[Tattyanne456]

I agree Hightide. I used debris netting last year on my brassicas. Left everything to its own devices only to find a huge infestation of aphids and mildew!

[strangerachael]

My psb was under enviromesh and has also suffered terribly from aphids and whitefly. There was so much black sooty mould on them that even after taking the mesh off the butterflies are steering well clear. Swings and roundabouts.

[Warwickshire Gardener]

I have serious issues with squishing caterpillars, snails or slugs.  But I have found that they have excellent aerobatic qualities when launched over the fence at the rear wall of next doors garage!  Armed with gloves and trowel they are sent flying... color=yellow][/color]

New to this website stuff.  New to gardening as well come to that.  Loving my first year but my question is how do I know when its time to say goodbye to the runner beans?  Is it a) when my freezer is full b) when my husband says he can't take any more or c) when I need the space to plant out my winter cabbage / cauliflowers? 

[Roll Roll]

I left mine under netting untill they got to about two and a half foot tall. I hadn't enough netting to keep them covered then so I was thinking they are tall and strong enough to look after themselfs
Mine are covered with caterpillars So this weekend the kids are on caterpiller picking duty.
They don't know it yet.
If the chickens had lips they would be licking them
Chickens here they come.

[mumofstig]

According to t'internet birds don't like the taste and won't eat them ...........unless the chickens haven't read about this yet, and still do eat them

[CaroM]

Crikey, that is evil.

I find it hard to kill....
 

[davethespread]

put a little salt in with a watering can full of water and watch the little * fall off.

[plum crumble]

I can see I am not the only evil one out there. Have decided to enslave grandchildren. "Hey, I know kids, let's see who can find the most caterpillars?? What a great game". ha ha

[gimli]

 :)brill post this one i was going to ask for help with the white fly and read this post lol
its cheered me up and made me laugh.
glad im not the only one up the allotments muttering at the brussels 
my first year growing them so i have been told by an old chap to strip all the leaves of but the very tops and feed well.
hope it works cos brussels are growing nicely.

[lovemyveg]

Not sure about the debris netting, okay for pigeons and cabbage whites, but I think the experts are right - 7mm netting!
I lost half a row of cauliflowers to aphids, the debris netting kept out the ladybirds and the hoverflies, the few ladybirds under the net just couldn't keep up.

Could you tell me what debris netting is.  I have garden netting (the usual green stuff) but have never heard of "debris" netting

[Yabba]

It's otherwise known as scaffolding netting and is the green stuff you see buildings draped in when they're being worked on

¥

[lovemyveg]

Thank you Yabba for your explanation, I know what this is now.  Is this a cheaper way of buying netting, rather than from a garden centre?

[Yabba]

I've no idea, I've never had to buy any, but guessing it's cheaper to buy from ebay/building suppliers than a garden centre

If you search the forums there's several posts/links for suppliers

¥

[plum crumble]

Hi lovemyveg, i got my debris netting from eBay and paid £17.99 for 20m x 3m. Seems alot to start with, but you will get a good few seasons out of it, and hopefully some lovely pigeon/caterpillar-free brassicas.

[lovemyveg]

Thanks Plum Crumble (yum I could eat that now with some custard).  I will have a look at ebay, I've just bought bubble wrap via them and that was a real bargain, so hopefully I shall get another.