[Diddy Gardener]

I have a small veg patch in my garden - about 6 feet by 15 feet. In there I have strawberries, rhubarb, sprouts, onions and (will have) sweetcorn. I'm starting to think about protecting against birds etc.

Would it be detrimental to any of the plants to build a large fruit cage type thing and enclose the whole bed... I'm thinking about pollination problems if bees can't get in... ?

[mumofstig]

That's the trouble - you can net the whole bed with a netting that will keep the birds out, but you need a finer netting to keep the cabbage whites off the sprouts.
If you cover all with finer netting you won't get any strawberries 

[Diddy Gardener]

Hmm, thanks Lesley. Maybe if I build a cage that's tall enough to walk into, then cover the sprouts with a finer net... I'll have a think about it. 

[mumofstig]

I have the same problem 

I've covered my garden bed with bird netting on an old polytunnel frame, but will still have to put a bit of fine net over the winter cabbage - but at least that's lower growing than sprouts!

At the allotment I have less trouble with birds - I spose they have more food to choose from 

[JayG]

Of the things on your list I would suggest that only the strawberries and sprouts need protection, unless you have other beasties in your area (e.g. grey squirrels have been known to take sweetcorn cobs but they've left mine alone so far.)

You need to balance the cost, trouble and probably unsightliness of a cage against the potential pests you might have given your actual crops and location.