Allotments 4 All

to protect my peas from the pigeons I've got one row of peas under a fleece cloche and one under a fruit net cloche - but then as I was looking at the them today I wondered how they would be polinated if the insects can't get to them ? 

Should I uncover them ? 
How can I deter the pigeons ?

Machine Gun .... Cruise Missile  ;D

Borrow Jeannine's 'Tiger'

QuoteI wondered how they would be polinated if the insects can't get to them

By the time they get to that stage the birds won't be a threat so you can remove the covering just as the flowers appear!

Oh good as i uncovered mine today and noticed that I have four pods growing.

If you look at my site,


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

you will see that I have protected my peas rigorously with wire.

Today I  removed all protection as the left hand plants are covered in pods and the right hand ones are too big for pigeons to bother.

I grow my main crop against wire mesh stapled to wooden posts, 4/5 feet high. The pigeons aren't a problem until the peas reach the top; then they descend & scythe them off! And if I net them over the top I do as much damage as the pigeons!

Do you know anyone with a sparrowhawk or kestrel? Or an air rifle?

I had problems with pigeons attacking my PSB plants earlier in the year, I attached video tape streamers to canes placed next to the plants and the attacks stopped, could be a co-incidence but it seemed to have worked.

I am really impressed by the peas - unfortunately mine get attacked by ground troops before the aerial bombardment. The mice seem to get in no matter what barriers I put up, so i always end up doing at least two sowings until I find out what route they are using this year.

Strangely they don't like broad beans (autumn or spring sowings) which are never touched.

Apart from getting an allotment cat - what other thoughts do you have on deterring
mice?

You want a peregrine or a goshawk for pigeons; a big female sparrowhawk might take the odd one, but it's right at the top end of what they will kill.

Plan A - sowed them under fleece which seemed to keep the mice away (they probably went to the neighbouring plots where the pickings were easier). However, pigeons took a liking to the young shoots a couple of years ago and decimated many of the plants.

Plan B - in addition to plan A .. the rows go across our 4 feet wide raised bed to make better use of the space. Put chicken wire supports in early to deter pigeons from going on the middle of the bed. Rested cloche glass sheets around the periphery of the bed (before they were required for aubergines and peppers), leaning against the cane supports for the chicken wire. This was to stop the pigeons from standing on the edges of the bed and nibbling away. When plants were 6-8 inches high, removed glass. Plants zoomed up - no pecking - sorted! Er, no - when the plants got above the level of the chicken wire it formed a nice mat which the pigeons came and camped on, whist eating away to their heart's content.

Plan C (this year) .. as previously, but instead of glass I have surrounded the crop, chicken wire, etc with netting which is a good foot or more higher than the top of the chicken wire. Any bets on what will happen this time?

PS I like the idea of the video tape streamers - may be part of plan D.

we sowed our peas in guttering, planting out when the compost was matted with roots..we have them growing up chicken wire, I don't know if they're too tough now, the pigeons(whispering so's they can't hear) haven't eaten them but, with the rain, I'm expecting the slugs and snails any time soon  :)

Is it just me or are peas difficult to germinate? I planted 32 in root trainers on the window sill. Some weeks later only 5 have germinated. Only had 11 germinate from the last batch.

I always pre germinate peas get about 98% sprouting before moving to guttering

Quote from: mc55 on April 22, 2007, 17:50:07I wondered how they would be polinated if the insects can't get to them ? 

Peas can self-pollinate, so leave the fleece on and don't worry about the bees. Fleece will also keep the evil pea moth away.