Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: vineweevil1 on April 17, 2009, 11:32
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I am putting all my brassica's together on the plot. I think I will probably have 3 rows of summer, autumn, romanesco and cabbage. Rows 5m long. I find netting a pain in the preverbial to take off for weeding (the shoddy way we threw it over last year) so I want to do something easier to take off and more substantial for the brassica's I know will be in the ground for a wee while.
Options either hubby building a cage type thing about 3 foot high with wooden batons (83p for 8ft baton) screwed together - uprights and cross beams with netting thrown over. Or the same type of cage but made with build a ball things and canes.
Anyone any experience with the ball things, will those and canes do the job on our windy site?
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This is how I build my cage; firstly I cover the planting area with weed controle fabric (quite cheap from Wilkinsons) cut holes and put plants in, this saves alot of work and I don't have to touch the netting until harvest. I use the foam toggles that are used by children as a swimming aid, they come in 1 meter lenghts, I cut these into 2" peices and make cuts in the sides to push the canes into. Once netted up and pegged down they hold well until harvest time.
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genius! I do like the sound of not having to weed!! What about feeding brassica's that have weed control fabric, do they need feed, what sort do you use?
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This is mine last year. I used bamboo canes and play balls from Tesco. It's still in use now.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u190/Dee56_photos/deesworkplacement101.jpg)
These are my new ones, still under construction. Last years is in the background. Version two, with the water pipe is a little easier to get the net off.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u190/Dee56_photos/001-11.jpg)
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just a word about netting. Make sure it's taut ! Loose and badly fitting netting is death to birds so take care, please
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This is mine last year. I used bamboo canes and play balls from Tesco. It's still in use now.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u190/Dee56_photos/deesworkplacement101.jpg)
What size mesh is that Ice? And would it be OK for my pea's too, or is the pea moth smaller? I need to get some this weekend, and get my building head on!!
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These are my new ones, still under construction. Last years is in the background. Version two, with the water pipe is a little easier to get the net off.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u190/Dee56_photos/001-11.jpg)
Hi Ice,
That's exactly what I'm looking to do in my garden. Could you let me know exactly what pipe you have used there, and how long it is?
Also, how is it anchored into the ground?
Thanks
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"Could you let me know exactly what pipe you have used there,"
Underground mains water pipe (MDFE MDPE I think its called)
I asked a similar question the other day and folk recommended using the Black mains water pipe instead, as it has some UV resistance.
EDIT: Added pictures of mine :)
Materials you will need :)
(http://kgarden.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/img_4585_brassicanetting.jpg?w=800&h=432)
Hoops cut to match the width of the Debris netting (less the amount of skirt to leave)
(http://kgarden.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/img_4586_brassicanetting.jpg?w=469&h=800)
Short canes stuck in, and then pipe pushed onto them - stops them splaying outwards)
(http://kgarden.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/img_4589_brassicanetting.jpg?w=453&h=800)
Place the debris netting over the hoops
(http://kgarden.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/img_4590_brassicanetting.jpg?w=682&h=800)
Plant up :) and anchor down
(http://kgarden.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/img_4595_brassicanetting.jpg?w=800&h=698)
Then feed the slave labourer :D
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I've got some of those ball things & they are useless. I used them with bamboo canes slotted into them & unless they are a very close fit, the slightest breeze makes them fall out. I now use them as weights attached to my greenhouse shading so that I can attach it to the outside of the roof & adjust it easily when it's dull weather. Sounds daft , but it works for me.
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genius! I do like the sound of not having to weed!! What about feeding brassica's that have weed control fabric, do they need feed, what sort do you use?
I give a dressing of blood, fish and bone before i plant, then a high nitrogen liquid feed when the plants start to head up.
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The mesh is 10mm from homebase and I didn't have any problem with the cabbage whites last year.
The tubing is just water pipe. Mine happens to be 20mm but that's because it was free. I have a resistance to paying for things. The frames are now finished and a lot more solid. I'll post a piccie as I can't describe them. ::)
Can't say I've ever had a problem with my balls falling off ;) :lol:
edit - in a later post Ice says she's changed to 7mm netting for her brassicas.
Butterflies can fold their wings and get inside the 10mm mesh
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I'm rather proud of myself for making these. Guaranteed hurricane proof. :D The hoops are about four feet high and bolted to the top batten then just pushed into the soil. Just measured the hoops and they are three metres long.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u190/Dee56_photos/nets001.jpg)
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Can't say I've ever had a problem with my balls falling off
:lol: :lol: :lol: :nowink:
Great job Ice...........that's my next project and now i can see exactly how to do it
Thnx
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i use that pipe and it's good, even better if free. otherwise it's a pliable length of wood that's bendable for me.
also, i've scattered slug pellets under my weed control fabric to clobber the slugs.
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this is one of my efforts....altho it is strong it is quite heavy and works out a little expensive wood wise.
