What to plant

I’ve made 4 raised beds in my garden, in the one closest to the loft I wanted to plant some things that the pigeons liked to peck at, and what’s good for them.

I’ve already had a hen harvest all my lettuce, radish and beetroot seedlings, I went into the loft after work and found a hen with 2 big clay boots on and clay stuck to her beak, I’m no Sherlock Holmes, but I think I found the culprit.

Water cress, cheap seeds, quick growing and birds love it

Used to have four squares of a rockery with heather. Joyce not happy. So - obeying dutifully, I replaced with matching slabs.

A 3 foot square board then took over. Great and mineral - especially good for youngster picking and pecking around getting contented. Again when first out and keeping close the safety of the loft.

Also would bring in a couple of mole hills. Spread it on to the board, for a couple of days. Then next week replace. Never bothered with grit of minerals. Especially in the loft. Found later just scattering on the slabs was brill.

Can remember viola tricolor being popular at one time, forgot what is was supposed to do but know pigeons liked it and the flowers were very pretty, could serve two purposes.

Regards.

MISTY wrote:

Can remember viola tricolor  being popular at one time, forgot what is was supposed to do but know pigeons liked it and the flowers were very pretty, could serve two purposes.

Regards.

That was an old Bilco thing etc Misty Boil them up, add sugar for what I remember & you then have a health tonic as such. Now if Boosey birds were climber types I would suggest planting a lemon tree there, maybe & under it, I would plant Aloe Vera plants but only if thinking in a long term nature I'm   as it requires 3/4 years before the benefits flow as such .

The viola tricolor Knackered was planted for the pigeons to eat, and they did as I remember and with relish.

Think I tried it in the garden once, a waste of time, gone before it could grow properly.

Aloe Vera a more robust plant used for several purposes ( did not know, looked it up)

But any plant that makes the garden look better and has an added advantage is worth while,

Lemon tree at our age a bitter pill to swallow.

Keep well Knackered.

Regards.

oregano ,mint,garlic

Had a brain wave back in 84, when starting up etc. Mint. Nice smell... true Think heard flies won't land on it etc. etc. So grew it on front of loft - like an Ivy lol. Every thing was on it lol. Could get it off quick enough …. but did smell good lol

Dazzel wrote:

Had a brain wave back in 84, when starting up etc. Mint. Nice smell... true Think heard flies won't land on it etc. etc. So grew it on front of loft - like an Ivy lol. Every thing was on it lol. Could get it off quick enough …. but did smell good lol

Gardening is about all having brain wave type moments I feel Daz at times. One never quite knows, if what one plants will be a success or a failure etc. Nettles & Elderberry bushes were my greatest failures here I'm   but I at least tried to grow them, so just scrapped through with a pass rate for trying type of thing     .

I can't have jam. Never liked it any way. But was, and still is a good item of preservatives in many a cupboard.
Was a time, when sugar prices allowed, that if one hadn't picked 'Autumn's bounty' and had 30lb of jam or more, it could be a harsh winter and coming year.

However I make / made many jars. Gave most - well nigh all - away. Only part that peeved me was/is getting the jars back.

Now when I took what was left juice wise, I put in bottles. Kids and family loved it. Full of all the goodness. Like wise I froze enough for the year to put a cube in the drinkers. I was / am a great believer in leaving drinkers over night to take the chlorine out. The cubes worked a treat. A little shake or stir and put before the pigeons. I believe that this was / is a great way of suppling the Vitamins etc.

Jam was certainly the order of the day when I was young.

Bread and jam made many a meal for many, and would keep forever if unopened.

Nearly as good on toast as dripping.

My gran made many different jams and preserves as did many at that time.

Tasted better than the present day examples, some tasteless.

Regards.

get them stinging nettles planted steve seriously ,you could do alot worse so why not have a weed garden of nettles and dandelion and errrrrrm maybe some of hals special nettles in the mix

If you decide to take up the nettle etc; way boosey, just let me know, I have every weed, known and unknown in the garden, doing very well at the moment, you are most welcome to, free of charge.

Regards.

MISTY wrote:

If you decide to take up the nettle etc; way boosey, just let me know, I have every weed, known and unknown in the garden, doing very well at the moment, you are most welcome to, free of charge.

Regards.

Must have Viola Tricolor (heartsease plant) there maybe Misty Now the brew as such heat one pint of water, take one desert spoon of Viola Tricolor in a linen bag & let rest like a normal tea, then add 1 pound of sugar & reheat till it all turns into a syrup type mixture. Let stand for a few weeks & then scrap the scum off that may form on the top. 1 desert spoon to a normal drinker every day of the year. Birds will be with glee etc & for those owners that may like the odd drop of sherry or port, just add the same as it will help with your heart & respiratory issues you may just have . Now           don't think I'm smart here     as it all comes from one of those Old Hand books that were the flavour of the month many years ago etc.

Yep. remember Old Hand remedies etc; Knackered.

But I know the pigeons loved eating the flowers themselves.

White tablets for going light I was never without, never had to use them much but they did work.

The sport has gone progressively from natural to commercial to the detriment of all concerned other than the commercial boys.

Regards.

MISTY wrote:

Yep. remember Old Hand remedies etc; Knackered.

But I know  the  pigeons loved eating the flowers themselves.

White tablets for going light I was never without, never had to use them much but they did work.

The sport has gone progressively from natural to commercial to the detriment of all concerned other than the commercial boys.

Regards.

Interesting period Misty Back then compared to how things are done today etc. Some good, some bad advise offered, but certainly a different time zone/period for pigeons, with all things considered now I suggest.

Dazzel wrote:

Had a brain wave back in 84, when starting up etc. Mint. Nice smell... true Think heard flies won't land on it etc. etc. So grew it on front of loft - like an Ivy lol. Every thing was on it lol. Could get it off quick enough …. but did smell good lol

Reminds me of a thing I grow here Daz called Feverfew etc can be used for the birds, but I just like seeing the daisy type flowers grow now each year.

My Dad always had viola tricola all over the garden for the pigeons to peck at.
There was a little old man must have been in he’s 90s we always saw him peddling up a really steep hill on he’s bike when we visited my Nan our in the sticks, and my dad said he drank viola tricolour tea every day.
He reckoned it made your heart bigger and stronger.
I dong know if there’s any truth to it, but one things for sure, I couldn’t peddle up that hill now, let alone when I’m 90+.

Boosey wrote:

My Dad always had viola tricola all over the garden for the pigeons to peck at.
There was a little old man must have been in he’s 90s we always saw him peddling up a really steep hill on he’s bike when we visited my Nan our in the sticks, and my dad said he drank viola tricolour tea every day.
He reckoned it made your heart bigger and stronger.
I dong know if there’s any truth to it, but one things for sure, I couldn’t peddle up that hill now, let alone when I’m 90+.

I know that feeling etc Boosey just went down my mountain here & hung the washing. Knackered, completely by the time I got back up to my back door as such . & take care.

Hi Boosey, your dad was obviously of the old school who were more with nature than those of today who use more synthetic artificial aids to win. ( most useless or there would not be so many).

If you decide on Viola Tricolo you would have to have plenty growing at the same time because they do gobble it up.

You could cover the area over until the plants were well established because otherwise they are eaten as they come through the soil.

As you know the flowers are very pretty which would add a bit of colour.

Anyway the best of luck.

Like Hal I never knew what the pigeons ate on open loft they probably ate to offset my bad management, anyway it worked for me never any health problems.

Regards.