Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: mig55 on July 09, 2010, 21:56

Title: brassica netting
Post by: mig55 on July 09, 2010, 21:56

I followed advice on the forum and built a brassica cage with water pipe and debris netting in which are cauli cabbage sprouts,I have been told by a fellow allotmenteer that Ishould remove it as it is drawing the plants.any views out there as last year without protection all my brassicas were eaten.

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: Ice on July 09, 2010, 22:00

Pardon my ignorance but what does "drawing" mean?

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: rem858 on July 09, 2010, 22:07

me too ive never heard that expression either

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: birmancats on July 09, 2010, 22:18

Think he means your plants will get all tall and leggy trying to get the light.  What with that and the pigeons - there must have been 30 of them gathering on one roof alone at the lotty tonight - you can't win anyway.  Leave it on and see what happens.  Better leggy plants than pigeon eaten stubs. 

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: Muddylou on July 09, 2010, 22:20

I don't know what he's on about either. I've had some great Cabbages and Cauli's (without a hole in any leaf) purely because I keep debris netting on at all times other than quickly weeding.

Edit. And slug pellets.

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: Ice on July 09, 2010, 22:24

If I remember correctly debris netting cuts out 10% of the light.   Debris netting not only cuts out light, sometimes not a bad thing, but it also means pollinating insects can't get in either.  So for brassicas it should work well.

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: DD. on July 10, 2010, 05:55

Ignore him.

I grow all my brassicas under debris netting. Had the best crop of cauli ever last year & the sprouts seemed to be never ending.

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: Comfortably Numb on July 10, 2010, 06:34

I used debris netting for the first time last year and wouldn't grow brassica's any other way now. The little bit of shade that the netting gives seems to help the plants cope in the dry, hot summer.

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: DD. on July 10, 2010, 08:15

I think it also helps keep the moisture in.

Just hoed some caulis this morning that I haven't watered for 3 days and the ground is still damp.

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: sarah f on July 10, 2010, 08:56

im using old net curtains over mine may look odd to neighbours but its doing the trick

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: fatcat1955 on July 10, 2010, 09:07

Drawing means plants are not getting enough light and so grow tall and thin in an attempt to get more light. Bit like when you sow plants indoors and they get tall and yellow. Debris netting will not cause this problem due to the increased light levels outdoors. Shading a greenhouse will probably cut out more light than netting.

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: Kristen on July 11, 2010, 12:12

Quote from: Comfortably Numb on July 10, 2010, 06:34

I used debris netting for the first time last year and wouldn't grow brassica's any other way now. The little bit of shade that the netting gives seems to help the plants cope in the dry, hot summer.

Second that. I was really concerned [about the amount of shading] last year (first year with Debris netting). Fantastic veg, nothing eaten :) (well, except by US!)

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: mig55 on July 11, 2010, 20:32

Thanks for all your words of wisdom,will be leaving netting in place.   :)

Title: Re: brassica netting
Post by: Christo on July 11, 2010, 20:54

My brother tried cabbages this year for the first time and they have been decimated by pigeons. Torn to shreds! I'd stick with the netting.