netting height

[bikermike]

I am planning to make some netting frames up this year, ideally, I want them to be standardised across the plot (I'm trying to slowly make all my beds the same size)

Excluding sweetcorn, beans etc and fruitcanes

So mainly brassicas and parsnips/carrots, may extend to courgettes etc later

any thoughts on how tall you would make netting for such a fitting?

[Small pumpkin]

To be honest I don't think you can standardise across the whole plot. That's the beauty of veg they come in all shapes and sizes. Also the net you need to keep butterflies and bird off your brassicas isn't going to be the same as the stuff you need to keep carrot fly off your carrots.
Obviously I've been known to be wrong (quite often actually)

[veggiechicken]

Think about the height of the tallest veg ? sprouts, broccoli and it needs to be higher than that!
Courgettes need pollinators so no point putting them in a cage.

[bikermike]

anything too tall, I'll just plant in a trench...

Agreed it's not going to be perfect for everything, but as a least-worst way of protecting stuff.
(Incidentally, I have insect-netted my brassicas to keep whitefly off)

good point re courgettes.

[rary]

I use enviromesh pulled over what you might call a small Polly tunnel shape, made from metal pipes down both sides of my raised bed, pushed into the ground and joined with blue water pipe, I am quite sure there will be photos of similar on the Vine

[chris_m]

anything too tall, I'll just plant in a trench...

Dig it deep enough and you can put the sweetcorn and beans in there too ;-)

(Incidentally, I have insect-netted my brassicas to keep whitefly off)

And cabbage root fly. I butterfly netted my brassicas last year but hadn't heard of cabbage root fly until it was too late :-(

For this year I've made semi-raised beds with weed membrane 3 feet down and filled with improved soil compared to last year. The ones for brassicas, carrots, etc have frames (with hinged lifting panels) covered in veggiemesh whilst the others are getting bird netting so the insects can get in. Did the first one today and will do the other another day when there's little in the way of wind and rain forecast.

I'm also going to be companion-planting in the bird netted beds to try and confuse the little blighters with strong smells - onions, leeks and marigolds.

Fingers crossed, I'll get better results than last year.

[4Shoes]

Planning on 2.4 x 1m frames covered with Scaffold Debris netting for the sides and 3m Debris netting for the roof for brassicas. The Carrots will have lower frame with 3m Debris netting over whole bed.

Still to identify solution for strawberries.

[bikermike]

Still to identify solution for strawberries.

very small landmines for the slugs, automatic machine guns for the squirrels, electrified netting for the birds...
I just grow my strawbs right by the house, and rely on wildlife's general reluctance to get too close...

[Penellype]

Still to identify solution for strawberries.

Let me know if you find one! Birds leave mine mostly alone, probably because of the neighbour's cat, and slugs are mostly prevented by growing them in pots on shelving. My problems are mostly tortrix moth and tiny pink/brown caterpillars at the stalk end which I think could be a type of fruit fly. The tortrix moth appear to be indestructable and are still happily chomping away at the leeks, fennel, broccoli, spinach and strawberry foliage despite the intermittent frosts. The fruit flies are far too small to be kept out by insect mesh, and of course the flowers need pollinating.

[4Shoes]

electrified netting for the birds...

Would agree there. A whole pie of blackbirds were at them last year.

[DataMonkey]

I've always assumed that any netting over brassicas needed to be clear of the plants so that the butterflies couldn't just land on the netting and lay their eggs through the netting.

Is this right though, because I've read a couple of bits over the last days that just talk about draping netting over brassicas ?

Trying to keep the netting clear of sprouts and sprouting broccoli involves a lot of netting !

[bikermike]

I suppose it's the art of the possible - even if it's only draped, it's better than nothing and they can only reach a few of the external leaves.

I've cracked and bought some rectangular hoops (think goalposts) from Gardening naturally. I'm going to use some old fruitcage poles between them and might cut them in half and extend them if they aren't wide enough.

[chris_m]

I suppose it's the art of the possible - even if it's only draped, it's better than nothing and they can only reach a few of the external leaves.

leaving the caterpillars free to crawl to the rest

[4Shoes]

Planning on 2.4 x 1m frames covered with Scaffold Debris netting for the sides and 3m Debris netting for the roof for brassicas. The Carrots will have lower frame with 3m Debris netting over whole bed.

Still to identify solution for strawberries.

Been down to local saw mill and noticed 6' small dia posts. Put a blue poly hoop over them and bird netting and that'll be a walk in fruit cage. Perhaps a frame to sit on the posts so that it could be moved from Strawberry patch to Fruit trees to protect cherry trees?.

Perhaps with the side frames to add height if required. - Still on the drawing board.

Was thinking side frames could double as bird/AI prevention in winter months if chicken runs built to same width.


Bikermike ---
If trying to keep butterflies off, it will depend on mesh size. They like to lay eggs on underside of leaf