Debris/scaffold netting and pollinators

[BAKER]

So I am going to be making some netting hoops, but wondering on the type of netting to use. ie debris netting or larger gap pond type netting.

I know that debris netting is very popular, as it can also create a bit of shade as well in the hotter months and reduces the wind speed

However, I am just wondering what effect it has on pollinators getting access to flowers so they can do their thing?

Are the gaps so small that it stops near enough everything?

[Scarlet]

What are you intending to grow? Not all vegetables need pollinators.

[veggiechicken]

Debris netting does stop bees from getting in. I have cherry trees in a debris netted tunnel and leave the doors open when they're flowering. Once the fruit starts setting, I'll close it up again.

[mcdood]

Hi Baker, I use debris netting over brassicas to stop the cabbage white and pigeons. Also on Strawberries once fruits begin to form to stop the birds.
For carrots you will need finer netting to stop carrotfly so enviromesh type stuff. You will also need this for alliums if your site gets leaf miner.
I use the orange barrier mesh around some beds this time of year to stop pigeons getting to broad beans and also to stop foxes/badgers digging in my tattie beds.
Wire/metal mesh type stuff laid over freshly sown peas to stop the mice eating them, then barrier mesh to stop the pigeons eating the pea tops.
It's a minefield out there, actually maybe mines would help with the rats, they like beetroot and carrots and chitting tatties

[Thelma Sanders]

Now I use Brassica netting with 7mm holes over my brassicas (quelle surprise!) because I found that debris netting allows whitefly in but keeps their predators out, so you get clouds of whitefly on your kale YUK That doesn't happen under the 7mm mesh.
I have enviromesh/veggiemesh for onions and carrots. I throw the old debris netting over my peas during flowering to keep sparrows and pea moth off the plants, and also use it as a wind break around my squash & pumpkins it keeps them a bit warmer

[Muddy_Boots]

I only use debris netting over Brassicas, peas and beans arn't being netted this year as I'm using the black cotton technique and as you can see in the picture the 'rats with wings' have left them alone. They are now starting to flower, the only protection they have is a chicken wire barrier stop foxes/cats/badgers from just walking across and breaking the cotton and so far it seems to have worked, I will be updating everyone about how well the experiment goes this year.

[mcdood]

Now I use Brassica netting with 7mm holes over my brassicas (quelle surprise!) because I found that debris netting allows whitefly in but keeps their predators out, so you get clouds of whitefly on your kale YUK That doesn't happen under the 7mm mesh.
)

Good tip for the winter brassicas, my kale and sprouts were covered and ruined with whitefly over autumn/winter. Will try different netting this autumn, thanks. Do you know what it is that eats the whitefly?

[Snadger]

We had a thread on here about the merits of different coloured debri netting for plant growth I think the general consensus was that blue was best for brassicas and red was best for veg that need to flower to produce a cop. Not a scientific analysis though.

[BAKER]

What are you intending to grow? Not all vegetables need pollinators.

Things that will be under the nets will be strawberries, tomatoes, cucumber and melon

[mcdood]

Strawberries I use debris nets. My outdoor tomatoes are left alone so I don't net. Not grown cucumbers outside yet, I am this year. I'm having a go at melon this year too but it will be inside.

[veggiechicken]

Things that will be under the nets will be strawberries, tomatoes, cucumber and melon

What do you hope to achieve by netting them? Not trying to be funny but do you want to keep birds off. or insects, or create shade or a windbreak or something else entirely.

[Thelma Sanders]

Good tip for the winter brassicas, my kale and sprouts were covered and ruined with whitefly over autumn/winter. Will try different netting this autumn, thanks. Do you know what it is that eats the whitefly?

Beetles, Ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and all their larvae eat whitefly and their eggs, and parasitic wasps lay eggs inside the whitefly's body.

[mcdood]

Thank you Thelma. I'll try larger netting and get the Kale seeds back out of the never again pile.

[Squingy]

We had a thread on here about the merits of different coloured debri netting for plant growth I think the general consensus was that blue was best for brassicas and red was best for veg that need to flower to produce a cop. Not a scientific analysis though.

Bees don't see red though, so if it's bee pollinated and the mesh colour is to attract pollinators...

[Jay-ell]

Red light helps plants produce fruit, blue light helps them produce foliage, green light isn't used by them at all.

Studies (proper ones - not the ones done by me and Snadge) showed that yellow nets helped attract pollinators. - However the netting size would prevent them from getting in (you could mount it as a canopy so that they are protected from above.

To reduce the damage done to my strawberries I use stones. Paint them red and put them all around the strawberry plot (glued to the top of bits of broken cane) before they even start to flower and the birds will get sick of pecking at red things in that area.

Strings of Christmas Beads have been used to protect my red currants.