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Covers for Brassicas

KmehKmeh Posts: 173
in Fruit & veg
Hi! Just wondering if you need to keep brassicas covered from now till harvested? Thank you!

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Ideally, yes.
    I've already seen Cabbage Whites fluttering around and soon as they sniff out your brassicas they'll try and find a way to lay eggs on the leaves.
    Butterfly netting is what you need.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • KmehKmeh Posts: 173
    Thank you
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I bought some veg cages with butterfly netting and grew brassicas.
    Unfortunately some of the leaves touched the netting and cabbage whites laid eggs on them which ruined the lot.
    So the netting needs to cover the brassicas, but not actually touch the leaves at any time.

    I gave up on growing them after that.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • scrogginscroggin Posts: 437
    I use debris netting and plastic water pipe to make the hoops. Debris netting is very fine mesh but very strong and easy to handle. Never had a problem with caterpillars, but as has been said you need to apply it straight away. Both are readily available and lasts for years.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Whilst in their infancy, 5-litre water bottles with their bottoms removed are useful for any young plant.
  • KmehKmeh Posts: 173
    Thank you
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