What could have eaten my lettuce?? :(

ema_o

Got back from a week away and there is almost nothing left of my salad bowl lettuce and rocket.
It was looking really nice and as if it was almost ready to eat, unfortunately on getting back there was just a few shreds left of rocket and almost nothing of the lettuce.

I did see a very fat looking pigeon on the bed pecking away this morning:mad::mad: I chased it away - do pigeons eat lettuce? And if so what can I do to stop them (other than air rifle which was my first thought!!)

foreign_correspondent

it is either the pigeon, a rabbit or a passing hungry vegetarian... any can be deterred with a shotgun...

or you could try hanging something in the way of them - I have seen people use old CDs strung together as a bird deterrant.

My dog ate the rocket and basil I planted on the back garden!

Rikki

Pigeons love lettace.

RAS

Slugs and more slugs given the rain we had.

Sugar_Junkie

I've had large pots demolished in a few hours by slugs and snails. I would guess them first if it were my garden.

bizzylizzy

Sparrows decimate lettuces in my garden....... horticultural fleece has been the only answer for me - not very pretty, but effective.

ema_o

Humm, I guess it could have been a combination of above. Next time I will give the fleece / CDs a go plus keep a closer eye out for slugs.
Shotgun may be the best all round solution (may need good aim to get the slugs though!)

MunnyBoiler

I grow my salad leaves in an old barrell and we were having it 'attacked' so I covered it in netting and didn't lose a single leaf after we did so!

MurdochMcMaster

They used to say to put a ring of broken egg shells around the your plants to stop slugs and snails. It's certainly an eco friendly approach that might be worth trying.