What's eating the onion leaves?

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by Drahcir, May 16, 2023.

  1. Drahcir

    Drahcir Gardener

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    An allotment problem. Onions from sets are being damaged; their leaves cropped. Various feathered and furry pests abound. Pictures:

    P1080487.JPG P1080488.JPG P1080489.JPG
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Never seen anything like that. :scratch:
    Rabbits?
     
  3. Drahcir

    Drahcir Gardener

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    It's very odd. Allotment wide. I have not been able to find any plots which are wholly protected (wire), so I can't tell whether or not wire stops whatever's doing it. Can't see footprints since these particular sets have been in for a while.
     
  4. Jay9408

    Jay9408 Gardener

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    Im having the same issue though i have chickens roaming my plot too i have some of mine netted and they are untoutched
     
  5. Drahcir

    Drahcir Gardener

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    Do your nets just go around, or above too?
     
  6. Jay9408

    Jay9408 Gardener

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    Above, i use mdpe pipe to make arches then put the netting over and peg down:

    20230516_142337.jpg
     
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    • Drahcir

      Drahcir Gardener

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      Ah. I suspect it's aerial attack.
       
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      • Jay9408

        Jay9408 Gardener

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        There are a lot of pigeons on my site
         
      • Drahcir

        Drahcir Gardener

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        Well. I've got 7 rows of Sturon and Setton ("improved Sturon") on the go. Removed the enviromesh which I'd had on to prevent attack. Next day one (!) onion had been clipped short. Literally one or two other leaves cropped, but no real problem. I think the plot is rabbit proof, so I'm going to say it's some wretched bird (guess: jackdaw).
         
      • NigelJ

        NigelJ Total Gardener

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        I normally blame pigeons for this sort of damage.
        Jackdaws are more omnivorous and also I like them.
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          Never had any problem apart from initial planting of sets when bird sometimes pull them up looking for insects. Do you get deer ? It looks like a bigger animal grazing to me.
           
        • Jay9408

          Jay9408 Gardener

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          Theres a large group of Jackdaws at my workplace, very nice birds, i also like them! Haha
           
        • Jay9408

          Jay9408 Gardener

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          I dont know about @Drahcir but my site isnt accessible to anything bigger than birds and rabbits, we also get the odd mink so my guess for the damage to my own onions is the pigeons that live around the site and the ones that live on site.
           
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