When will my broad beans be safe from pigeons?

PennyBarr

Hello everyone,

As you can see from the picture my broad beans are doing okay.

 I’m wondering if and when I could remove the protection you can see from the greedy pigeons which hang around our gardens?  

I’m assuming that the protection can be removed at some point but I may be wrong!

Thanks in advance!
Penny

bertrand-mabel

We use bamboo sticks at an angle over the plants. This stops the flight path of the pigeons and also gives some support as they grow. You can use most prunings from shrubs/trees and the more side shoots the better.

We have to do the same for all our pod veg plants otherwise the pigeons will take the lot. Makes the veg patch look odd!

philippasmith2

If it really is a serious issue, then perhaps raise the protection you already have as the plants gain height or consider some type of support and fine mesh to cover the bed ?  

PennyBarr

bertrand-mabel said:

We use bamboo sticks at an angle over the plants. This stops the flight path of the pigeons and also gives some support as they grow. You can use most prunings from shrubs/trees and the more side shoots the better.

We have to do the same for all our pod veg plants otherwise the pigeons will take the lot. Makes the veg patch look odd!

Thanks - I'll need to stake them anyway so makes sense to try and incorporate pigeon defences too!   It might not be too bad - last year I used netting but was horrified by how easily small birds got stuck in it.   Thank you

pclark42

I have around 15 broad bean plants in and they are now over 40cm tall growing up canes, I also have plenty of pigeons in my garden, but they have never gone near my beans, they seem to like brassicas more.

Obelixx

We have wood pigeons and collared doves and chooks who adore brassicas too so we net ours against them and butterflies.   Never had a problem with the broad beans tho we do put a short mesh fence round their bed to keep the chooks out.  Wouldn't stop a pigeon but they don't seem to be interested.