Get netted!

[Zoglet]

Hello,

Can anyone tell me what sort of netting I need for my brassica's?  What size mesh is best to use?
Thanks in advance
Z

[Zoglet]

[manicscousers]

we use builders nets, the stuff they use to stop rubble dropping on your head..the good thing about it, if it develops a hole, you can sew it together with fishing wire  ;D

[tim]

What for, Zoggie?

[Zoglet]

Do you have a  friendly builder who lets you have it, or do you buy it? If so, how does it compare with the cost of garden center netting?

[Zoglet]

Hi Tim

For my brassicas', as the books I am reading recommend netting them to keep bugs and birds at bay. But I'm not sure how small the netting needs to be, what do you think?

Z

[tim]

Birds? Smaller than a bird & held well above the plants?

Bugs? Fleece or Environmesh??

[manicscousers]

Do you have a  friendly builder who lets you have it, or do you buy it? If so, how does it compare with the cost of garden center netting?

well, we got some from a friend, don't know the price..it stops everything apart from the dreaded cabbage aphids  :)

[tim]

Zoggie - PS - I did realise it was for brassica, but not what it was to guard against.

There has been lots written on fleece & mesh if you look back.

NA Kay's Viromesh is good, if still available? http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,72/topic,21784.0

[Good Gourd2]

I obtained some debris net, in the first place to shade one side of my greenhouse. when I saw the amount that I had been given I thought that I would be good to put over "me greens" any hints on how to secure it etc. I had thought about wooden poles about 3ft and just draping it then fixing the corners with clothes pegs, I figured I would need to take it of to weed.

[sand]

I've used net curtains in the past and also some fly screen netting that is sold in Aldi at the start of the summer for use over windows or doors, very cheap and you get to choose from black or white! 

Sand

[telboy]

I rely on 'netlon'.
I find I have to cover brassicas 12 months of the year to deter the 'flying rats' & offer some protection from 'cabbage whites'.
It's a pain but I don't know of a more efficient deterrent?

[Trevor_D]

On my plot, the worst pest for brassicas is pigeons. If that's your problem too, go for the most robust netting (& structure to support it) that you can get hold of. And peg it down securely. A fruit cage is a good idea, if you can get hold of one!

[Columbus]

Hi Zoggie,  :)

If you keep your eyes open when scaffolding is being done in your area
and speak nicely to scaffolders they always seem to oblige with masses
of used green (usually) debris netting. You just need to ask and be able
to roll up and carry the stuff,  sometimes its covered in concrete dust,
on one occasion I was warned that it was soaked in rats urine, so
wash your hands afterwards.

Best of luck, Col

[tim]

What size is the mesh in the debris stuff?

[manicscousers]

here's an idea of what we do  :)