Gardeners growing brassicas are being urged to take action (Image: Getty)
Gardeners across the UK growing broccoli, sprouts, cabbages and cauliflower have been issued an alert to .
While January is typically a quiet month for , it is the time of year to for the months ahead, with a key job being tending to your fruit and veg.
Alongside pruning and weeding out old crops, gardening experts say households should ensure any brassicas are covered with netting in January to protect the plants from .
Pigeons often feed on plants in gardens and allotments and are particularly partial to the leaves of brassicas, which includes crops like broccoli, sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower and kale.
The birds will often visit gardens early in the morning and can cause damage to your plants if they aren’t protected by pecking at the leaves and ripping off large portions.
You’ll notice signs they have been feeding by looking for things like torn leaves or reduced foliage, with sometimes only the leaf stalks left untouched.
The birds are present in gardens throughout the year, but they will often feed on winter brassicas when the weather is cold, as conditions like snow or frost mean other vegetation isn’t available.
The Royal Horticultural Society says: “The only certain way of protecting vulnerable plants from pigeons is to grow them under netting or in a fruit cage.
“To avoid accidentally trapping or injuring birds and other animals, always ensure that netting is kept taut, and check regularly for holes.
“Scaring devices or repellant substances are likely to give, at best, only temporary protection. Deterrents based on calcium chloride, such as Grazers G1, are also available and may give some protection.”
Don’t miss…
Gardeners’ World says pop-up garden cloches are a good option to help protect your plants from pigeons as these are easy to install and they also shield plants from cold temperatures during the winter months.
It adds: “Garden cloches are low enclosures used to cover plants and, depending on their style, offer protection against a number of factors.
“Cloches shield plants from harsh weather and pest attack and create a warm microclimate that will nurture germinating seedlings, young plants and crops in the colder months of the year.”