Netting advice for brassica cage/tunnel

[Super Sprout]

Hi,

Apologies if this has been asked 100 times before....

What type of netting would you recommend for building brassica cages/tunnels, well more to cover plastic hoops.

I have heard of enviromesh, but it seems very expensive. I have also seen some softer butterfly netting that has larger holes than enviromesh, but it is much cheaper. Is there a preference for a rigid style extruded plastic mesh, or a softer material type mesh?

Initially I'm only looking at a 4m x 5m length for one tunnel/cage, but I hope to build more tunnels once I obtain more materials.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

[mcdood]

I use scaffold netting for brassicas but the widest I could get was 3m not 4. It could be sown together if you're that way inclined or there may be wider I've just not seen it.

[bikermike]

I've just gone for enviromesh for all my netting, to keep it simple.

[nickdub]

Anything which is strong enough to keep pigeons out ought to do the trick, unless you want to proof it against butterflies too.

Don't forget in your expense calculations to figure in how many years you expect it to last - ie the cheapest for one year, may not be the cheapest for 10.

[bario1]

The soft black butterfly netting is the stuff I use, it does the job perfectly well, and doesn't look as plasticky as debris netting or enviromesh. You can get wide lengths as well, at places like G@rdening N@turally. Not the cheapest option though.

[Bren In Pots]

I made mine using brush stales with black piping for the archway then covered in debris netting. Its tall enough to protect kales and PSB.

[Thelma Sanders]

The garden Naturally is the type I use, as well - https://www.gardening-naturally.com/...terfly-netting

[toomanytommytoes]

Found last year that Enviromesh let the cabbage whitefly and mealy cabbage aphids in, but kept their predators (hoverflies and ladybirds) out. Will be using butterfly netting this year instead.

[Super Sprout]

Thank you very much for the responses.

My allotment neighbours suggested butterfly netting too from here:
https://www.harrodhorticultural.com/...h-pid8147.html

The price compares favourably to the links provided above, so I think I'll go for this.

Many thanks for helping me make up my mind!

[Thelma Sanders]

Found last year that Enviromesh let the cabbage whitefly and mealy cabbage aphids in, but kept their predators (hoverflies and ladybirds) out. Will be using butterfly netting this year instead.

That's why I stopped using debris netting and went back to the brassica netting.