Cabbage

[shirlton]

I am so pleased with these cabbages I don't want to spoil their uniformity by cutting one. They were spring cabbage from Real Seeds and they said that they would also grow well if planted in the Spring. As you can see they are. I have had such good results with their seeds so far. 99% germination on everything.

[shirlton]

[sallyann]

Those look great!

I especially like you neat improvised cages. I take it that is enviromesh covering them?? Normally our cabbages get massacred by catterpillars but this year i am going to try something similar to what you have done but with netting with 1cm square holes, i only hope the butterflies won't squeeze through!

[saddad]

Excellent...
Sorry Sallyann, they will get through... we use it against pigeons but frquently have whites fluttering about under the mesh!
:-\

[tim]

The Whites will squirm through a 2' overlap of mesh!!

[sallyann]

Doh!!

Those butterflies are menaces  >:(

I did look into buying some enviromesh earlier in the year but it seemed so expensive. I don't even like cabbages or sprouts they are for my parents!!

[kt.]

I have framework but prior to me buying mesh: is it worth covering brassicas with mesh? Or just leave them open?

[asbean]

Yes, id definitely is, we do NOT like maggoty veg.  I got some environmesh this year, and it is tightly sealed round the edges, and am keeping a watchful eye.  We have grown more cabbages than we can eat in the past, but I've put fewer in this year, hoping (fingers crossed) that this will do the trick.

The ordinary mesh, or chicken wire keeps the pigeons off, but not those pesky butterflies.

[manicscousers]

we use builders mesh  :)
don't know if you can buy it but it works  :)

[shirlton]

We used it last year and although the cabbage white and the slugs didn't get in the whitefly must be tiny enough to get through the mesh. I think it's worth every penny. I have considered using some very fine curtain net just to see if that works. I have used a net cake cover to protect my tray of Romanesco caulli cos they get the flea beetle at this time of year. It seems to be working.

[real food]

Lidle had a very good equivalent of Environmesh, costing about £5 for 1.5 m x5 m. I use it for the carrots.

[pye]

Beautiful cabbages shirl.

I'm a fan of Real Seeds too, great seeds and, on the one occasion I had a problem, they bent over backwards to help me out.  :)

[shirlton]

I have found them really helpful. They advised me about the Romanesco when I asked about sewing some now as the T&M seed didn't germinate. They sent the seed in 2 days and sent me some Mispoona greens seeds to try, Their Romanesco matures in autumn too whereas the T&M one didn't mature till Spring. I can't wait to try it.