[Tommy54321]

Hi
I have had my broccoli covered by a protecter net, it is now getting a little big for it, my question is should  i remove it and hope that nothing will attack it. I had it on there as the first batch i sowed as something was eating it before it really took off. It has now done well but getting a little big for the net. any ideas?
Thanks

[Nobbie]

I keep a fine net on brassica the whole time as otherwise it will get eaten, maybe not immediately, but sometimes the pigeon will just decide they fancy It. Also with broccoli I like to keep the butterflies off after a rather unfortunate incident with a caterpillar served on a bed of broccoli for dinner one night They are very good at hiding in the florets.

[hasbeans]

Pigeons spent all last winter admiring my uncovered broccoli and were first to the best florets come spring.  If I wasn't surrounded by roads and people I'd get an air rifle!  I forgive the blackbird for stealing fruit but I've no love for pigeons.
You need a bigger net!

[rowlandwells]

pigeons  meat is getting very popular in some restaurants Hasbeans especially when its fed on your lovely broccoli florets 

and i know how you feel about pigeons we have some birds of prey that have been sorting them out here but I always leave my nets on all winter I have some heavy duty scaffold netting that don't rot let um try and chew through that  so keep on netting Hasbean

[hasbeans]

I'm putting up chicken wire this year as the dog likes to chew the nets (socks, brassica stalks, owt).  I found two big holes in the nets over one bed yesterday.  He gets a jet from the hosepipe if I catch him doing it!