march of the phantom pest, can u help?

Can you help us save our veg? We have a 2mx1.5m bordered veg patch. Hadn't checked the patch for 48 hours, went out today and two cauliflower seedlings are missing. They've been chomped off low down on the stem leaving two sad looking stumps. There's also half a row of carrot seedlings completely missing and a few holes in the spinach leaves. All three were just developing their 2nd set of true leaves. There's been torrential rain here but no sign of any slugs or other noticeable pest presence. All was fine on Friday night.

 

Birds, squirrels and mice can all do this sort of damage. Protection such as string or cotton threads, hanging bird scarers [eg old CDs] will help, or netting over the lot!

 

Hi Gem and Al.I should think that pigeons have noshed your cauliflower seedlings,mainly wood pigeons.Rabbits may have scratched out the carrot seedlings and with the rain the soil may have washed away any tracks.Not sure about the holes in the spinach leaves without a photo of a leaf.Try to net your greens if possible and out a barrier round your carrots at least 18" high to keep the dreaded carrot fly away from your carrots..Good Luck

 

Thanks guys. We suspected pigeons, there's also some mice running around up there! Think we'll go for the netting option. I'm sure we'll have a few more questions coming your way, we've got tomatoes, courgettes, lettuce, peppers, chillis and strawbs coming on too! Thought we'd start big!!

 

PS Is it too late for spring onions from seed?

 

I am still waiting for mine to come through and I sowed them weeks ago in a pot in the greenhouse.My husband raed on the packet that spring onions{White Lisbon}should be sown at the start of winter,but perhaps someone else on here can help you