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/r.griffin100/pics/IMG_2609%20(Medium).JPG)
for my next cage i will be building one very similar to ices hurricane proof jobs.
i agree that netting thrown over and weighted down is a pain to put off and on and doesnt look brilliant.i also think that those harrod build a ball things are gimmicky dodo and as ice has proved u can make a solid practical cage with a bit of patience and not much outlay
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The good thing about smooth plastic pipe is that netting doesn't get snagged like it does on wood. Nice job RW. ;)
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or this
(http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt210/Digindeep_photos/DSCI0329.jpg)
(http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt210/Digindeep_photos/DSCI0337.jpg)
or you could use canes
(http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt210/Digindeep_photos/DSCI0380.jpg)
whatever you have at hand use and protect your crops....
You know it makes sense ;) ;)
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i used canes and old hose too.
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Brilliant ideas/designs, thanks all for sharing them :)
Ice, you've done a fantastic job there - as I've also got some water pipe I'm going to copy your design for my cages/mini polytunnels (hope you don't mind :tongue2:)
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Brilliant ideas/designs, thanks all for sharing them :)
Ice, you've done a fantastic job there - as I've also got some water pipe I'm going to copy your design for my cages/mini polytunnels (hope you don't mind :tongue2:)
Of course I don't mind. I learned most of what I know by asking questions on here. Well that and a fascination with power tools. :lol: As PAH said, just work with what you have/ can scrounge.
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I'm planning to put up some cages this year too so thanks for asking the question and thanks too to Ice for the measurements of the blue water pipe. It's saved me guessing and getting them a bit short.
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use an old gazebo frame or even a old frame tent frame,buy a big enough net to cover it,then there is no need to keep removing the net for weeding etc etc etc ;)
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Hi All,
I'm going to be making a Brassica cage for brussels, caulis etc and am not sure how high it needs to be.
Anyone give me some guidance please.?
Thanks
Steve
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Look here http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=34665.msg415344#msg415344 (http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=34665.msg415344#msg415344) for some ideas :)
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Steve
If you follow the link to the posting by Lacewing, the swimming aids mentioned are on sale from Sunday at Aldi, they call them swimming noodles and they are 1.6 metres long £1-99 each.
I shall be off to get some myself.
Don
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use an old gazebo frame or even a old frame tent frame,buy a big enough net to cover it,then there is no need to keep removing the net for weeding etc etc etc ;)
Thank you for sharing your idea. We've got an old frame tent in the shed which can now be put to good use. Hopefully it will be simpler to assemble than it was in its previous life! :)
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If you know anyone who goes shooting, used shotgun cartridges can be substituted for the plastic balls. They fit nicely over the cane ends, and 12 bore ones are slightly bigger than the mesh.
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An opportunity to show off my OH's talents. Made with salvaged wood and salvaged debris net, the cross bars make it easy for access, its pegged down with 'tent' pegs made from wire coat hangers.
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sorry to ressurect this old thread BUT this is a cautionary tale
I built a frame like PAH48 out of wooden battens and covered with netting like Ice....it was 10mm mesh and yes............you guessed it....I saw small cabbage whites flying about underneath it >:( So have spent the afternoon squishing :ohmy:
I have now covered most of the bed with some enviro mesh, but the piece wasn't big enough to cover all of them :(
Really must organise some debris netting ;)
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but what about your netting? where do you guys get net wide enough and long enough to go over tall hoops over your Brussels? And what is the size hole in the netting required to keep the flutterbies off?
TIA
Ian
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Have a Google for 3m wide debris netting.
Chances are you'll find the cheapest on Flea Bay.
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Leslie,
I have to say that debris net is the only way to go. I had to 'sew' two lengths together so it covered the frame.
The only hassle with my cage is that is it so perfectly secure against the b'fly, it's a bit of a job to lift it for weeding and more importantly harvesting. I've let a few brocolli flower. :ohmy:
So far so good though, and every time i see a thread "How can i get rid of these cabbage whites" or " My brassicas have been decimated by catipillars" I think to myself...it's all worthwhile.
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I've used Ices idea of the cage structure with the balls on top of canes...It's worked a treat... :D In fact the seasoned veg growing chap who has his plot next to mine asked me Friday what I had done, he was really impressed and is going to do it himself next year :ohmy:
He even admitted it hurt him that my cage was better than anything he'd thought of ( me being a woman) Yes really ::).....I did tell him it was an idea i'd got from here though.. :lol:
I've been trying to find the netting I used, I bought it off ebay .No problem with cabbage whites...so far anyway!
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Chiswickian - netting needs holes of 7mm or less to keep out butterflies.
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Some great idea's which will save me money. I was all set to build some mega cage which would keep everything out but be a pain to move with rotation in mind however now a few idea's which are quick, simple, cheap and easy to move.
With regards Brussels how tall are they likely to get?
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It depends on the variety, it should say on the packet.
With a bit of overhead clearance, you may need a height of around 4'.