Topic: brassica cage

[reddyreddy]

I'm going to build a brassica cage for 4 psb plants, any suggestions on dimensions?

[1066]

My PSB plants are in a sort of frame covered with debris netting, I'd say its about 3ft high and a foot / a foot and half wide, but others more experienced might have some better suggestions......  :D

Hope this helps
1066

[reddyreddy]

fab, it's the height I was after I don't want them getting squashed!

[Digeroo]

its about 3ft high

  Perhaps it depends of variety, soil etc etc but some of my psb is 5 ft high already.

Why does it need a cage?  Is it getting vicious? ;D ;D ;D

[1066]

 ;D Digeroo !

(those pesky pigeons ......  ;) )

[lewic]

I'd say the higher the better. Its good not to have to crouch! My PSB is huge and the pigeons just sat on the hoops of the old cage and pecked through it.

Have now made a cage out of 6 foot high canes and those balls with holes in. If youve only got 4 plants you could probably get away with 4 x 6 foot canes and 4 x 8 foot canes around the outside. The balls are not so good with thicker canes though so you will probably have to file the ends down a bit.

[1066]

I was up at the plot at the weekend, and checked the PSB, and am now beginning to think I will have to extend the height!! The variety I'm growing is from Real Seeds  :-\

[Digeroo]

The variety I'm growing is from Real Seeds

I have some from real seeds and they are getting very big.  Presume that you need some extra height for the actual spouting bit. 

[1066]

I think you are right - although how much will they actually grow over winter, before they start sprouting ???

[Jeanbean]

Hope u don't mind me asking a PSB question here. We planted ours mar -apr time this year, Not much sprouting going on between the stems but have had to cut off several yellow flower heads. When should we expect to harvest it? Might not grow it next year as it seems to be in forever. PS built a cage from 6ft canes and the balls to keep out cabbage whites. Didn't work for the white fly though :(

[GrannieAnnie]

My cages are 5 ft by 28 inches and the 28 inches looks too skimpy to me.

Also these are being grown in part shade so they are smaller than normal plus the white polyspun covering, though it has successfully kept off the caterpillars, seems to blot out some light as well.  There are some edible sprouts on the plants now but it doesn't look like a plentiful crop by any means. My first successful (?) year growing Brus. Sprts.