netting over brussel sprouts

[HoofyLoo]

I've planted 12 brussel sprout plants in my garden. I've been told that I'll need to cover them with netting to prevent slugs, snails and caterpillars munching on them. I have all three of these wiggly creatures in my garden and am keen to have sprouts this year. I have this in the shed:

Wilko Get Gardening Netting Crop and Pond Protection 4mx2m at wilko.com netting&VBMST=garden netting&VBMTC=535299d339008df93af356403c8d9ee8


Will this do the trick? Do I need something more sophisticated like a proper built frame? I'm unsure as to how I keep wrigglers away from my crop! Budget is very tight hence me shopping at Wilko!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm watering them well without drowning them and they're in a nice sunny spot.
Thanks

[Bren In Pots]

You need fine net to keep butterflies off even old net curtain from the charity shop work.
I use debris netting and hoops have a read at this thread :-

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...hes_58832.html


ps netting won't keep slug off though.

[Alison]

That will keep birds off but not butterflies and no netting will repel slugs and snails (sadly). I grow my plants on it pots until they get to a reasonable size and then they can stand up to slugs better but I use very fine net (enviro mesh in my case but a lot of people use old net curtains successfully) to stop butterflies laying eggs on the leaves which then turn into hungry caterpillars. To stop this happening you also need to make sure there is a gap between the mesh and the plants otherwise they can lay their eggs through the mesh and get in that way! I use cane frames but you can do things more fancy. Obviously the fine mesh also keeps birds at bay too.


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[HoofyLoo]

I have an old frame with wire mesh that I used to use as a chicken run. I've popped that over the sprouts to protect from pigeons. Would cover this with a net curtain do the trick against slugs n snails? Would it affect light for the sprouts?


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[Alison]

That sounds great for any airborne attack but slugs and snails don't fly so no netting will provide protection.

[Kristen]

Enviromesh netting is quite expensive, so I use Scaffolders Debris Netting over mine. The stuff on building sites is often thrown away after each job, so you might be able to blag some for free on a building site near you?

I support mine on hoops made from MDPE water pipe, but sticks with balls or Yoghurt cartons or similar on the top may well do the job. Either way, take it off in winter before Snow comes otherwise the weight will collapse the lot, but then you will need bird-netting (wider mesh that snow will fall through) otherwise Pigeons are liable to strip your crop

I got my 9-year-old to construct mine

Brassica Netting – against Cabbage White Butterfly | K's Garden

[Alison]

Either way, take it off in winter before Snow comes otherwise the weight will collapse the lot, but then you will need bird-netting (wider mesh that snow will fall through) otherwise Pigeons are liable to strip your crop

I forgot the first winter and ended up with lots of broken canes and squashed plants. For my lower level brassicas such as winter cabbages and swede I just remove the frame and let the enviro mesh lie straight on the plants over winter as I find it quicker than unravelling my wider gauge stuff.


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[HoofyLoo]

I'll take a pic of what I've set up tonight to get opinions. This is my first year growing them and I really want them to be a success!


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[Two_Sheds]

netting to prevent slugs, snails and caterpillars munching on them.

It's probably been said (but I haven't time to read whole thread), but netting has holes that pests can climb through

The netting is to prevent access by pigeons & CW butterflies, which will destroy your whole crop in a couple of days