[Plot22]

I'm growing brassicas for the first time this year and have religiously put shop bought cabbage collars around them all but i'm not convinced how effective they are being. 
Firstly I was a bit heavy handed and broke off a couple of plants putting the collars on  

The other collars started off sitting flat on the ground but have since gone warped and mishapen and a few plants have died off and are showing no root system when pulled  (no sign of any beasties thought) 

I'm thinking of replacing the whole lot with something home made like plastic discs.   Has anyone else had a similar experience with these collars (Arthur Bowers??? I think)

[corynsboy]

Shop bought collars are a bit on the expensive side.  They do work but there are plenty of other household things that you might have lying around that will suffice.  Corrugated cardboard is particularly plentiful and useful.

Cut a narrow slot from the edge to the centre of two squares of cardboard.  It helps if you cut the two squares together like a sandwich as they have to work in tandem.

Line up the edge of the slot with the cabbage stem and slide one of the cardboard squares over the stem, then slide the other cardboard square from the opposite side.  So you have a nice neat square over the cabbage stem at ground level.

This method helps stop lifting but nothing is guaranteed especially if the cardboard gets very wet and then the weather is very windy. You can always pop a stone on top of the collar to stop it lifting.

There are always casualties with brassicas.  Plant more that you'll ever need and expect losses.  Give away your surplus to people like me who are spectacularly clumsy when it comes to planting and netting crops!

[sunshineband]

I got given some of these Arthur Bowyers ones as a present and you need to bend up the little cut triangular sections before putting them on or the stems are liable to snap off or be damaged. Thet are also quite rigid so you need to stettle them carefully onto the soil to stop them rising up crookedly.

Ours have been in place for about a month and seem fine 

My D has used circles of carpet successfully.

[peanut]

I just make my own from cornflakes packets - still waiting for my Blue Peter badge tho

[sunshineband]

I just make my own from cornflakes packets - still waiting for my Blue Peter badge tho

....and double sided sellotape too?