[wyandotty]

Can somebody tell me how these work.  I have just bought a packet from local garden centre but I have a problem.  I can see the split and the little hole in the middle "X" shaped but my problem is that I bought them to put around the purple sprouting broccoli and because they are planted right down to their first leaves I will have several stems to put into the collar and I don't think they will fit.

Am I just being thick or are they only for single stems?

[Robin Redbreast]

no such  thing as a thick question but i would assume they are meant for single stems!

[peapod]

they are only for one plant...you need to thin out your psb before you apply the collars or they will soon get decapitated!

[Salmo]

Fit them round the base the best you can. Maybe you will have to scrape a bit of earth away to make them fit properly. Alternatively cut a slightly bigger hole.

[wyandotty]

All my broccoli are planted out singly but I was afraid that the hole wasn't big enough to go around the stem as well as the leaves as am I right in planting them right up to the first leaves?  If this is correct I have to get two leaf stems as well as the main stem inside a very small hole, would cardboard be better?

[peapod]

ah I see what you mean now! (d'oh me)
Cardboard would do it yes

[CARROTTCRUNCHER]

Hi All would any of you have any pics of these home made collers many thnks CC.

[Bombers]

Hi All would any of you have any pics of these home made collers many thnks CC.

Her you go CC .. it's the best pic I have. (I used a saucer to mark the cardboard out with.)

[Paul Plots]

I've grown PSB for the last few years without using collars... also grown cauliflower and cabbage. All seemed fine - quite good crops. 

Now for the "thick" question... 

Why use collars on the cabbage family? Flies, beetles or some other rotten little flying bug?

My reason for asking this year is I hope to grown more cabbage / brassicas so thought (for once) I ought to be doing it the right way!! 

 

[Yorkie]

This thread explains a bit more about the cabbage root fly, which is the reason for cabbage collars

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=35076.0

[Paul Plots]

This thread explains a bit more about the cabbage root fly, which is the reason for cabbage collars

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=35076.0

Now that sounds familiar...... cabbage root fly... Why don't I listen to my dad more often!!

Thanks for the link - appreciated! 

Just read the info..... collars for my brassicas from now on - thank you!