[JKJ]

hi, ive planted some cabbages, broccoli, swede and turnip and now ive found out they HAVE to be covered in nets.
does the mesh have to be a certain size? also, how long do they have to be covered for? all year?
i remember seeing some pictures about a week ago that someone posted. they had some hoop things with net over the top. i searched for that but i couldnt find it. could someone post a link to that discussion if its not too much bother.
thanks.

[Salmo]

To keep out butterflies the mesh must be no bigger than 7mm. Most of the netting on offer seems to be 10mm so look carefully at the packet before you buy.

[peterjf]

small enough to keep butterflies out

[Ice]

At the risk of being shot down in flames I beg to differ.  I have used 10mm net for a couple of years and find that cabbage whites can't get through.  If the plants leaves touch the netting they can land on it, poke their bums through and lay eggs that way.

[Nefertari]

I think I know the discussion you are referring to.  You get the blue water pipe to make the hoops and the debris netting via ebay.  the netting is very fine, lets plenty of light and air in but no nasties.

I already had the hoops and bought the netting 2 weeks ago on the strength of seeing the post on here of how good it looked.  Put my netting over last week and it survived those orrible high winds very well too.

[mumofstig]

Is this what you were looking for.....the pipe frame is a little way down

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=37155.0

[Ice]

Your tenner is in the PM system mumofstig.

[mumofstig]

  many thnx Ice it will buy the beer for the w/e

[DD.]

It's a virtual tenner, so you'll have to drink virtual beer.

[mumofstig]

It's a virtual tenner, so you'll have to drink virtual beer.

Oh no! don't like the taste of that one

[Kristen]

Not sure if it adds anything to the link above, but in case it helps there are some pictures of how I did blue-water-pipe and debris-netting Brassica protection on My Blog

[Oliver]

At the risk of being shot down in flames I beg to differ.  I have used 10mm net for a couple of years and find that cabbage whites can't get through.  If the plants leaves touch the netting they can land on it, poke their bums through and lay eggs that way.

I agree  - even with the very fine netting (enviromesh). (Enviromesh is very fine - 1mm - and acts as a sort of greenhouse as it keeps in a lot of heat, despite the holes but its easy to handle and lasts forever.)
Oliver

[rictic]

Hello
Try Wilko's (where else!) for your netting they have some very good black pond/multi purpose that is just right for what you need, I am using it myself.  Support it with canes, as it is non elastic it is very easy to place.

Keep the faith.

Rictic.