Netting

[southlondonone]

I have read so so much about netting on here and generally online but am still stumped.

So, I have several different crops I plan to grow and know some will need nets. But when I google nets etc I am hit with so many sizes of the nets as in the size of the squares not the overall net sizes.

I also hear so much negativity about birds being caught in them but then if you pull them tight they should bounce off them!?!

I plan to grow:
Blueberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Sprouts
First Early Potatoes
Leeks
Lettuce (Summer/ Autumn)
Carrots
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Parsnips
Maincrop Potatoes
Courgette
Runner Beans
Pumpkins
Sweetcorn
Second Cropping Potatoes
Asparagus
Rocket

But am sure some need bird nets, other needs insect nets. But then I read about enviromesh. It just gets so confusing!

What I want to know is what size netting do I need for each of my crops that require nets? Any links to products would be very helpful as well!

[Baldy]

Looking at your list there isn't (IMNSHO) anything that really really needs netting - unless you have a particular problem with birds raiding your berries and beans, carrot fly decimating your carrots etc.
Anyhow - you deffo don't need netting for potatoes, tomatoes, courgette, pumpkins, sweetcorn and most of the rest is arguable - on my plot they wouldn't be netted - though I have to make sure I pick the berries before the birds get em.
A fruit cage might be worthwhile if you are really into your soft fruits...

[Bigmallly]

Agree with Balders..........now that's scary.......The only crops I would net are fruits for protection from the birds (these require pollination so a courser net would do thereby allowing insects in) & Brassicas with a fine net to protect from Butterflies.

[southlondonone]

Many thanks for the replies. Good to hear! The birds do appear quite brave on the plot (regularly surrounded during digging to the point they virtually flap about next to me) and I have been told by others on the allotment to net things from the birds. So think the fruit might need netting but not definite!

I was also given some broccoli and cabbage (winter types) and was told to net them by another plot owner whose been there a while. At that point I didnt think to ask why and what net. I struggle to see anyone on the allotment as go at random weird times to ask!

My fear is after all this work I am left with ruined crops with something I could have sorted now before things grow.

The most respected long standing plot owner on my lot has net on several things, if I recall it's sprouts and carrots if that helps?! Maybe they see it as preventative as oppose to mandatory?!

[Alison]

I don't net much at all, have marked up your list below:

Blueberries - I don't find the birds are that interested but others do so you may need larger gauged anti-bird mesh during the fruiting season
Raspberries - I have a lot and am happy to share but hard to net anyway unless in a cage
Blackberries - no need
Sprouts - cover with enviromesh to keep the butterflies out, do this with all my brassicas
First Early Potatoes - no need for any spuds
Leeks - no need for birds etc but some people have to protect against other things, I don't, thankfully
Lettuce (Summer/ Autumn) - slugs are more your problem and bet won't help
Carrots - I cover with enviromesh from sowing to harvesting otherwise I get big carrot fly problems
Tomatoes - no net needed but I get a much better crop in m polytunnel with added protection
Strawberries - bird netting essential but let insects in for pollination
Parsnips - no need
Maincrop Potatoes - no need
Courgette - no need and insects needed for pollination
Runner Beans - no need for netting
Pumpkins - no netting
Sweetcorn - no netting
Second Cropping Potatoes - no netting
Asparagus - no netting
Rocket - no netting

[sparrow100]

Of the crops you're growing, the ones that on our South London site need netting are:

Blueberries - bird netting - blackbirds go mental for them
Raspberries - bird netting for summer ones, no netting for autumn ones & I accept some pigeon-based losses
Sprouts - butterfly netting - though to be fair I have a big bit of enviromesh and tend to grow most of my brassicas under it to avoid whitefly
Leeks - grown with umbilifers (sp?) and under enviromesh to thwart allium leaf miner and diamondback moth
Lettuce (Summer/ Autumn) - sometimes under bird netting if the sparrows pinch too much
Carrots - enviromesh to stop carrot fly or grow high off the ground in tubs
Strawberries - bird netting or we get none - though mice still get through and pinch them.
Parsnips - enviromesh - just because they are generally grown with carrots.

I have 2 large bits of enviromesh, 2 large bits of butterfly netting and some bird netting. They should all last me years. I tend to group what I am growing so they all fit under. We have plague proportions of wood pigeons, and crows pull up young bean plants, so they get netted too to begin with.

[southlondonone]

Wow, it really is interesting how the advice differs. Not questioning either but just shows the differences from plots to plots! Makes it quite exciting!

[Bex2012]

The only thing I netted this year was my brocolli and cauli to protect from cabbage whites (and the strawberries). I just used bog standard debris netting from ebay. Next year I will get some environmesh for the carrots, cos the carrot root fly got at those. Now if someone can design me some ant and black aphid repelling netting, not only would I love them forever, but Id also cover the entire plot with it.

[Bigmallly]

If you can allocate an area for fruit only, you could knock together a cheap fruit cage. If you can then identify 3 or 4 beds of identical size, you could make 1 cage out of debris netting or similar for your Brassicas. The cage can then be moved between the beds as you rotate your Brassicas.

[Nicos]

I put fleece over my carrots!
It helps bring them on and keeps out carrot fly.
And because it'a big piece of fleece, I also sow rows of Spring onions, parsnips radish and lettuce under it.Not that they need to be under fleece for pest control...they just do better....

[happyhumph]

It all really depends on what pests are problems on your plot. I'm lucky, I don't have carrot root fly, & pigeons aren't a problem. Birds not to bad for attacking the currents, but as my garden is the UK headquarters for cabbage white butterflies (I found a caterpillar on a pak choi in the greenhouse on new years eve!) I'm going to net anything in the brassica family this year if i get round to it. Just wish nets helped against slugs....

[southlondonone]

Many thanks for your help/ advice.

I have designed the plot so that my beds are identical and I can move the frames of my nets between them each year with crop rotation.

I have some further questions though.

Blueberries - If I am going to have these in pots, I wonder what height do I need to build the frame? I have read 5/6ft which seems tall. If in pots then I am thinking 6ft is required.

Carrots - It seems 60cm is high enough for the frame/ net?

Sprouts - Again height for these? I am seeing 91cm mentioned

Leeks - Again height needed, I cant find any guides on this one!

[Bigmallly]

6ft should be plenty for Blueberries but why not go the whole hog & make it 7 or 8ft that would then accommodate most bushes & small trees.

2ft above soil level should be ok for Carrots.

I would go 4/5ft for Sprouts, they can grow quite tall.

Leeks don't need netting.

[JMCKG]

We have a real problem with pigeons on our Allotments. Debris netting is used extensively, be aware when buying from eBay etc. Some of the netting sold is not as good as the stuff you see on building sites, does not stretch and not enough holes for pegging.
Best idea I've found is just ask at building sites, you'll be amazed at what you get for heehaw.

[southlondonone]

Leeks don't need netting.

Cheers Bigmally. Regarding the leeks I was referring to Sparrow100 who mentioned:

Leeks - grown with umbilifers (sp?) and under enviromesh to thwart allium leaf miner and diamondback moth

I have seen leeks with netting on my site. I have to bump into someone with leeks to ask why but was just clarifying heights so i can plan. Forward thinking lol