Sparrows attacking my beetroot leaves!!

Beatlefan

I recently thinned out my beetroot, which were growing well in the soil in the veg patch. As I did so, I took off the netting I'd put on when I sowed them to protect the seeds from birds.

Since then, there's been a group of sparrows on a wrecking spree, pecking at the leaves and pulling a couple out of the ground. :mad: There's nothing worth eating yet, so I don't know why they're doing it. I've put the netting back on tonight, cos I've had enough!!

Anyone know why they do this? I recall them saying on Gardeners' World that rooks are vandals in the garden, but I was surprised to see sparrows doing this as well. I suppose it could be insects eating the leaves and the sparrows are just going after the insects?

If they've picked at the leaves, will the roots still be ok beneath the soil and go onto produce beets?

Many thanks for any advice. :T

avantra

Ye they like the young beet, after the wreckage done to my Boltardy last year I keep it under netting till they got 5+ leaves and are less soft and tasty, it does work this year as both the Bull Blood and the Boltardy stayed in one piece, removing nets next week.:beer:

Money_Grabber13579

I don't have any problems with sparrows, just hail stones! Mine have all got crushed, so it's back out to replant!

Beatlefan

avantra wrote: »

Ye they like the young beet, after the wreckage done to my Boltardy last year I keep it under netting till they got 5+ leaves and are less soft and tasty, it does work this year as both the Bull Blood and the Boltardy stayed in one piece, removing nets next week.:beer:

Thanks Avantra. I covered them back up with netting last night and haven't seen the gang of sparrows around much today so far! Hope the plants survive the pumelling they've received!

bizzylizzy

The sparrows here LOVE beetroot leaves, they destroyed a row of small plants so I had to start again and cove them with fleece. :rolleyes:

I have also got some in the greenhouse in a pot, almost ready to plant out (to give them a fighting chance) - today I had the door and the window open as it was actually warm, and a sparrow flew in and pecked all the leaves on the baby beetroot plants!! :eek::eek: Then flew out again! So I have had to cover those up too - inside!
Our sparrows also decimate all things lettuce :eek:

Beatlefan

bizzylizzy wrote: »

The sparrows here LOVE beetroot leaves, they destroyed a row of small plants so I had to start again and cove them with fleece. :rolleyes:

I have also got some in the greenhouse in a pot, almost ready to plant out (to give them a fighting chance) - today I had the door and the window open as it was actually warm, and a sparrow flew in and pecked all the leaves on the baby beetroot plants!! :eek::eek: Then flew out again! So I have had to cover those up too - inside!
Our sparrows also decimate all things lettuce :eek:

Never knew they were such vandals! :eek: They've not been back since the netting went back on last night, but what's left of the beet plants look a sorry sight. I think I'm going to have to sow some more seed in among the ones that are left and hope they all survive!! :rolleyes:

Lotus-eater

I think I remember reading that the sparrows do it to get water from the leaves, just as much as eat the actual leaf and it was suggested that you put out a water bowl for them.

Beatlefan

Thanks Lotus-eater. I'll put out a container of water. They've been back again today trying to get through the netting!!

bizzylizzy

Mine have been trying to pull the fleece off the lettuces - a group of them all making a concerted effort to get at my food! :eek:

Lotus-eater

Beatlefan wrote: »

Thanks Lotus-eater. I'll put out a container of water. They've been back again today trying to get through the netting!!

Did it work?

bizzylizzy

Mine have a bird bath they use to drink out of too (drinking the bath water - yuck!) and it makes no difference to the vandalism!