[Donnay]

Hi folks

I have sprouts ready to be planted out, but I have read they should not be planted out until the risk of frost has passed. In Cheshire that could be a couple of weeks yet!

Can anyone tell me when is best time to plant them out and if it's now and we get frost would fleece be ok to cover them?

[DD.]

I don't know who told you that!

Sprouts are tough and can stand all winter.

If the plants are big enough, put them out.

[Donnay]

Thanks, I think so many people have different opinions and when you are new to it, like me, you listen to anyone and just become so confused.

This week they are going in.x

[ratherangelic]

How big do you think they need to be DD???

[DD.]

My brassicas go out when they're about 6" tall, having been brought on in individual 3" pots.

[ratherangelic]

ok thanks 

[Benandbill]

I have loads ready to go out but I can't get hold of enough netting to cover them yet.  I made the mistake of not covering them last year and pigeons ate the lot! 

[Donnay]

I have brought some vegi mesh so hopefully it will do the job!

[Benandbill]

Donnay where dd you get your vegi mesh?  I've been using the green stuff you get in  pound shops, it isn't great though as protection against butterflies as if they fold their wings they can still squeeze in through the holes...  Do you get yours on line?

[sunshineband]

Just remember how tall sprout plants grow  :blink:

I use debris netting to cover mine -- keeps out butterflies and pigeons, but not of course white fly

[Donnay]

I have built a 4ft high cage and brought my vegi mesh from garden naturally on-line. It's the chepest I could find, some pople I know use nets you put up at windows and they say it works fine!

[Benandbill]

Thanks Donnay and sunshineband, will give one of those a go methinks! 

[Bing]

If I plant them among other plants such as runner bean French bean and cabbages, do I need to net don in paticular during the growing season? Or the netting is only needed when everything else is died off in Sep/Oct and the whole winter time when birds had nothing else to eat.

[DD.]

If your pigeons are anything like mine, you need to net them all the time. They are particularly partial to young plants. Cabbages likewise.