[Becci W]

Hi all, have managed to nurture my brassicas and they are now ready to plant out but I can't afford to buy nets for them all. I have 10 kale plants, 5 cabbage, 5 cauliflower and 5 purple sprouting broccoli. Any ideas how I can protect them whilst not breaking the bank?

[RichardA]

my experience is kale least likely to get butterfly eggs on it, cabbage most likely. Cheap protection -- lay old net curtains over or scrap onion sacks or try building sites for thrown away debris netting used by scaffolders (but ask permission before taking). Otherwise keep good eye on them and pick of eggs and caterpillers if arise.
R

[sunshineband]

Old net curtains are good, as Richard said

-- and squashing any eggs you see will mean no caterpillars at all 

[DD.]

Squishing caterpillars is fine, catching pigeons and squishing them is harder. It may need more than "keeping a good eye on them".

[Coop-a-Cabana]

Good question Becca I was wondering the same thing as I bought some cauliflower, cabbage and PSB today from garden centre and i was also wondering when does the cabbage white butterfly stop laying its eggs and being public enemy number one.

As for the pigeons the ones we have round here must be really dim as i have two that land on the roof of my tunnel and drink out of the guttering every day but never give my brassicas a second glance

[sunshineband]

  This is true DD... it is quite hard to squish a pigeon I reckon  

So....  best to get some sort of net. Back to those old curtains or scanning builders' skip contents  

PS never under rate a pigeons' appetite when the weather turns colder 

[mumofstig]

PS never under rate a pigeons' appetite when the weather turns colder   
 

or the weight of one when it lands on the netting 

[sunshineband]

PS never under rate a pigeons' appetite when the weather turns colder   
 

or the weight of one when it lands on the netting 

Supporting netting above the leaves via canes with old plastic bottles on is one idea here, with bricks around the edges to keep out any lurking p's or butterflies 

Never easy is it?

[Becci W]

Thanks for the tips! Will have to get skip raiding (with the owners permission)! Just one more question about the cauli's! Last year I managed to grow a few under some anti bird netting but the middles all went horrible, think something might have munched them! What can I do to stop this this year?