A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 My first broccoli crop...

...RUINED by house finches!

I found them sitting on my broccoli plants eating the heads of every plant!

Now, John, put down that shotgun!
Ouch, I feel for you. Mine was starting to bolt when I picked it, it wasn't very good. It's frustrating how so many things can go wrong...

You may try something like Hot pepper spray.

I grew Habaneros last year just to make spray.

Do birds have taste buds???

I just got done planting mine :rolleyes:

Soooooo you are way ahead of me...

Did they get everyone???

I will keep this in mind when mine start to grow..
*maybe I'll find some tule to put over
it until they mature*

I've never grown them before...
I did cabbage and califlower too..

That stuff birds don't go after, do they?

Sorry for your crop damage...
I know how much that bites when you put sooooooo much work into something and something comes along/happens and there it goes...
***Do they make side broccolis????***

John, I'm sorry to hear this, hopefully they didn't get everyone of them.

Dude I know that feeling. 2 weeks ago my bean plants were doing so good then one morning ALL the leaves on the tops were gone. I found out that deer like those and they did`nt touch anything but that. Fortunately they have recovered and are now producing green beans

My biggest problem is some bug that comes every summer and makes ALL of my plants except the herbs look like lace, just full of holes.
Some holes are the size of a pea.
They go after the mints but not the other herbs.
Too bitter maybe.
From roses to veggies, it's all lace....
I don't know how to get rid of them, and since I don't see what kind of bug it is I can't treat for them.

Have you seen any little green catapillars???

JohnCt, bummer on the flowerettes, but the rest is still very good, all is not lost, they just ate the ' ears off your chocolate Easterbunny'.

The stalks should be growning side fruits already, mine have side bunches 3" across already, so keep watching for them, they tastye better and are more tender anyway.

Do you use anything for deterrants? owls, whirrlygigs.

No parasites or damage of anykind yet, the bird population around my garden is quite a sight, but now I'll be on the lookout for them getting at anything and everything.

Thanks guys. Yup, they got every one. All six heads just chewed apart. Friday evening I noticed it and couldn't understand what the heck happened. Sat morning I caught them in the act.

Woodchuck, you make a great point. I hadn't even thought of that. I was planning on just pulling the plants. Thanks. I am gonna pick up some bird netting and make a small hoophouse over the plants to keep them off. If I trim off the damaged heads, maybe I can still get some side shoots to come up.

Ya know, I go to great lengths to keep many nyjer seed sock-feeders filled at all times. I go through bags of sunflower seed a month! The little buggers have no respect I tell ya!!!

Hey JohnCt, You know that you can start another crop of broc's from seed now, and harvest in the fall.? So try sowing another row or flat and grow some more.

That's just what I did last week, and yesterday they germinated!! I am so excited, can't wait for the crop.


The pictures aren't great, but I am still thrilled!

I am so sorry john, I can only immagine the pain your in seeing your plants looking like that and seeing whats doing it.