Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Lulu on August 29, 2008, 00:01

Title: netting for brassica's
Post by: Lulu on August 29, 2008, 00:01

Is there a special type of netting for brassica's (including sprouts) - I've got a swarm of cabbage butterfly caterpillars enjoying mine!!.  I'd rather they didn't and would like to prevent a reoccurence for next year.

thanks

Title: netting for brassica's
Post by: Swee'pea on August 29, 2008, 03:53

I went into wilkinsons ( sale on at mo) and bought some black netting meant for over ponds. It's brilliant for putting over brassicas etc ;) and it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb either hehe

Title: netting for brassica's
Post by: Aunt Sally on August 29, 2008, 08:39

That's what I use too.

It has to have mesh small enough that the butterflies don't squeeze through and the Wilco stuff is fine.  I think it has to be 7 x 7 mm mesh.

Title: netting for brassica's
Post by: crowndale on August 29, 2008, 08:40

The cabbage white is a bit like a cat, it can get through extremely small spaces!  I had netting last year, 5mm I think, and it got through that.  so I bit the bullet and bought some enviromesh and had none at all this ear.  of course the whole lot bolted because I left them in their pots too long and they got club root (in the ground already) so still haven't produced anything, but there's always next year, and there were no caterpillars!!

Title: netting for brassica's
Post by: corndolly on August 29, 2008, 09:39

We bought environmesh ,its not cheap but well worth every penny. Its got many uses , protecting from birds ,insects and rabbits ! Its a pain taking it off and on for weeding etc but there have to be compromises.

We've had some great cabbage and cauli this year.

Title: netting for brassica's
Post by: senrab_nhoj on August 29, 2008, 16:39

Quote from: "crowndale"

The cabbage white is a bit like a cat,

I'll not be asking you to go to the pet shop for me ;)

did you want to be a lion tamer by any chance (obscure Monty Python reference)

 :lol:

Title: netting for brassica's
Post by: GrannieAnnie on August 29, 2008, 17:07

I use the wilko black neeting too, but the cabbage whites are crafty!  I watched one last year, fly into the net, fold its wings and go straight through!  Perhaps it was a bonsai white!!!!   :lol:

Title: netting for brassica's
Post by: yummy on August 29, 2008, 17:17

There is a topic about it here:LINK (http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=22401)

I bought the recommended stuff from Ebay. I only put it over the brassicas last night so can't really comment, but it looks great and there were a swarm of admiring plot holders wanting to know where I got it from.