[peapod]

Do I still need to use collars even though I have debris netting? Its just occurred to me I dont have anything suitable to make them out of, so I will need to source somthing quick sharp if so.

[Aunt Sally]

I've never used collars and never seen them used on our site so I suppose cabbage root fly are not a problem for us.

But club root, carrot root fly, onion white rot and pea and bean weevil make up for it 

[Stoatus]

One option is to flatten out cardboard boxes, make "X" shaped slots at appropriate intervals removing the centre of the X to make a 1" hole, hold down with bricks then plant through these holes. As well as blocking root fly larvae, this has the added advantage of suffocating weeds, which can be awkward to reach if you are using nets.

[Robin Redbreast]

a friend of mine gave me a good idea by getting an plastic milk carton either 2 pint or 4 and cut it into strips for marking out lines of veg. i am sure that you could cut out some circles put slits in em and put them down as a base!

[sawnee]

What about the green scouring pads from the pound shop? or I have seen someone use squares of roofing felt too

[peapod]

Ive no flaming imagination me! I was thinking of getting old carpet! Thanks for the ideas 
So am I to take it that I should collar 'em?

[Robin Redbreast]

it definately wouldnt hurt! but you could risk it maybe talk to other allotmenteers on your site to see if they have any of the associated problems1

[GrannieAnnie]

I'm with Stoatus on the cardboard.  I did my cabbages the other year with a HUGE flattened out cardboard box I had, and by the end of the harvest, I had no weeds and the cardboard had nearly rotted down, so went straight onto the compost heap!

[sunshineband]

Thanks for the cardboard idea -- how wide a circle?

[Bombers]

Thanks for the cardboard idea -- how wide a circle?

Size of a saucer!

[sunshineband]

Thank you Bombers -- is this a photo you took today.. oh, help ,have I got a long way to go!!!

Are those cloche supports made of plastic pipe? I managed to make some on Friday, nearly killed me as it was like wrestling with pythons to soak it in hot water in a small sink and uncurl the roll enough to stick the cut bits in the ground!!! Laugh and a half but they are still standing.  :DJust need to add the plastic covers tomorrow ... hope no-one's watching when I try this 

[Bombers]

Thank you Bombers -- is this a photo you took today.. oh, help ,have I got a long way to go!!!

Are those cloche supports made of plastic pipe? I managed to make some on Friday, nearly killed me as it was like wrestling with pythons to soak it in hot water in a small sink and uncurl the roll enough to stick the cut bits in the ground!!! Laugh and a half but they are still standing.  :DJust need to add the plastic covers tomorrow ... hope no-one's watching when I try this 

I just cut it off into 5ft lengths, and push a couple of old drum sticks into the earth, and push the pipe onto those! (N0.1 Son is a drummer!) Werks for me!

[sunshineband]

Alright, alright so I went about it the hard way!! The piepe was tightly coiled up about 12 ins across, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it 

[horsepooisgood]

Bomber I had a vision of you sticking chicken legs in the ground to push the tube on, not laughed so much in years. thanks

[sunshineband]

Bomber I had a vision of you sticking chicken legs in the ground to push the tube on, not laughed so much in years. thanks

Honestly! What are you like, Horsepooisgood