[JayG]

what did people do before enviromesh, probably it was more of a pain ?

Many amateur growers happily sprayed or puffed all manner of chemicals at the first signs of trouble, nearly all of which are now banned, and some of which had names which sounded a bit scary even at the time (Gamma-BHC sounds like something which could cause your brassicas to glow in the dark!)

I don't grow brassicas (space and wrong soil) but I do enviromesh my carrots, and I agree it's quite awkward stuff to really secure properly at the edges, although I wouldn't have thought it needed to be quite as "bug-tight" for brassicas (carrot flies can just walk in and are much smaller than cabbage whites!)

[snowdrops]

This year I used debris netting for the brassica's & it worked really well, I also did a mini lasagne style bed, I put a few layers of newspapers down,then a thin layer of home made compost on top & then a layer of that thin weed membrane,not the woven plastic one, then cut crosses where I planted the brassica plants,then sticks/canes with my patented ball toppers & then the netting. A bit long winded to set up but I feel well worth the effort as I haven't had to weed & no caterpillars. I'm hoping to save the membrane & re use it for the brassica's again.

[shokkyy]

Interesting Shokkyy - I have a feeling I'd get a bit peed off with it, is there an alternative though - what did people do before enviromesh, probably it was more of a pain ?

Roger

Actually, last year I didn't net my brassicas at all. I have a fence around the bed and I grew climbing nasturtiums up the fence all the way around. I didn't get a single caterpillar on my brassicas. Maybe that was just luck or maybe it really is that effective as a companion plant, I don't know.

The only reason I went to netting this year was because the nasturtiums made a bid for world domination, dropped a couple of thousand seeds all over the bed and I'm even now constantly pulling them up, which made me wary of ever encouraging it again. I always allow a few nasturtiums somewhere in the garden, and I drop any caterpillars I find on them rather than killing them. Wouldn't be much of a garden in summer without butterflies in it

[sunshineband]

Had to chuckle at your description of nasturtiums going for world dominance 

I know just what you mean 

[mumofstig]

I don't mind butterflies in the garden - they're pretty  

I just don't want them eating my cabbages, thank you very much   so netting for me.
It's not that much of a hardship to raise the netting occasionally to weed and feed, if it means I get to eat them rather than the 'pillars  

[Plot74]

I save used drinks bottles on top of canes to hold the netting up and tent pegs around the bottom .
Easy to work for weeding or cropping. Just make sure you have enough hight for sprouts as they grow tall.
John

[shokkyy]

I don't mind butterflies in the garden - they're pretty  

I just don't want them eating my cabbages, thank you very much   so netting for me.

No, I didn't mean it that way. I just meant that's why I have a few nasturtiums in the garden, because it gives me somewhere I can put the caterpillars instead of killing them, but without going anywhere near my veggies.

[sunshineband]

and pickled green nasturtium seed pods are delicious, rather like hot capers 

[snowdrops]

I forgot to say the debris netting has small slits along the edges which is ideal for tent pegs to secure at the base.

[rogertb]

Another thought chaps ... is the mesh needed throughout the growth of the plant or can it be removed when it's 'established' (I'm guessing not as 'plot 74 mentioned leaving enough room for brussels to grow).

Roger

[mumofstig]

It stays on until there are no cabbage white butterflies, or all year round if you have pigeons !

[DD.]

Too right!

[rogertb]

Interesting, so does a poly tunnel solve the problem (forgive my amateur questions but the advice I've had here has been so useful).

Roger

[mumofstig]

A polytunnel would be much too warm for brassicas in summer.

[rogertb]

Ahhh of course ... silly me ... enviromesh it is then ...