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I have had miserable pea crops in the past but this year seems promising - so far. I am using pea netting for peas to climb but what is the best method of protection from the birds nicking all my peas when they are larger plants. Plenty time at the moment as the plants are only 2 inches tall.

Fleece.  I am going to fleece mine to protect them from pea moth. 

A CAT :D

Has anyone seen the Victorian Kitchen Garden episode where they showed cats with collars on, attached to lines in-between the rows of veg? GENIUS :D

Brilliant idea, but the animal lovers' lobby would be up in arms these days.

The earlies are fairly easy - just push twiggy sticks into the row (I use apple tree prunings) and they support the peas and deter the birds at the same time.

Main crop is more difficult, and I'd welcome some advice. I grow mine up 5-foot high rigid netting stapled to wooden uprights. If the rows are just a couple of feet apart the pigeons don't seem to want to get between them, but when the peas reach the top.... My plot is at the very end, close to a hedgerow, and the pigeons get to my crops first! Two years ago I netted over the top, but the peas grew into the netting and I think I caused more damage than the pigeons! So last year, I grew them inside the fruit cage and that worked. (Except it was a dry year and not a big crop anyway.) But the cage collapsed in the snows, so what do I do this year?

Advice please - they'll be ready to go in within the week!

The theory I had explained to me is;

Birds are wary creatures and will only feed in areas where there 'escape path' is unhindered.

So it is a case of possibly making a tunnel (arbor if you like) over your pea seedlings with your pea stick and the peas will grow up through these and the birds are unlikely to go under the tunnel

we've used old c.d's in the past, tied on to string, attached to canes so they flutter in the wind..all the freebie internet ones..hope this makes sense  :)

Talking of pea moths, when should we start protecting from them?  I've got it wrong two years running and have had to share crops with their horrible little maggots  :P

Mine are currently covered with netting but will be in a mesh tunnel when I have time to do it (better light and air then the netting I have used.)

Just think of all that protein in the caterpillars. Yum, Yum!

Quote from: manicscousers on April 15, 2007, 17:38:38
we've used old c.d's in the past, tied on to string, attached to canes so they flutter in the wind..all the freebie internet ones..hope this makes sense  :)

I find Barry Manilow Cds are the scariest !

They don't scare my pigeons at all.

Wire!

Mine are looking good and the first pods have now set, looks like a pulling in 2 weeks that I am not sharing with the local wildlife.

Photo on

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_peas.html