Autmn and Winter Pests

[Artisan]

As a novice vegetable grower I am going to, for the first time, grow vegetables through the Autumn and Winter. What pests are likely to be active in that period that I should look out? I will be growing brassicas, leeks, garlic, onions, shallots and perpetual spinach.

[Bren In Pots]

Hope this helps.

brassicas - slugs, snails and pigeons use Net
leeks - leek moth use fleece, enviromesh or really fine net.
perpetual spinach - slugs, snails

Can't help with the others I don't grown them.

[Artisan]

Thank you for the information. Is it fair to say that in the colder months most over-wintered vegetables suffer little or no attack by pests?

[bario1]

Pigeons will reduce any brassica to a stump, and I've had them attack chard as well.

[Jungle Jane]

Birds pull onions out the ground when they're small so I cover them with net,it also keeps my cat off,I don't know if you have cats about but planting garlic & having cat mess over the top & rained in isn't nice,so cover any bare soil somehow with sticks or something,I use greenhouse metal shelving over peas & stuff to stop mice then take them off when theres some growth. Meteor peas & some broad beans like Sutton can go in for an early spring crop if you want too.

[Mr Bones]

In our neck of the woods Allium Leaf Miner is a problem during autumn and spring, not sure if it's reached your area yet.

[Penellype]

I've had issues in the greenhouse with rats, mice and squirrels digging up plants and burying seeds in beds. Slugs, snails and mould are always a problem in damp weather regardless of the time of year. Some moth caterpillars seem to continue to eat during the winter and can make holes in leafy veg. Aphids can be a pain in milder spells as most of the predators are not around to keep them in check.

Weather can also damage things significantly, particularly gales, snow, ice and flooding.

[Artisan]

Thank you for the advice. It looks like I have my work cut out for me this winter! I don't think I'm going to be bored then!