[viettaclark]

My 10 triffids have been very productive since November for greens and we've had 3 meals of purple sprouts recently, which were lovely. I went down today to harvest again and the netting had blown off in the strong wind yesterday and the pigeons had laid waste. 
I have learned alot this year about psb (first year I've tried it) but I was cross and frustrated so I yanked up all the plants, stripping them of anything edible left which will do a couple of meals for our big family.
Now, I'm regretting it because there were so many sproutlings coming and I don't need the bed for a while....
Although you must watch where you plant it because they grow so high, they have a long growing season and the caterpillars and birds adore them I WILL be growing it again next year because it tasted soooo good.
More sturdy netting methinks........

[Kristen]

I took my netting off when we had heavy snow and didn't put it back on again soon enough

[kermit]

Mine were looking really healthy and big, just about to start sprouting florets... until the 1.5 feet of snow in January    Totally collapsed and rotted under the snow.  So peeved as I spend many a day dutifully squishing the MILLIONS of 'pillars during summer and autumn.  Still think I'll give them a whirl next year though - a real treat having PSB in the 'dead months'.

Incidentally, I didnt net mine at-all and no bird damage.  they are just in our garden but we do have pigeons etc around.  Scottish pigeons, true to form, must prefer their PSB deep fried 

[Terrier]

The Scottish pidgeons must have all flown south to North Wales last year as just about everything that looked like a green shoot was nibbled away to ground level. At first I thought it was slugs but things started to grow after I barricaded my seedlings from the birds
Is PSB hard to get going??? I've started seed off in pots for the last 3 years, it grows about 3 inches then dies off. When does everyone start their seed off and how???

[noshed]

The pidgeons managed to shimmy under my netting. Fortunately there's still psb left.
I never find it that hard to grow - just sow anywhere and transplant into the final bed - you only need 3 or 4 plants really.

[Elcie]

Mine is unnetted for the second year in a row and has been fine.  My biggest problem is that I keep planting too close together.  I must remember that my seedlings will grow a lot bigger and space them out better next year!

[LivvyW]

Deepest sympathies to all those who lost their psb. I have loving nurtured mine since about this time last year.

I find them easy to get going, but often don't plant out at the right time, keep them in the pots too long. This year i have a bed ready for them already. Netted them last year with debris net, very successfully, and had minimal 'pillar damage as a result.

Had the nets off since begining of winter, because they got a bit tall for the set up i had but thankfully no pidgeons around here.

Snow took its toll on the smaller specimans that were planted a bit later (waiting for space) but about 7 big fellas are looking good.

Shoots only just forming, and i can't wait. Gave them a good earth up with garden compost a couple of weeks ago, and i'm expecting a delicious sweet bounty any week now.


My PSB lessons are:
1. Keep them moving into bigger pots or free up bed space to get them in situ from about April.
2a. Firm ground before planting
2. Give them 3ft spacing.
3. Construct a 5ft high frame and keep covered with debris net.
4a. Stake them end of autumn.
4. Keep them netted during snow and get out to clear any snow buildup.
5. Pick, steam, butter......OMG can't wait!!!
6. Follow on with sweetcorn, squash and pumpkin so i'm not in any hurry for the ground space.

They are so worth the wait!!!!!

[Aidy]

I have never netted them and thus far never had a problem, the only thing I do in Autumn is staking them, due to Fylde coast winds can get a bit blowey. PSB for me is the highlite of spring, something to look forward and well worth the wait.

[LivvyW]

So Aidy,

Is it the mohawk that scares the cabbage white away? My PSB would have been decimated with catapillars if it hadn't been netted.

[DD.]

And mine the pigeons, you can see where they've managed to reach through.

No net = no crop.

[Aidy]

There must be some voodoo on them. The only problem I have to contend with is clubroot, but once the cold sets in its less of a problem. To be honest we dont really have that many flying rats, it mainly flying sea rats round our parts and they have not got the taste for psb.