Allotments 4 All

Hi all

I am at war with the slugs.  They are chewing our pointed cabbages, making lots of holes in them,  and I thought, eating our peas as some of the pods on the bottom of the plants are being eaten.  However, I noticed this morning that some pods on the top of the plants are now being chewed.

Any ideas?  Could it be birds?  Or acrobatic slugs? ???

MP

Could be snails. My plot is always over run with them after a drop of rain and they don't seem to mind how high they have to climb!

Are the pods still on the plant after being eaten, also have a look under the plants for any dropped part eaten pods it could be mice

Slugs do climb but not as high as snails, I have pulled them off tree tops before now. I assume that they can travel further because of the protection of the shells.

I found a large snail with a whole stalk of a baby pea plant in it's mouth earlier this year. As if to snap it off at ground level.  The snail did not survive.

A little mouse can't eat a lot of peas, they have such tiny tummies a pea must be like a full meal to them.

Hi,

Yes, the pods are still on the plant but there are no peas in them and the pods are half chewed.  Not totally gone. 

I have seen quite a number of small slugs around and no snails, up until now anyway.

Thanks
MP

Thanks for the replies.  I suppose it could be mice purpleheather but there were quite a few peas gone yesterday.!!!!!  As you say, one pea would probably fill a mouse.  I Probably wouldn't mind a mouse.  BUT, It couldn't be RATS could it? >:(  Would they climb a pea stalk?  It would need a few peas to fill a rat!!!!!!!!!!  grrrr

MP

I'm getting a few chewed pods on top of my peas; I'm convinced it's birds. Anything ground-living would tend to go for the accessible pods at the bottom.

Pigeons are renowned for it, though around here (S. Wales) my main suspects are:
       a) slugs + snails
       b) magpies
       c) next doors "pet" squirrell which i held reponsible for digging up all my pea seeds in spring!

All these been seen on or near plot, never seen pigeons.

Hi Folks,

Many thanks for your help. I've finally managed to get a picture of the damage.


MP

Birds.

Sky rats  >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(