how tall does the cover have to be?

[janeyo]

I have done a search but can't find my exact answer.

OH is going to make the hooped covers for the brassica bed soon. We don't know how tall to make the hoops in the middle. How tall do sprouts or PSB get (mine flopped so can't say)

Thanks

[Alice]

You need to allow about 3' Janeyo.

[di]

I was chatting to a chappie at the lottie today about the same thing...or actually net covering in general.He said to make sure the net(or mesh or whatever you use)is tight & at least a couple of inches higher than the crop otherwise the birdies will just sit on it...weigh it down & nibble on the crops anyway!
Maybe obvious to most...but sadly got to admit it was something I hadn't considered!
Sorry...in proper answer to your question...I don't know exactly how tall PSB grow,but I think Alice is probably a sure bet to go with!(I still have brassica net envy from last year having seen pics of her hooped mesh covers...I did give it a try,but looked nothing like as neat!)

[FionaH]

Mine aren't as tidy as Alices either! I showed Mr H a pic of her ones and said thats what I want. You will be lucky was his reply

[ann-the-nan]

how tall does the cover have to be?

Can we have a look at Alice's again, please?

[Demeter]

I was chatting to a chappie at the lottie today about the same thing...or actually net covering in general.He said to make sure the net(or mesh or whatever you use)is tight & at least a couple of inches higher than the crop otherwise the birdies will just sit on it...weigh it down & nibble on the crops anyway!

Good tip thanks. I was mainly thinking about butterflies which probably wouldn't weigh the net down an awful lot but will try to remember there are naughty birds out there too!

[Demeter]

Can we have a look at Alice's again, please?

If you look at these old posts of Alice's you will see the pics
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post244329
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post272908

[Snadger]

It all depends on the cultivars you wish to grow? Dwarf brassicas will be easily covered by 3 foot high nets but some of the tall growing sprouts, kales and PSB won't be.
You have to remember that using fine netting has a 'forcing' effect also and the tops will grow taller than if they wern't covered.

Even my carrot tops grow 3 foot high when under enviromesh and barely half that height when not!

Having said all that Alice has the right idea with the vertical sides on hers, as hoops are only high in the middle and deffo won't have enough height for brassicas at the edges!

Mine are just steel fencing pins (similar to what the council use for roping off areas. I can hammer them in to any height from 4 foot down to 2 foot if I like and then I just drape netting over them. (Must admit though that Alices hoops look tidier!)

[Rossa]

A friend with an allotment said today that he only puts his net about 2' above his plants. He reckons the birds are only interested in the seedlings or young tender plants. Once the heart has developed in a cabbage for instance he removes the net.

As an aside, he is encouraging me to build a pond. Ever since he dug his out 4 years ago has never had a problem with slugs as the frogs eat them....something I didn't know before today.

[Snadger]

A friend with an allotment said today that he only puts his net about 2' above his plants. He reckons the birds are only interested in the seedlings or young tender plants. Once the heart has developed in a cabbage for instance he removes the net.

As an aside, he is encouraging me to build a pond. Ever since he dug his out 4 years ago has never had a problem with slugs as the frogs eat them....something I didn't know before today.

The pigeons favourite trick around here is sitting on top of 3 foot high brussel sprouts and eating the centre out of them.

[Rossa]

So what do you do to protect them Snadger? The BS not the pigeons that is...lol

[Snadger]

So what do you do to protect them Snadger? The BS not the pigeons that is...lol

4 foot high nets!

[Stacey Steve]

My brussels were to tall for my standard net covers I made and they all toppled over. Then I saw this bunk bed outside a neighbours waiting to go to the dump.

I covered it with the debris netting that I'm so fond of and tried it out.

Although my brussels were beyond help, the cover did keep the birds off, so I will be trying it out for real this year.

The side nets are rolled up in this picture but I think you will get the general idea.

[di]

Now that's a brassica bed to be proud of!!!

[Stacey Steve]

Thanks, time will tell,

The two mattress bases I have fixed between posts like trellis and am intending on growing sweetpeas on those.

Very little has gone to waste.