Decided it is time to invest in netting
Is the colour important, there seems to be yellow, blue or green and now found orange,white and red?
Should I get 2 or 3 metreswide? The plants usually reach a metre high and a metre or so across so rather think I need 3 metre. Though some people have two 2M strips joined in the middle.
just remember when you do it to get it as tight as possible
We went for green from a place in grangemouth scotland, quite cheap and quick delivery from ebay
I have always used green. It looks good on the plot. I joined two metre widths and I also stitched up the fixment holes but it's easy and quick with a sewing machine. It won't stop whitefly but it stops cabbage white butterfly and pigeons.
I've got green and 3 metres wide - its great stuff and its easier to tuck/roll it if it is too wide than to stretch it. I am using the blue mdpe tubing too and my allotment is beginning to look like a camp site. If I have an argument with other half I will have somewhere to sleep!
I have quite a large part of a roll of tubing so sounds good to me. I think it might be a be draughty for sleeping. ;D
I am hoping that it will keep off the cabbage white but also provide some wind protection, though I also know they are a problem if it snows. I also need to keep deer off. They like the purple sprouting in the winter.
It is odd perhaps using green. If you use plastic bottles I have found plants prefer blue or clear. So does the green absorbs the green spectrum so less green light available for the leaves?
I'm not sure how much the colour from the netting affects plants. Although I went for blue a couple of years ago as it possibly helps promote leafy growth :-\ I also have a tunnel with green netting and to be honest I've not noticed any significant difference when growing crops like carrots, parsnips and brassicas, they all do really well. Apart from the obvious reduced pests, I find crops benefit from the mini micro climate, reduced wind, less fluctuation in temperature and added moisture retention. I was a bit concerned at first it would be too shady but results are good. I went for the 3 metre width.
Tomatoes did well last season grown in a net tunnel, sadly no good as a defence for blight though.
We don't use mesh for brocolli . We just use wire netting with pond netting on top. Just to stop the pigeons
If you fancy a trip to Birmingham we are selling it for £1 per meter, 3 meters wide.
I would love to come to Birmingham but it is quite a long way, though I am often in Evesham. I loved seeing your allotments they are very inspiring. But I think I will just order some from ebay. The petrol would add significantly to the cost.
Many thanks all for your responses.
I like the thought of the microclimate.
Top tip, just remember to have your debris netting tall enough - I had PSB poking through the top with my first crop many moons ago, pigeon heaven!
Ninny
(Posted for novices ;))
What is PSB ??? ??? Sorry to sound a novice I am not really ;D ;D ;)
Quote from: the_snail on June 23, 2012, 07:14:46
What is PSB ??? ??? Sorry to sound a novice I am not really ;D ;D ;)
Purple sprouting broccoli
Sorry typing the whole bit for purple sprouting broccoli becomes a bit tedious.
We were giving blue for the Lotty,oh built movable wooden frames,things grow well big cabbages, Cawlis, we also had a grate big load of white netting which let the light get through a lot better as its much brighter than the blue.