Unknown Garlic Predator

[Paul Davis]

Hello everyone.
Charles, I have a question about what could be happening with my garlic crop. I planted in November and all is/was going well. Unfortunately, when i checked them yesterday, something has been digging/moving the compost from the roots/bulbs on the outside row of the bed. The other 2 rows are untouched. The actual bulbs are untouched, although 3 or 4 of them were visible. Should i maybe net them?
Thanks, Paul

[charles]

I had this by badgers, looking for worms I think, that live around allium roots. Quite big digging if it is badger. I thought about netting but its a pfaff and left them, luckily badger went elsewhere for now.

[Paul Davis]

Thanks. That probably explains it then. The digging is quite big. I do wonder how they got in though because the beds have wire fencing round them. I shall keep a vigilant eye on it.

[ctemplar]

Could it be blackbirds? They are trashing my beds :-/

[charles]

templar you could be right, they do chip away at bed edges, hard to be sure without seeing it, and one would see the birds, though it sounds like Paul is not often there.

[Paul Davis]

After observing the beds for a few days i have come to the conclusion that it is indeed blackbirds that have been messing with the beds. I have not actually caught one in action but they do hang about by the beds. The garlic bed has only been touched twice but my other bed that is nearby has had the one side messed with. Now to find a bird deterrent!!

[Leif]

I had to net my beds after blackbirds started uprooting my seedlings in their pursuit of worms. They are cute but annoying.

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