[darthpaul]

Just planted my first seedlings in my raised bed on the weekend, added slug detterent but suddenly it has occurred I should think about netting to protect from Butterflies. When do I realistically need to get this up by? when do they start laying eggs?

[prakash_mib]

what seedlings are they? normally you would net brassicas for cabbage whites, pea netting for peas. build fruit cages for soft fruits. What are they  ?

[Runwell-Steve]

I net seedlings as soon as they are planted as if the butterflys don't get them the pigeons will.  I use scaffolders debris netting, you can pick up it for a reasonable price on a well known internet auction site, or ask around the local builders to see if they have any going spare.

I net peas, brassicas, salad and soft fruit with the same stuff.

[darthpaul]

Cabbages, Spring Onions, spinach and beans it is. Just didnt occur to me until 10 mins ago, have looked at the build your own cage stuff on Harrod Horticultural and butterfly netting but yet to price it all up.

[Sadgit]

Net them straight away, to stop the pigeons stripping them before the Cabbage White even come out.
I'm the same as Steve, debris netting (just bought it )

[darthpaul]

I presume debris netting lets enough light through ok? my bed is in shade some of the day so just want to make sure its ok.

[Runwell-Steve]

I know a number of people who have done trials with and without the netting, and cannot tell the difference in the final crop due to lack of light.

I think debris netting is the way to go, it is tough, and keeps out the birds and the butterflies.

A lot of the netting you can buy tears easily, gets snagged on the ends of canes and is a real nuisance.  I wouldn't use anything else now.

I bought 3m x 50m for £28 a few weeks back.

[Sadgit]

after using fleece for a number of years now I decided to give the debris netting a chance. Well it is so much stronger and the one I have lets though so much more light than the fleece did, and I have very good crops under fleece..

after advice on here I also went for the 3m wide version.. glad I did. Plus I only bought 20m, as that is all I will really need.

[darthpaul]

Great thanks for the advice I shall measure up tonight and order what I need

[savbo]

sorry if i'm not supposed to plug a supplier but 10 minutes on internet found cheapest supplier for 3x50 delivered was scaffolding direct at £32.50+4.95 p&p - cheaper than ebay. Some suppliers are charging over 100! is there any variation in quality?

[mumofstig]

I was checking flea-bay earlier and their prices have definitely gone up recently 

[JayG]

Another question; does anyone know if debris netting is UV stabilised?

I would love to replace my ordinary garden netting which I am incapable of unravelling without getting it tangled up on everything from projecting plants to personal apparel, but it has lasted about 10 years!