Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: alan/gill on June 23, 2015, 16:48

Title: cauliflower and white netting
Post by: alan/gill on June 23, 2015, 16:48
Im trying to get some good cauliflowers this year,ive noticed some people cover them with white net,is this useful and why ?  thankyou
Title: Re: cauliflower and white netting
Post by: cadalot on June 23, 2015, 16:54
Because of Cabbage White Butterfly that is the bane of allotment holders all over the British Isles. The larva of this species can reach pest proportions, and decimate cabbages to the point that they become mere skeletons of their former selves in days.

Hoops and netting of some kind is required so the eggs can not be laid. I use scaffolding Debris netting and blue water pipe to form the hoop cages. White netting may be enviro mesh which is very expensive.
Title: Re: cauliflower and white netting
Post by: AnneB on June 23, 2015, 23:03
I save enviromesh for carrots to prevent carrot root fly.  Debris netting is fine to protect brassicas against cabbage butterfly and pigeons.   If you can find a scaffolding firm, they often give it away as they are only allowed to use it so many times.  You might have to sew up the odd hole though.
Title: Re: cauliflower and white netting
Post by: Madame Cholet on June 24, 2015, 06:41
I use tulle (petticoat netting) its very fine and comes in 5' wide about £25 a roll
Title: Re: cauliflower and white netting
Post by: alan/gill on June 24, 2015, 07:33
thankyou to all of you