We had to admit defeat on Sunday. During the week the broccoli and kale had been stripped bare by the pigeons. The netting had pulled free of its pegs at one side of the frame, leaving a big, inviting gap. At that point I lost heart completely and decided just to take the plants out and get the ground ready for something else.
The winter netting has been a big disappointment given the investment in a 'proper' cage and heavy duty netting. We think that the netting is too heavy for the pretty lightweight aluminium poles. It offers a good surface for the wind to catch, and it's so heavy that once it's in motion it drags out the steel pegs from the soil. On the build-a-ball cage this also knocks over the supports. On the recycled climbing frame there's no such problem, but the netting just lifts free from its moorings leaving a doorway that basically says 'pigeons: this way'.
We'll try again but with lighter netting. Meantime, any suggestions for what to do with yards of heavy-duty netting, apart from a good bonfire?
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12 comments:
I can imagine your frustration, what a dilemna. You'll come up with something.
How disheartening. We use scaffold/debris netting and that's been fine. I didn't cover my broccoli though and that's gone the same way as your's. I'll give it another go this year and remember to cover it this time.
We use pigeon netting supported by a wooden frame - not sure how heavy duty your netting is. Incredibly in the past we have had brassicas devasted by pigeons but as long as the centre is intact they have grown again
Sad to say, your pigeon-ravaged broccoli looks more like a thistle now!
What a huge big pain in the buttocks, there is something quite amazingly surreal about watching hard work become undone, and I imagine you are slightly miffed.
No idea what you can do with your netting though... hmm... take up deep sea fishing??
Gnnnrrr. Bummer! But this has been an exceptional winter. At our site it was the heavy duty cages that bought it, much to the chagrin of those who had invested in it. My system (posts and chicken wire to three foot, plastic netting over the top) collapsed twice and stripped the plants on the way, but some plants clung on - I'm still holding out for some psb!
Such a disappointment. But what can you do, except take notes and learn?
Oh no! BIG HUG. It is so disappointing isn't it :(
Thanks for all the comiserations. I feel marginally better now (sniff).
Ali, your deep sea fishing suggestion is appropriate - my maternal grandfather was a trawler fisherman. How did you know??
Hi Nic,pigeons are public enemy no 1 everywhere!Fold up your netting and put it under the shed or somewhere because you are sure to find a use for it after getting rid of it.
So sorry about your garden--we have squirrels and a woodpecker that we are "dealing" with. Love your shots of buds and a blade of garlic coming up. Spring surely is around the corner. Mickie
What a disappointment! I am determined to get a rabbit proof fence to put along the existing one so that I can get a crop of peas and beans, and not have big bites taken out of my lettuce this year.
Thanks for your compliment on my train track layout. I am not a handy person, so I am very tickled with what I come up with when putting the tracks together. It's different each time. I love it!
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