[dawnj]

Hi another question!!! This is my 1st year so alot of reading and getting alot of advice from you guys.....today a frend dropped off Runner beans, leeks,brcolli, cabbage and sweetcorn.....all ready in pots ready to plant in my raised bedding, they are in my porch at the moment as I only have a small plastic greenhouse and not enough space for them all, is it too early to plant? I have the beds protected with netting so I shouldn't have no bother with the birds..... help............

[Yorkie]

Runner beans and sweetcorn are frost tender and should not be planted out until the risk of frost has passed. For me that is early June.  A small plastic greenhouse is unlikely to keep the frost off, a cool but light place in the house would be better.

Cabbage and leeks will be fine outdoors, but make sure you cover the cabbage with fine mesh to prevent cabbage white butterflies laying eggs on them (netting is unlikely to suffice).

I've not grown broccoli so am not sure about this - hopefully someone else will be able to answer this - but if it is outdoors it too will need protecting from pigeons and cabbage whites.

[peapod]

You can plant out the broccoli, cabbage and leeks (harden them off first though). Leave the sweetcorn and runners until after the last frosts

Nettin has to be sufficiently fine to protect from CW,but if you have debris netting or something as fine well pegged with no access at all then you should be ok

[dawnj]

the netting I have is very fine and small holes (Strawberry netting) is this ok it will be secured aroung the edges, or do i need different type?

[peapod]

the strawberry netting Im aware of isnt fine enough for CW. Do you have any dimensions or a pic and I can let you know?

[peapod]

This is debris netting mesh type if this helps?


( http://www.protectivetextile.co.uk/images/buildingindus/greennet-with-mag_1.gif )

[Muddylou]

This is debris netting mesh type if this helps?


( http://www.protectivetextile.co.uk/images/buildingindus/greennet-with-mag_1.gif )

The Debris netting I have is almost exactly the same as your diagram, it's the gap through the black area I was worried about. Was just wondering whether I should put tape over it to stop anything gaining entry, what do you think?

[peapod]

Duct tape works a treat

[iwantanallotment]

wow....I have a roll of debris netting too which I thought would be failsafe,  but didn't know about the black holes - thanks for highlighting that, MuddlyLou.

[South Downs Wayer]

will that debris netting let enough light and water through? hope that wasn't a daft question .

[Muddylou]

^ I have Derby Day and Greyhound cabbage growing under it and they are coming on a treat, just wish some of my other stuff (not under netting) were doing so well.

[JRRD]

Can i ask ...... are you supposed to keep brassicas covered with net all season ?

[Salmo]

Netting to keep out butterflies needs to have holes of 7mm or less. Much of the standard netting has bigger holes than that. Read what it says on the packs.

Not sure when cabbage whites start laying eggs but I have seen some on the wing this week. I was pleased to see lots of other butterflies about too. Brimstone, orange tip, tortoisshell, peacock and holly blue all seen on one walk.

[DD.]

Can i ask ...... are you supposed to keep brassicas covered with net all season ?

I have to, otherwise they disappear, either caterpillars or pigeons.

[dawnj]

what does "harden them off mean?"............i think i needed to go on a coarse so much to take in.