Topic: Sprout prob

[honeybee]

Having my first bash at sprouts and already they are being nibbled.
Help !! What can i do?

[Moggle]

Were they sown outside in a seed bed, or under cover?

[Charlotte Sometimes]

If they are being nibbled by something which is burrowing up from the soil, this won't help, but you can stop most critters with enviromesh.  Doesn't look very picturesque, and it is also the first year I've tried it (but no problems so far).  In this picture, everything but the spinach and chard is covered up:

[redimp]

Are cloches covered with fleece any good?  This is what I was planning to do.

[tim]

Charlie - & anyone - plastic pegs are more expensive than bricks, but a lot easier on the hands for a girl?

The 'trident' type - not the barbed black ones.

[honeybee]

Thanks for the advice, i was thinking i could just stick them in the ground, and forget about them until they need picking  ;)....but it seems like ive got to do a bit more work here and there  ;)

Thanks to all that contributed, i am now a wiser woman  ;D

[Mrs Ava]

Pigeons will strip them back to the stem, and all of your other brassicas!  Darn winged rodents!!  Also keep an eye for slugs and caterpillars who will all make a tasty meal from your sprouts long before you do.  Mesh and netting is the way to go and look around the plants, under leaves or large stones, I lay money on you finding some slugs.

[busy_lizzie]

I always put a sawn off bit of drain pipe around each one of ours and that protects them until they get bigger.  Strangely enough the pigeons seem to go for my cabbages rather than the sprouts. busy_lizzie

[tomatoada]

Please could the lady who mentioned plastic pegs give me more information about them.  Where is the best place to buy them and what do they look like?  They seem just what I need .  Thanks.  M.H.

[philcooper]

I think Tim was that "lady".

The ones I know of look like a plastic T but with one extra down stroke at each end of the top or a big comb with only 3 teeth.

Garden centres and the seed catalogues have them ( but they're cheaper at your allotment trading hut if they stock them)

Phil

[tomatoada]

Thanks  Phil. for info on pegs.  Apologies to Tim for sex change.  I have a problem getting to the shops at present. Husband in W/C.  So will hunt on-line.  Thanks again.  M.H.

[redimp]

Your hubby must spend a lot of time on the toilet.  :)