[kosh42|EFG]

Just a thought, as brassicas are in the ground for a long time, and as they are spaced fairly widely, why not plant them through weed membrane to cut down on weeding, moisture loss, etc?

Or am I missing something?

Cheers,

Kosh

[Kajazy]

Don't see why not, if you've got lots of the stuff spare - I'm not sure I'd have enough to cover the brassica patch on my plot, but otherwise, why not? Also, might help with cabbage root fly, if it goes right up to the stems

[Growster...]

Absolutely Kaj.

Good idea IMHO Kosh, as when you net them (if you do that is), they'll not need you bending double to hoik out the weeds etc!

Make sure the ground is well trodden down first thoug;, brassicas need to be firm at root level.

[kosh42|EFG]

I have rolls and rolls of the stuff I got last year at 75% off in Wilko so thought why not? Will ensure I lime and tread down before putting the matting down...

And definitely planning to net...

Cheers for the input,

Kosh

[snowdrops]

I've been going to do this for a couple of years but not got round to it. I did it with my strawberry bed & the only problem I've had is that my membrane is the woven stuff & it frays even though I tucked it under where I made a cross to plant through. The wind gets at it & then it frays. I had wondered whether you could melt a hole out to plant through.

[Yorkie]

You could try melting a hole but I'm not convinced it will work.

Re the suggestion previously in the thread about the netting removing the need for cabbage root fly collars, I wouldn't rely on it for that purpose.  Any collars have to be tight and right up against the stem, and this will not be the case with the fabric membrance, which will have to have a cut in it to get the plant through.

[realfood]

I have used weed fabric for my brassicas for many years and it works very well. I am using the ordinary spun fabric, cut crosses in it and plant through. Fold the fabric back to the stem and it works as a collar. Cover with netting against cabbage whites and pigeons. No need to weed. It even survived a greenhouse roof being blown off my neighbour's plot which landed on my brassicas, the other week!!!

[Salmo]

I grow my brassicas through fabric. No weeds except the odd one poking through the holes and you can walk in at any time without getting muddy feet. Slugs can come up through the holes and chew plants off but a pinch of pellets tucked into each slit sorts them out.

I use an ordinary soldering iron to cut crosses. It melts and seals the edges. I think you can get an "electric knife" specifically for this sort of job. If you have patience you can also run round the edges and stop those annoying fraying bits.

I have also used spun fabric which is easier to cut but not so robust.

[sarajane]

I,ve grown my onion sets through fabric for the last couple of years and as I grow about 200, hey it really cuts down on the weeding so I dont see why it shouldn't work on brassicas.  Just make sure they are bedded firm into the earth.

[Growster...]

"I use an ordinary soldering iron to cut crosses"!

Perfect 'Coarse Gardening' award Salmo! That is such a simple and effective idea and easily the best I've seen for doing that!

[stompy]

I've never used it for Brassicas but always use ut for my Squash/pumpkin bed.
Works a treat and leaves the ground clear for the beans to go in the following year!

[moose]

I use a little mini blow torch thing from poundland. It uses a cigarette lighter as its heat source and is good for small areas. Chefs use similar things for something they do, but I'm not a chef and mine would not let hers out in the garden.