Educated guesses and advice please

[Llevrah]

Just back from the plot after a very miserable few days.
Cabbages - decimated
Kale - decimated

I have some kale in another bed send so far *touch wood* that's untouched.

While I was stood staring in dismay at the remains I was told by a neighbour leaf cutter has had them.
Knowing nothing I've had a look at leaf cutter but I'm not convinced it's that as mine seems very ragga where as all the pics I can find online are very neat.
I was thinking slugs and snails or caterpillars. Then leaf cutter got thrown in and now I'm just plain old confused.
Any advice to put me out of my misery please?

[Llevrah]

And another one

[Llevrah]

FGS still forgot the kale. I promise I'm not just trying to have a conversation with myself

[Penellype]

It does not look like leaf cutter damage to me. It could be either slugs or caterpillars - if its caterpillars you will find them on the leaves, often the underside. If its slugs there will be slime trails on the leaves - I can't tell from the photos.

It does look as though you have plenty of slug pellets down, so I would tend to go for the caterpillars.

[muddled]

Leafcutter bee do you mean?

Not a chance!
Leafcutters leave nice neat scallops round the edges.

Looks like slug or possibly pigeon damage to me...could even be a bit of both if they weren't netted. Some of those in the picture have enough leaf left to recover though. They won't be AS good...but the season is still young enough for a partial crop from them.
Give them some protection untill you have something to replace them with anyway and then decide which ones look worth saving.

All is not yet lost!
(and your shallots look wonderful!)

[Martin H]

I think it's pigeons or maybe other birds. My brassicas go like that if the wind blows the netting off.

[Llevrah]

Thank you. I had a look under the remainder of what's there but couldn't see anything but I also couldnt see any tell tale slime either. Hate not knowing the culprit.
It has been since Friday night since I went down and we have had a lot of very heavy rain this weekend and when it wasn't heavy it was drizzle galore so it made me wonder if it had been washed away perhaps after they had done the damage

[Penellype]

Slug slime is sticky and quite hard to wash off - its unlikely the rain would have removed all of it.

I've not seen pigeon damage as I don't have an issue with them here, but that is certainly another possibility.

[muddled]

But were they netted against birds?

[Martin H]

I found a pic of the time pigeons got my spring cabbages, in November 2014...

[Llevrah]

Shamefully no. I hadn't netted them. It was one of those I must do that jobs and the weather saw it off. We have got some pigeons but not many. Allotment us about 10 min walk from being at the sea so the seagulls dominate round here

[Llevrah]

Leafcutter bee do you mean?

Not a chance!
Leafcutters leave nice neat scallops round the edges.

Looks like slug or possibly pigeon damage to me...could even be a bit of both if they weren't netted. Some of those in the picture have enough leaf left to recover though. They won't be AS good...but the season is still young enough for a partial crop from them.
Give them some protection untill you have something to replace them with anyway and then decide which ones look worth saving.

All is not yet lost!
(and your shallots look wonderful!)

Thank you. They aren't anywhere near as close as being done as next doors to me but they were the first things to go in so the kids could say they had planted something that was the start of may. Someone had left a massive box by the gate for free pickings so being free and growing they are rather special to me. They are also a first try

[muddled]

Well look, you have put pellets down now for slugs and found no caterpillars on the leaves.
If you net them you will prevent both caterpillars (by keeping out the butterflies) and bird damage.

I think it doesn't really matter what did the damage last week, provided you don't allow them to do it again!
Bung some net on and see if some of your plants bounce back.

[bario1]

Pigeons for sure!

[happyhumph]

Probably pigeons - no slime, & you'd see caterpillars of have noticed their eggs. Just hope they get better for you....