[JohnB47]

Our allotment shop sells FibreFleece (cheap) and Environmesh (a bit pricey). Does anyone know if Fibrefleece would be good enough to guard brassicas against cabage white butterflies?

Is Fibrefleece just a lighter version of Environmesh?

[prakash_mib]

fleece would be useful to protect plants from light frosts.
they let very less light and plants do struggle a bit if it is constantly under it.
Enviromesh is not needed for cabbage whites. they are for little critters like carrot fly etc.
5mm meshing net would do against cabbage whites.

[Doddy]

Enviromesh is not needed for cabbage whites. they are for little critters like carrot fly etc.

...but is perfectly suited to protect against most pests, if it is all that is available - just a bit of an overkill.

[DD.]

Enviromesh will last for years - and you can throw it in the washing machine!

[mumofstig]

I just wish it was as easy to fold up as debris netting 

[Rampant_Weasel]

rolling it is easier

[sunshineband]

Debris netting is a life form,  I believe 

[JohnB47]

Cheers all.

[Ropster]

yes as mentioned, both will do the job but enviromesh will last years and years but fleece may not last the season so in the long run enviromesh is cheeper.
But deberis netting is cheeper still and just as strong as enviromesh

[sunshineband]

The only downside of debris netting (apart from havigna life of it's own as said) is it's weight 

[hightide]

It is not only the cabbage whites you need to protect against (incidently I have not seen many of them about this year in this part of the world) its all the rest of the insects that munch, burrow and suck the life out of them.
           
I have noticed that 7mm insect net works best with brassicas, it keeps out the main pests pigeons and butterflies, but allows predators of other bugs to get through.
             
Fleece, enviromesh and debris netting keep out the good guys, ladybirds, hoverflies and even wasps who feed on aphids. Having had an infestation of whitefly on cauliflowers under debris netting and even on lettuce under enviromesh, it has forced a rethink on lifecycles and balances ... or maybe its just the Sloe Gin. 
             
If you are going to put your hand in your pocket and shell out for brassica protection I would plump for insect netting.
             
 

[DD.]

My best ever cauli were grown under enviromesh.

I had no fly, the mesh seem to provide a bit of shding for them that they need and also helped with essential moisture retention. You could tell the latter when to took it off to hoe the soil.

[plotman]

Enviromesh will last for years - and you can throw it in the washing machine!

  No you cant, not if wife is watching :o( Firstly you have no right touching an appliance and secondly putting something of yours in a machine without permission, phewww! Dont even go there :o/

[DD.]

Actually, it was Mrs Digger that put it in there. She didn't like the look of grubby enviromesh on her plot.