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Protecting vegetable crop

Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
in Plants
I have recently acquired an allotment. I have grown some Purple Sprouting Broccoli in pots and are about to transplant them to the allotment.  I realise I need to protect these from bugs/birds etc but am unsure what to use.  Luckily I have the blue piping in situ already so just need the covering. Is it best to use fleece, netting (aware of risk to birds) or plastic sheet (not keen due to environmental considerations or need to water)?  Any advice you can give would be much appreciated.

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Scaffold netting is the best,  very close weave but make sure it doesn’t touch the plants because she’ll just sit on it and lay the eggs through. 
    You can get a big roll from Amazon or maybe local builders merchants.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    As another option, I use Veggiemesh which seems to be working great at the moment and as a bonus you can water through it, so no need to keep taking it off.
  • scrogginscroggin Posts: 437
    Like @Lyn, I'm an advocate for scaffold/debris netting. I've used it for years to protect both brassicas and fruit. Still using the same netting I bought 10 yrs ago. I use water pipe and fix the netting at ground level with tent pegs, some people use lengths of pipe/wood, whatever works best for you.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I agree re. scaffold/debris netting.
    Even if brassica leaf touches the netting a cabbage white will spot it and lay eggs on it.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
    Thank you all for your help.  May be a stupid question but does it matter what colour it is - I see it comes in black/green and blue?
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    No - choose whichever colour you like :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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