Brassica

[tim]

Especially Cabbages. I think it's been good for most people. Certainly the best ever for us.

Derby Day, Capriccio, Ormskirk & Celtic - the latter, nearly over, are coming in at over 5lb. But surely - the last 3 are Autumn Cabbages - & some 'last through till Jan-Feb'?

[tim]

[saddad]

I'm still fighting off thousands of caterpillars...  :'(

[RSJK]

Same here caterpillars have stripped my sprouts and Swedes of there foilage in less then 2 days

[saddad]

I still have some foliage but it's taken an hour or more a day for the whole week...  >:(

[tim]

I have to say that - after last year's disaster - I'm more than happy with the Netting.

[plot51A]

Most of my brassicas have been munched even though they have been netted. Very very depressing. Will have to be even more vigilant next year.

[bionear2]

With walls of enviromesh, and lots of netting, we kept out the squadrons of cabbage whites, and suffered little damage.
Its been a good season for brassicas, our cabbages, calabrese, swedes have been fantastic - and for the first time ever in 10 years, we got a great row of large caulies! :)
What we forgot to do, as everything came in early, was to keep a check on the brussels. In the microclimate of the environmesh compound, the early and middle varieties had developed and blown. We are just harvesting the "late" F1 sprouts, which were destined for xmas! >:(

[tim]

It's all down to keeping the netting TIGHT to the ground. And the black netting is SO hard to see. And, surprisingly, is easily carried away by the wind.
PS Environmesh is NOT meant to be kept on for the whole season.

[earlypea]

PS Environmesh is NOT meant to be kept on for the whole season.

Interesting PS.

I thought it was OK to use the entire season, but I haven't done so myself because I think brassicas on other plots look a bit miserable under it.  Personally, I'm worried about slightly overheating them and adding just a touch too much humidity.

So - when should it go on and come off?  And why?

[grawrc]

Enviromesh is designed to be used throughout the season. It only needs to be removed for weeding.

[tim]

I quote Agralan - they may have their own ideas?

[grawrc]

I think their recommendation that the netting should be removed after five weeks refers to Enviromesh Ultra-fine where the level of opacity would deprive the plants of too much light over a longer period. Your bog standard Enviromesh is fine because the holes in the mesh are bigger.

[tim]

You are SO right - thanks for the correction!!

[grawrc]

You are most welcome kind sir! :) Unfortunately some of mine had come adrift today when I went to my plot and the rabbits have been grazing on my leeks.

[reddyreddy]

Tim, what size are the holes in your netting, I used 12mm and the cabbage white got in, laid eggs and had a feast  :-[

[tim]

7m - from Gardening Naturally.

OK - it doesn't keep out Flea Beetle or Carrot Fly but for C/Ws it's great. And you can see what's going on & the rain really gets through.

[lewic]

I've just ordered a huge roll of 7mm netting on Ebay, hope I can rescue my brassicas before the pigeons strip them bare.

Didnt realise how big the plants got, and the birds are just sitting on the hoops pecking their dinner!

[GRACELAND]

 :)

Gardening Naturally.

good site Tim

[Digeroo]

So - when should it go on and come off?  And why?

I did not net my brassicas so kept a very eagle eye out for caterpillars.  Though there were lots of cabbage white butterflies about they did not seem to start laying until the middle of August, so would suggest that there is no need to net until then.  Can keep the pigeon off with twigs.  I have not seem any new eggs for about a week now, so would seem that the netting may only be needed for about four weeks.   

It was much easy getting rid of the eggs becuase you get rid of fifty or so at a time.

Problem is they seem to be crawling in from neighbouring plots.

[reddyreddy]

Thanks Tim, will buy some in readiness for next year  :)