Protecting my crops, what do i need?

[Kristen]

I've found some shade net (1.5x5m) which is a perfect size and not too dear. What do you think?

I don;t think that 1.5M wide is enough - you need 3M width to cover a 4' wide bed and give 30" clearance - which is about right for Sprouts / Sprouting Brocolli.

These people do a variety of netting products, this is their butterfly net:

Butterfly Netting - Keep Off Cabbage White Butterfly

[Pies]

Hi Kristen, I like the look of that set up but like you say the length is far too long. I've found some shade net (1.5x5m) which is a perfect size and not too dear. What do you think?

40% SHADE / WIND BREAK NET 1.5M x 5M: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

buy by the running meter, £2 cheaper

NETTING GARDEN / POND / CROP / DEBRIS. GREEN 3m x 1m on eBay (end time 23-Mar-11 07:32:54 GMT)

[LittleShamrock]

To deter cats, you could try:

- sprinkling orange/lemon peel around the place (apparently they don't like the smell)
- bottles of water sitting about the place (I think this freaks them out)
- a mirror/something reflective/cat cut-out shape, a cat doesn't like other cats in the area.
- planting catnip outside your garden or in a part away from where you grow your veg - the cats will all go there and get so stoned they won't think about anything else

but then some cats have seen it all before and just don't care. as Bazzaboy says throwing soft missles or going mental at the cat might help, plus it sounds like loads of fun

for plant collars, you could cut the bottoms off plastic bottles, yoghurt tubs etc. and a bowl of beer sunk into the ground will get rid of lots of the slugs.

[Lotsaveg]

Send an email to sales@dragonfli.co.uk and ask for a sample of the new product called VeggieThrow. They'll send you some FOC. This performed amazingly at the local allotments last year.

I've found out today that the VeggieThrow costs £399 delivered for a 4m x 200m roll. For an allotment club this would probably be the best way to purchase and then divide up at 50p a sq.m (if my maths is correct!).

Buying it in smaller amounts of 4m x 5m works out at around 1.50 a sq. m which is still good but more expensive than sharing a roll.

I'd suggest sending off for a sample and see what you think .

[Jono]

I'd cover the cabbages with something when they're young so the pigeons don't get them. They love my baby plants.

Also worth planting some African marigolds to deter the white fly from my experience. Apparently they don't like the smell. Doesn't seem to work for everyone, but has done for me. Well worth a try imo.

[Lotsaveg]

Also worth planting some African marigolds to deter the white fly from my experience. Apparently they don't like the smell. Doesn't seem to work for everyone, but has done for me. Well worth a try imo.

I did a research project a few years ago to look at companion planting marigolds as a way of repelling whiteflies. The results were amazing... the whiteflies were settling on the undersides of the flower petals and even laying eggs on them! Obviously the eggs didn't survive on the petals but it was very interesting to see that the marigolds actually attracted the whitefly rather than repel them.

[Two_Sheds]

African marigolds to deter the white fly ...Apparently they don't like the smell.

African, or French? It's the French ones that are really stinky

results were amazing... the whiteflies were settling on the undersides of the flower petals and even laying eggs on them!

Oh, so not repelled by the smell then? Confused now ...
I'm one for whom the marigold deterrant didn't work (I've tried Mexican, English, French and African)

[Jono]

I grew the African ones. Am doing it again this year, so interested to see if it works.

Interesting about the repelling thing. Normally I get so many its like a white fog!

[WillyNelson]

My lottie neighbour told me that a garlic soap spray was the best way of getting rid of whitefly (possibly, might not have remembered that correctly though). Not sure whether it helps with prevention...

[womble]

I thought I was right in thinking that french marigolds kept away greenhouse whitefly, but not the outside whitefly which I get on my brassicas.

[Lotsaveg]

My lottie neighbour told me that a garlic soap spray was the best way of getting rid of whitefly (possibly, might not have remembered that correctly though). Not sure whether it helps with prevention...

I've tested garlic juice on whitefly and have been unable to get any good results. However, a surfactant (soapy) treatment works wonders as it causes the wax to become sticky on their wings. I guess this is why your neighbour thought the garlic worked.

Be careful if you're making up your own soap spray though, because many detergents will damage plant leaves, especially brassicas. Not wishing to blatantly promote a product, but I'd suggest looking at the SB Plant Invigorator spray if you want to try a plant safe surfactant product.

[Lotsaveg]

I thought I was right in thinking that french marigolds kept away greenhouse whitefly, but not the outside whitefly which I get on my brassicas.

The cabbage whitefly won't be influenced by marigolds because they have specific host plants, mainly brassicas, but also some weeds such as sow thistle.

The glasshouse whitefly is attracted to yellow/orange colours which is why sticky traps work so well. I'm convinced that it's the colour of the marigold flowers that attract the whitefly to the petals and therefore reduce the numbers that land on your other plants.

[Kristen]

Interesting - are the Cabbage and Greenhouse Whitefly different beasts then? (My Cabbages are in a bed only a few yards from the greenhouse and I have always assumed they were the same bad guys!)

And perhaps I should concentrate on growing a "really yellow" marigold variety in the greenhouse, the ones I have been sowing are "rather orange". I clearly need the variety "Kitchen Glove"

[Lotsaveg]

Interesting - are the Cabbage and Greenhouse Whitefly different beasts then? (My Cabbages are in a bed only a few yards from the greenhouse and I have always assumed they were the same bad guys!)

And perhaps I should concentrate on growing a "really yellow" marigold variety in the greenhouse, the ones I have been sowing are "rather orange". I clearly need the variety "Kitchen Glove"

Indeed... The cabbage whitefly is not only a different species, but from a different genus. Visually they are different as they've a couple of grey marks on their wings.

Both still have similar life cycles and suck plant sap although the cabbage whitefly can survive freezing. It contains a natural anti-freeze as do vine weevil larvae!

[Florence Fennel]

Send an email to sales@dragonfli.co.uk and ask for a sample of the new product called VeggieThrow. They'll send you some FOC. This performed amazingly at the local allotments last year.

Just wanted to say thank you Lotsaveg. I e-mailed as you suggested and got a very polite and helpful reply after only a couple of hours and they are sending me a sample.