Brassica collars

[Cutecumber]

Yes, they lay eggs near to the stem. The larvae hatch and burrow down eating the roots.

A good size for a collar is 5 inch (square or circular diameter). The theory is that either the flies don't lay - the material fools them - or the eggs dry out.

[moggssue]

Cheers both, that makes sense now! So (sorry for yet another question) how early should we be putting the collars on, as soon as the brassicas are planted out?

[lainey lou]

yep! Well I have anyhows..

[Saraheliz]

I did use cardboard last year and put copper tape around the brassica stems which worked a treat!

thanks for all the advicex

[gojiberry]

Collars are not 100% certain to work and sometimes the little blighters will get past the collar. I put enviro mesh over the whole bed and get 100% efective results. The mesh also keeps of the pidgeons and the cabbage whits so I kill three birds with one stone.

Ian

[Gwyndy]

I'm not a good ambassador for brassica collars. The only time I used them I lost all the plants. I reckon all the little bugs used the collars as big umbrellas!!

[Fluorescent green]

I wonder if the same principle would aply to any other veg?

Carrots?

FG

[Demeter]

Which principle?
(Brassica collars are designed to foil cabbage root flies, which only attack brassicas.)

[Fluorescent green]

A good size for a collar is 5 inch (square or circular diameter). The theory is that either the flies don't lay - the material fools them - or the eggs dry out.

I dont know anything about pests, but maybe they are all easily confused?

FG

[Demeter]

I dont know anything about pests, but maybe they are all easily confused?

FG

Some of them are (there isn't much space inside a carrot fly for brains) but you have to know how they tick in order to work out how to confuse them. e.g. if you know that a particular past finds its "prey" by smell then you can start thinking of how to mask the smell of the plants you are protecting.

There isn't much fooling in a slug, sadly.

[ChrisE]

I've been wondering what to use for brassica collars, then while cutting circles out of grow bags to plant my toms & peppers I ended up with a load of black plastic discs. So I think I'll use them and staple the cut edges togther to keep them in pace.

This way I can get the collars nice & close around the stem without damaging them.

Good idea or dumb idea ?

Chris

[Suky]

I've been wondering what to use for brassica collars, then while cutting circles out of grow bags to plant my toms & peppers I ended up with a load of black plastic discs. So I think I'll use them and staple the cut edges togther to keep them in pace.

This way I can get the collars nice & close around the stem without damaging them.

Good idea or dumb idea ?

Chris

sounds a good idea to me

[northmaid]

I've used cut up compost bags and they worked fine last year so will be doing the same this year. I tuck the edges inder the soil to anchor them, don't suppose it would deter slugs but I didn't really have much bother with the critters (says she crossing her fingers).

[broadway]

Could I use these, I have loads from when I did my football coaching course?

[Jimmy]

I've used cut up compost bags and they worked fine last year so will be doing the same this year. I tuck the edges inder the soil to anchor them, don't suppose it would deter slugs but I didn't really have much bother with the critters (says she crossing her fingers).

Yes I use cut up compost bags. They are usually black on the inside so if you put this side face up it's less obtrusive.
Cut a piece about 6-8 inches square the make a cut into the centre, fit around the cabbage etc. I usually weight mine down with about 6 small pebbles.