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I have been to my lottie today and something has been nibbling the edges of my broadies. On closer inspection I don't think it is slugs as the leaves are too far off the ground. There are some ants on the plants red and black but I have read that these should do not harm. The only other pest I can think of is pigeons and other birds. Can anyone offer any advice or further clues as to what it may be.
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Is it curved nibbling or bits ripped off. The former is usually catapillars, ther latter is birds.http://norm-foodforthought.blogspot.com/
If it ain't broke, don't fix it and if you ain't going to eat it, don't kill it -
That'll be pea weevil then. Little critters will be hiding in the rolled up leaves at the top. If you put a sheet of news paper round the base of the plant and give alittle shake they will fall off onto the paper...their natural defence mechanism.
There is little you can do there is practically no chemicals available to the amateur...and that's not my bag anyway. They say regular hoeing helps . They tend to be more of a problem for seedlings...particularly peas. and the grugs eat the roots. I used to get really upset about them but I don't worry that much these days as I usually get a decent crop anyway.Comment
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Thanks that may also explain why my peas in the same bed died recently if the grub eats the roots I agress with the chemical thing trying to be organic and all that.
Thanks for the adviceComment
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sounds exactly like the problem i had with my broadies. i'm a complete newbie and so looked up the symptoms - little notches out of the leaf edge, almost like it's been crimped- in the Hessayson book, and that seems to identify it as pea and bean weevil. these are little beatle-like creatures about 3mm long, and once i knew what to look for i have seen them. The book says that as long as the plants are not seedlings they should survive an attack, and advises hoeing round the plant. mine look pretty rough and i've covered the second lot with fleece til they get established. hope this helps.Comment
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sorry- by the time i'd posted, paullottie had beaten me to it. didn't mean to double up on what was said.Comment
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They're eating my baby pea plants right now. I shook the plants, but didn't find a single beetle/weevil. I'll sneak up on them next time, catch them at it. And squish the blighters before they discover my broadies.All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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Thanks again fingers crossed they will make it so I can eat my broadiesComment
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