[paintedlady]

Lime helps to control clubroot which is a slime mould that doesn't tolerate higher pH soil conditions.  Clubroot is devastating to all brassica crops and cannot be eradicated  so the lime not only helps but is also a preventative measure as well.  If soil conditions are on the acidic side, they make some nutrients unavailable to some crops (including legumes & parsnips)   Basically if you want to grow a range of different crops and for them to do well, you have to provide growing conditions that are suited to their needs, as some have evolved to grow in particular soils - in Britain alone, there are different types of soil, so what may do well in one area, may not do so well elsewhere 

[DD.]

I'm of the mind that things really want to grow and will, if given basic conditions 

But stand to fall flat on my face, also 

You come & try & grow your brassicas on my soil using your no fuss method & see how far that gets you!

You wouldn't thnk it that easy if you were blessed with club root!

[shaun]

I'm of the mind that things really want to grow and will, if given basic conditions 

But stand to fall flat on my face, also 

You come & try & grow your brassicas on my soil using your no fuss method & see how far that gets you!

You wouldn't thnk it that easy if you were blessed with club root!

and mine 
a good size root ball and dig out a decent size hole filling it with fresh compost before planting is my way 

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, be careful I W A A if you grew F 1 greens the seeds won't be true to type you might get something quite useless.

[MOLUSC]

The old boy of our plot swears by equal quantities of lime ,calcified seaweed and fish blood and bone mixed in a bucket and then sprinkled into the hole before planting.

[Paul Plots]

Protecting brassicas from flying pests.... presuming they are goiing to grow in the first place...

Advice please....

In the past the few that I have grown (PSB and a few cabbage / cauli) have been netted to keep pigeons and flutter-bys off.

Thought about enviro-mesh or butterfuly netting......can't decide which to go for this year.... trying to balance cost with effectiveness. 

[paintedlady]

Thought about enviro-mesh or butterfuly netting......can't decide which to go for this year.... trying to balance cost with effectiveness. 

The smaller the mesh, the better - the first time I grew brocolli & sprouts, I used netting specifically for butterflies & birds, but apparently the butterflies did not read the label and still managed to get inside the cage I'd rigged up (I watched in fascination as butterflies flittered around and then were inside    And no, there were no gaps!)  The other criteria you could add is the re-usability of the netting - so it may cost a bit more this year, but shouldn't cost anything next year 

[DD.]

In common with a lot of folk, I'm going for debris netting this year, having got fed up with ripping the other stuff. You cannot tear this & need something really sharp to cut it.

It a fair initial investment, about £30 for 2 m x 50m & £45 for 3m x 50m, off flea bay, but you get a lot for your money and lasts years without ripping, (this stuff is designed to stop falling bricks).

Here's some I used earlier, (not properly pegged down at this stage)......

[Trebor]

Protecting brassicas from flying pests.... presuming they are goiing to grow in the first place...

Advice please....

Thought about enviro-mesh or butterfuly netting......can't decide which to go for this year.... trying to balance cost with effectiveness. 

I use debris netting – it is quite fine and only a bit heavier than other netting. It is also economical in my view. I got a 2mx20m role for £12.65 from ‘http://www.tarpaflex.co.uk’.

[peapod]

Im in the debris netting fan club too
Mines draped over blue water pipe and then pegged down with tent pegs and stones.
A lotty chap on our site uses exactly the same method and his debris netting and piping has so far lasted 8 years with still no damage and he doesnt get his veg eaten

That sounds good to me!

[mumofstig]

It's the colour of the debris netting that puts me off
My veg plot is in my smallish garden which is across the path from the front door............so brightly coloured netting is a bit off putting. Still looking for something a bit less  in your face.... if you know what i mean

[senrab_nhoj]

It's the colour of the debris netting that puts me off
My veg plot is in my smallish garden which is across the path from the front door............so brightly coloured netting is a bit off putting. Still looking for something a bit in your face.... if you know what i mean

It does come in green

[mad mark]

I have grown some cracking spring cabbage over the winter and they are huge in black sacks and also in one walled area on top of tarmac. Just used the organic chicken poo pellets on them a couple of times and kept the birds and slugs off and they are huge.
Looking forward to eating them for the next few weeks, though the kids arent.

[strangerachael]

That debris netting looks like good stuff. I invested in a small amount of enviromesh last year and the rest had to make do with ordinary netting (holes about 1cm square) - stops the butterflies but my psb ended up covered in whitefly/aphids. If I have the same problem this year I might consider the debris netting.

[Paul Plots]

Thanks everyone - some brilliant advice and my mind (  ) now confidently made up... 

I saw the debris netting and was very unsure about trying this due mainly to reduced light.... but having seen the pics and read the comments - Great!

The link to the supplier was also very much appreciated, Trebor...