Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Frugal Living => Topic started by: jennyb on May 11, 2007, 15:03

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: jennyb on May 11, 2007, 15:03

i've tried searching but i can't find the previous posts which say what kind of things to use for collars for my cabbages....

any suggestions on something i could recycle?

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: WG. on May 11, 2007, 15:05

I prefer weed suppressing fabric 'cos it is nice and soft.  Less stem damage.

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: milkman on May 11, 2007, 15:55

If you use sponge wipey things in the kitchen I think you could use them?

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: richyrich7 on May 12, 2007, 21:46

Roofing felt off cuts.

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: shaun on May 12, 2007, 21:47

carpet under lay

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: Sheena on May 13, 2007, 15:50

would they need a collar if your brassicas are under fleece as mine are?

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: shaun on May 13, 2007, 16:12

better to be safe than sorry sheena

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: Jeanieblue on May 14, 2007, 08:14

Being thick here, but why would the cabbages need collars?  To keep cabbage root fly away, suppress weeds, or in case they have an interview to go grow in someone else's allotment?  I was going to cut rings out of pop bottles - to keep slugs and snails away - but perhaps they would look a bit like dog collars. Seriously though, someone enlighten me .... pleeeeeease ..... cos I'm fond of my collards (yep, my first cabbage planting, of American 'mess of greens' fame).  

Jean

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: WG. on May 14, 2007, 08:17

Quote

or in case they have an interview

 :lol: To keep cabbage root fly away

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: Jeanieblue on May 14, 2007, 16:09

Thanks, David. I'm gathering that I need to put a flat piece of something round the greens, NOT a plastic tube made from cut up pop bottles. Sorry to be a pest - will have to check they've not put slug pellets out for ME on the forum !!!

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: jennyb on May 14, 2007, 16:21

found some craft foam i use for my greetings cards - think that would work?

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: agapanthus on May 14, 2007, 19:18

That sounds goos Jenny.....I use pond liner.

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: flowerlady on May 15, 2007, 14:39

Quote from: "Sheena"

would they need a collar if your brassicas are under fleece as mine are?

To be more explicit ... The collars fit around the stems of brassica plants to protect them from the cabbage root fly which lays its eggs on the stem where it meets the soil. When the collar is in place the fly cannot lay its eggs in the desired spot so it will go away and try somewhere else.   :D  :D  :D

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: Yorkie on March 27, 2008, 20:16

A few questions from someone who's never attempted any brassicas before (my red cabbage seeds arrived today, hurray!)...

I don't have any roofing felt or builders-type materials.  Would something like thick cardboard do for the collars - how long does the collar have to stay on / active for?

How tight round the stem does the collar have to be, does it have to be able to expand as the plant grows?

How big does each collar have to be, and do I simply cut a circle with a hole cut to the middle?

Ta muchly

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: compostqueen on March 27, 2008, 21:21

I made some out of that damp proof membrane that comes on the roll. Nicked it out my old man's tool shed  :twisted:   They're about 4 to 6" square and you sort of cut a Y shape in it so you can get it round the cabbage stem. The hole needn't be very big. See Organic Gardening Catalogue for a pic  :D (they're round ones)   I planted some with the collars and some without to see if it made any difference.  The ones with the collars did better

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: Rampant_Weasel on March 27, 2008, 23:54

will old lino do? i got a roll of it...

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: compostqueen on March 28, 2008, 12:19

it might be a bit rigid. Give it a whirl. Nowt ventured an all that  :D

Title: Carpet shop samples
Post by: eggsandgardens on June 02, 2008, 03:28

I went to my local carpet shop and they gave me one of their discontinued line carpet books.  I have cut them up into circles and they have done the job.

Title: cabbage root collars
Post by: jennyb on June 02, 2008, 07:07

my corrigated cardboard seems to have worked to.