any ideas

[shirlton]

I bought some mesh from suttons last week to protect my crops from the birds and pests. I ve been trying to think of how I can make a frame for it. I dont want a hooped frame cos I want to grow right to the edge of it. Ive been searching online for some sort of plastic pipe work. Perhaps some one on here will come up with a brilliant invention
                                 Thankyou in anticipation Shirley

[shirlton]

[sallyann]

Hi,

if it is fairly low growing things we just stick some canes in the ground with small flower pots or yogurt pots on top and then just drape the mesh over it and put stones along the bottom.

Not very fancy but it generally works. It might be worth doing in the short term whilst you come up with a more elegant solution??

[robkb]

Hi,

if it is fairly low growing things we just stick some canes in the ground with small flower pots or yogurt pots on top and then just drape the mesh over it and put stones along the bottom.

Not very fancy but it generally works. It might be worth doing in the short term whilst you come up with a more elegant solution??

That's exactly what I was going to say! Works well for me, but you do have to weight the edges down properly otherwise the netting tends to take off!

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[Tee Gee]

Plumbing & Heating engineers sell tube and push fit fittings.

[Trevor Holloway]

30" canes stuck in the ground with plastic "ball pond" balls from Tesco £5 or Asda £4 (per 100) with the mesh draped over. Cheaper than cane toppers and gives a colourful look to the plot !

[sarah]

what a great idea for canr toppers Trevor, i would put that in the top tips straight away.  i am certainly try it.

[robkb]

Another good idea (from someone on here, I think...thanks!) is to use tennis balls instead of those expensive 'Build-A-Ball' things - just cut a slit in the tennis ball with a sharp knife and push the cane in. My temporary fruit cage was made like this (7 foot canes held together with tennis balls and covered with netting) and has worked a treat.

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[nippie]

Another good idea (from someone on here, I think...thanks!) is to use tennis balls instead of those expensive 'Build-A-Ball' things - just cut a slit in the tennis ball with a sharp knife and push the cane in. My temporary fruit cage was made like this (7 foot canes held together with tennis balls and covered with netting) and has worked a treat.

Cheers,
Rob ;)

I was just going  to suggest the same thing. Especially if you live near the seaside and have a lot of gifty type shops where you can buy them cheap  :)

[Hyacinth]

Coming in on the tennis ball idea (THE most brill Top Tip) I've a friend who walks his dog (Retriever ;D) round the local park/tennis courts twice a day...and I put in an order...... 8)

So I use cut-down canes, tennis balls and netting from the £ shop.

Cheap as chips ;D

[shirlton]

thanks for the response from all of you. I'm going to try the balls and the plumbing stuff cos Ive got 2 nets. Will post a pic of the finished project when I learn how to.
Regards Shirley

[supersprout]

Alishka's/Rob's solution in action last winter with cabbages:


;D

[shirlton]

that looks splendid

[Tee Gee]

As you can see in the picture below I just use hoop iron bent at right angles as opposed to hooped and I can grow right to the edge of the covered area.

The sides are bent to suit what ever height of stuff I am growing.

[kitty]

brillo!
i kept looking at those buildaball thingies...being tight i didnt want to lash out that amount..now i shall hie me to yon £shop!
thanks chaps...
kitty
x

[Roy Bham UK]

I bought my dog a bag of tennis balls from a pound type thingy shoppy, there were 6 in a bag in the doggy section, needless to say my dog won't play wiv em and I don't blame him cuz they stink summat rotton. :P ;D

[plot51A]

I use pieces of hosepipe - sure that idea came from someone on here. I find it works a treat for any height, any length. Am being optimistic that my sprouts will grow nice and tall!

[bennettsleg]

30" canes stuck in the ground with plastic "ball pond" balls from Tesco £5 or Asda £4 (per 100) with the mesh draped over. Cheaper than cane toppers and gives a colourful look to the plot !

£3.86 from asda per 100! went and bought some a few moments ago and plan to use them for shade too.

[jennym]

What a brilliant idea - have struggled miserably with Build-a-balls, as you need the exact size of cane to make the blessed things work. Never actually ended up using them, but this ball pond ball, or cheap tennis ball idea sounds just the thing for temporary netting  :D

[shirlton]

So many good ideas. The hose pipe one sounds good too. I'm spoilt for choice. I'm gonna try the lot just to see which is the best.

[supersprout]

That does look good periwinkle! Will give that a go too :)