Brassica collars

[Nykied]

I was looking through one of my gardening books last night and they showed a collar made from part of a plastic bottle, spread out to look like a flat cone and then staped to complete the circle.

[Garysvegpatch]

HI all a quick one I have got the cabbages and caulis in a net cage(self made very pleased with it!!) do i also need to put the collars on aswell.

[Jimmy]

I don't think they are very big.
Best to apply the collars as they are so simple.
And make sure your net has no holes because as a previous post the cabbage whites will get in.

Jimmy

[oldie]

As long as there are no holes or gaps in the net you don't need the collars. The old timers on the lottie would say doing both is a belt and braces approach which some would prefer.

[Jimmy]

All nets have holes in them.
That's what they are holes with string round them.
Depends on the size of the holes I guess and how big you cabbage root flys are.

For me cutting up a grow bag and popping the collars round each plant as you plant them is worth the small extra effort.

Nothing worse that admiring your nice, apparently healthy, plants suddenly wilt in the sunshine.

Jimmy

[oldie]

Of course all nets have holes thats why they are called nets. Cabbage root fly are about 1cm long and look similar to house flies so enviromesh netting will keep them out. So to would scaffold netting as long as you have sealed the larger holes which run down it so it can be tied to scaffold poles. I use fishing line to fill in these holes. Thats the sort of hole I was talking about in the previous post.

[Jimmy]

Would runner bean netting work ?

[oldie]

Not sure what you mean by runner bean netting. The net needs to have a mesh size of 1mm square or less. Both enviromesh and scaffolding netting are suitable.

[Jimmy]

The one with 4" square holes.
Not much use for cabbage root flies, but it does keep cabbage root cats off.
Jimmy

[MeJoolie]

Brassica collars from old Sandpaper

Hi all,

Has anyone tried using old sandpaper for brassica collars? Also I have calebrese plants that had fallen over slightly and suspect cabbage root fly - however some that had toppled seem to have regained their balance ! and despite slightly twisted stems are producing crowns (in my polytunnel). Is it possible for plants to recover from an attack ?

[Snadger]

Hi all,

Has anyone tried using old sandpaper for brassica collars? Also I have calebrese plants that had fallen over slightly and suspect cabbage root fly - however some that had toppled seem to have regained their balance ! and despite slightly twisted stems are producing crowns (in my polytunnel). Is it possible for plants to recover from an attack ?

Plants CAN recover and sometimes its worth earthing up the stem a bit to give more support and allow extra roots to grow from the stem to sustain the plant!

[Ace of spades]

What I use is scrap pieces of landscape fabric cut into circles, ideal because it lets water through which is important when you've just planted out. I also put a short piece of 4inch soil pipe over the plants [about 6 inches long and pushed into the soil a couple of inches] to support them, you need to weigh the fabric down or it floats up when you water.

[MeJoolie]

Brassic Collars/Cabbage Root Fly

Hi Snadger et al,

thanks for the reply - I'll try earthing up the stems just to help them along.

[Nykied]

I thought about using some sheets of craft foam. Would that be suitable or does it need to let water through?

Also, what happens when the stem gets thicker, as mine are only tiny at the moment?

[Ace of spades]

I would be a bit wary using anything that doesn't lat water through especially if it's a 6 inch square round a newly planted cabbage etc cos when you water, will it run into the middle or off the edge? so until they're established they could potentially have a dry spot 3 inches all round. That's my thinking, and I know lots of you have used polythene etc without probs so just do what you think will work best.