion out thinking it was a worm and my local blackbirds would be most offended if I suggested to them that they couldn't tell the difference as they are unbelievably expert at locating worms.... Even so I do string up a few CDs and as they catch the sun i think they startle me more than the birds... But what do you do with the milk cartons???

On discouraging cats I find soft missiles (e.g. the June drop provides a large pot of small apples) accompanied by YAAAAAAAAH and imitation of a scarecrow going berserk is quite effective.... they always stop, look at you with an air of disdain, freeze for a moment but then scarper... You need to make it a chancy dubious area in their memory so they prefer to go elsewhere....

[Pies]

unless you like picking of caterpillers you will need a net for the brassicas

[Chef_uk]

unless you like picking of caterpillers you will need a net for the brassicas

I'm looking now at some but unsure what size mm I need? Will 25mm be enough or am I looking at 15mm or less?

But what do you do with the milk cartons??

Thread twine through them and hang them over the bed from one corner to the opposite so they rustle in the wind. Thought everyone did this?

[Lotsaveg]

Send an email to sales@dragonfli.co.uk and ask for a sample of the new product called VeggieThrow. They'll send you some FOC. This performed amazingly at the local allotments last year.

[mrpaulbradley]

For cats digging up prepared beds I use the prunings from my gooseberry and other jaggy bushes.... just lay them criss-crossed on top....they don't like it up 'em Mr Mainwaring!

I actually do the same with onion and other sown beds until they are well established.

[dope540]

i hate cats, had a fair bit of poop last year on my veg patch. cheap tennis balls are good and get a lot of them!

my mate that got me into veg growing tried an experiment. we placed out some cat food, with some laxatives. cat has never entered our garden again.

[Kristen]

I'm looking now at some but unsure what size mm I need? Will 25mm be enough or am I looking at 15mm or less?

7mm to keep the Cabbage White butterfly off your Brassicas. They fold up their wings to get through small spaces

I use scaffolders' debris netting 'coz its cheaper than regular netting, but you do have to buy a long roll (lasts ages, but may not be much use for a small patch!)

Assembly instructions on my blog

[Chef_uk]

Hi Kristen, I like the look of that set up but like you say the length is far too long. I've found some shade net (1.5x5m) which is a perfect size and not too dear. What do you think?

40% SHADE / WIND BREAK NET 1.5M x 5M: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

[Leeds_lad]

the smell of garlic deters cat's. either grow them or you can buy special organic cat repellant, which is just strong smelling garlic powder