Debris netting - a question

[Storming Norman]

Hi all,

A few of you have recommended debris netting from time to time.

As a result I purchased some myself and very pleased I am with it - being a little heavier it sits nicely on the cloches, pegs down easily and keeps those pesky pigeons off. It was also good value for money. Thanks.

But I have a question - does it also function similarly to fleece? It seems heavy enough to me to be able to create a slight micro climate. Will it keep this weekends predicted colder weather [not frost] off my seedling chinese greens, will it be good for winter covering of hardy lettuces?

How long will it last for before succumbing to the elements?

[solway cropper]

Norman, I'm not sure if that last post answered your question but back to debris netting. I've found that it blocks out a certain amount of light so will probably offer some protection as long as it's not stretched too tight. But if you really want protection I'd go for fleece or cloches.

[Two_Sheds]

Anything draped over your plants will offer some frost protection ... even a sheet of newspaper.

I hate fleece ... it just rips. Cloches blow away: I love my debris netting but wish I'd bought 3m width instead of 2m.

[bazzaboy]

I love my debris netting but wish I'd bought 3m width instead of 2m.

Good tip 2S, thanks....

A few questions about debris netting (coz the standard garden suppliers don't seem to have cottoned on to it yet and my local garden centres seem to have given up supplying loose netting altogether....)...

a) who supplies it in relatively small quantities at reasonable cost? (I'm not looking to cover a skyscraper!)

b) what's the size of the holes, e.g. does it stop cabbage whites as well as birds?

c) what's the best recommended colour (seems to come in black, white, red, blue and green)? On fruit cages black (rather than green) tends to be preferred choice but maybe white allows most light through?

d) do you prefer to drape it over crops (like fleece) or build temporary cages with supports/canes etc?

e) One of Storming's original questions, how long does it last (looks pretty indestructible...)?

f) and finally (! sorry so many questions...) does it have any DISadvantages?

Thanks for any info, willing to invest partic if it stops cabbage whites, finding shooting 'em with a .22 difficult.... b.

[marathon]

Good tip 2S, thanks....

A few questions about debris netting (coz the standard garden suppliers don't seem to have cottoned on to it yet and my local garden centres seem to have given up supplying loose netting altogether....)...

a) who supplies it in relatively small quantities at reasonable cost? (I'm not looking to cover a skyscraper!) I got mine online and split the stuff between three of us it was £23 for 50m with 2m width. I've seen samller sizes on ebay. will try and find the comapny I used

b) what's the size of the holes, e.g. does it stop cabbage whites as well as birds? Yes protects against cabbage whites

c) what's the best recommended colour (seems to come in black, white, red, blue and green)? On fruit cages black (rather than green) tends to be preferred choice but maybe white allows most light through?
Any colour but I went for green as it blends in (a little)


d) do you prefer to drape it over crops (like fleece) or build temporary cages with supports/canes etc? I stick childrens ball pit balls on the top of cans and then drap netting over
e) One of Storming's original questions, how long does it last (looks pretty indestructible...)? My first lot is in it's third year, I wash it in the washing machine.
f) and finally (! sorry so many questions...) does it have any DISadvantages?
I guess it excluudes a bit of light. The width. My beds are the same size so I've sown three bits together to enable the netting to cover 12 x 4ft bed with a height of 4ft. I've made three for a growth hight of 4ft and four for a growth height of 3 ft

Thanks for any info, willing to invest partic if it stops cabbage whites, finding shooting 'em with a .22 difficult.... b.

hope that helps

[lottie dolly]

go and visit any scaffolding companies,if you are near to any,thats what we did,they often clad to get rid of it,it will no doubt have a few snags,but i machined them up,it will not stop the white fly,but if you stitch the holes up that run through it,it will give you a larger protection from things,but i would suggest,not to stitsh up the holes if butting over fruit,as it would stop the pollinators,also try ebay,and hows a bout the brews that peeps make from rhubarb leaves,chill and garlic,there is a lot of info already on the search about this,i myself last year made a brew,everything in 1 large barrell,boy it stinks,but last year i watered the brasicas with a dilution every now and then,and appeard to be good,only 1 purple sprouting got a few catterpillars,but after a hunt,squish and leaf removal,followed by a spray,with evil brew in a watering can,and that was it,only the white fly,

[Pies]

It will stop cabbage whites no probs,its might be small enough to stop carrot fly.

Whit is probably the costliest as its flame retardent

3m is more usefull than 2m

There are usually people who sell it by the meter on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NETTING-GARDEN...86.c0.m14#shId

The first meter will cost £2.44 each additional one one costs £1.44


This seems a reasonable price for 3m

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3M-X-20M-GREEN...d=p3286.c0.m14

hth

[bazzaboy]

Thank you very much for all the details and tips, Marathon and LottieDolly, very useful to me and I hope many others.... I'll get debris netting organised over the chillier months and be ready for 'em (cabbage whites) next time round. Mercifully they seem to have much reduced activities lately, but I guess the local pigeons will have an increased appetite as Winter gets going and they seem able to spot broccoli when flying over at 200', very clever navigational computers they have on board.... On the Smelly Brew front I have started one with borage and it's not too rank, whether rank enough to deter critters I'll find out in due course. Many thanks again... b.

[bazzaboy]

Also thanx to Pies for additional details... writing at the same time as me writing my thank you letters! b.

[Storming Norman]

I got my debris netting from Tarpaflex UK and bought 3m wide x 20m for around £20 incl postage. The decision was made not on the cost of netting but the horrendous cost of the postage the others wanted. It arrived really quickly.

Because it is heavier than standard netting it is easier to cut, lift to weed & can be watered through easily, and will not blow away. It's even cheaper per bed than the crop netting I have used elsewhere. I'm really pleased.

I tried fleece last winter and this spring - both times the foxes destroyed it, if debris netting is stronger and offers a similar protection than that is great. Good news that you can put it in the wash as well.

My issue is pigeons mostly - but I think I might just look up this smelly brew as well.