[RS83]

Hi am new to the site so apologies if this has been covered
I have netting around my sprouting brocilli, cabbage and sprouts...how long should I leave this around them for, I have already had to extend it as they grew out of space
Is it necessary to keep it around them until harvesting or just until they are happy and established
Thank You

[DD.]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Personally, I have not option but to leave it on all season, otherwise the pigeons would strip the lot.

[Sal1610]

I've netted for the first time this year after losing pretty much all my small crop of brocoli to cabbage whites last year - despite picking off caterpillars and feeding them to the chickens! This year it seems to have cut down on them although some still get through - so I'm keeping it on for now.

DD, pigeons did for one batch of seedlings this year - I think there's a pigeon plague this year! Another couple of gardening friends say they're swamped with pigeons! Do you think there are more?

Sal

[Bozwell]

I am using scaffolders debris netting. It's got finer mesh than most and keeps all the bugs out. Had to unleash the sprouts mind they were getting to big for the nets.

[DD.]

I don't know about more pigeons, I've never bothered counting them since they did mine 8 years ago. One is one too many!

I'd never had a plot close to trees before, so I planted out my brassicas, strung some CD's up for good measure & went for lunch. Whilst I was havnig my lunch the pigeons had their's. Fortunately I'd got spare plants and since then it's been fortress DD..

I've also used debris netting this year and I think there's an additional bonus with the brassicas liking that little bit of shading it gives. I made allowances for the potential height of my brussels as I'm not sacrificing my sprout tops!

[MoreWhisky]

My brassicas are netted 100% of there time. 

To many things want to eat them before me.

If they grow out of the net what ever frame method you using enlarge it.

Thats what i do anyways  .

[peapod]

If I enlarged my sprout cage any more itd be bigger than the fence..its got four ft and thats all its getting