[Gleavo]

All my caulis, cabbages and sprouts are gigantic and have had them under nets until now.
Question is, do I extend the nets and keep them that way (be 3-4 foot high now as caulis and sprouts are huge) or shall i abandon netting and let them grow free?

Cheers
G

[DD.]

If I uncovered mine, they'd be free - a free pigeon dinner - especially the sprout tops!

[Gandan57]

It would be a practical impossibility to net mine, and so far they have led a charmed life except for a few losses to cabbage root fly.

The pigeons have left them alone and I check every other day at least for caterpillars, but none found as yet, despite butterflies for weeks.

I`m taking a big gamble because if the missus so much as finds one caterpillar when washing the cabbage or broccoli, I may as well throw the rest on the compost.

[sunshineband]

We have had to construct a tall cover for our bigger brassicas, or as DD said, they'd be free alright --- to pigeons, caterpillars and any other passing bug 

[DD.]

When it comes to netting, I've no option with my pigeons, it's me or them, no matter how big the task of netting.

I've a further 140 brassicas ready to go out and 80 spring caulis & cabbage in a few weeks. It's net or die.

[sunshineband]

When it comes to netting, I've no option with my pigeons, it's me or them, no matter how big the task of netting.

I've a further 140 brassicas ready to go out and 80 spring caulis & cabbage in a few weeks. It's net or die.

One of our plot holders has got his four beds surrounded by herris fencing, lined with debris netting, with a roof of debris netting. he only takes the sides off on the bed he has peas and beans in ---- werks fer him (he is not tall  )

[DD.]

I have contemplated covering the whole plot in a cage, but 300 sq yds of it is not easy!

[sunshineband]

I have contemplated covering the whole plot in a cage, but 300 sq yds of it is not easy!

 

[Farmer Woosnip]

After spending many hours already this year wrestling with netting that seems to go every which way except the way I want it and seems to need rearranging every other week, I was wondering what people used to do years ago?

Is it only relatively recently that people have started extensively netting or is it only recently that I've started to take notice of these things?

Also, what do commercial farms do?

[DD.]

My local brassica production are is the Fens.

Their fields are not lined with pigeon houses, (trees), as much as my plot is. 

[sunshineband]

Also the vast acreage allows for pigeon loss 

[Gleavo]

I'll keep on netting!

Thanks folks 

[viettaclark]

I'm fleecing all of mine this year (including the waiting winter brassicas in their pots) to stop the dratted cabbage whites (thought the population had died out because I hadn't seen any but they're coming back!!) but there's a small gap at the bottom of my summer psb.
Ended up leaving one huge prominent spring cabbage which is pigeon netted but flutterby accessible as a sacrificial pawn. Thought I could remove any eggs/ caterpillars easily so it stays standing for a while!
Wiley, eh?
Only thing now is the whitefly, mildew and slugs....

[Salmo]

What has happened to all the scarecrows, clanky windmills and strings of tin cans that used to decorate allotments. Truly a lost art.

Farmers used to employ boys or the village idiot a not so bright person to wander the fields scaring birds. Now they have annoying propane guns from dawn to dusk. Some are enlightened enough to encourage shooters so at least the pigeons are recycled as pies.

[viettaclark]

Yum!