Sprouts and Broccoli etc

[mikk100]

Can anyone help, I've never grown brassicas before, really its because I hate the look of caterpillars and the thought of them on my broccoli makes me not want to eat it. Anyway this year I've sown some purple sprouting broccoli in a raised bed and have some brussel sprouts sown indoors which are currently about 5inches high. They will go in another raised bed. From what I've read it seems there is so much out there attacking brassicas; the other allotments near me have all manner of things covering up their caulis and sprouts. Can anyone advise me on how to protect them once they are growing outside, will mesh really stop the caterpillars? And are there any other pests I need to watch out for. I really don't want to spray them but I will at a push as I've nursed these sprouts for ages now.....

[berksmike]

Fine nylon netting will keep butterflies and their young off them. They also prevent the pigeons getting to the leaves.

Use collars made from roofing felt or carpet underlay to protect against cabbage root fly.
Flea beetles can be a problem if like me you live near oil seed rape fields, as far as I know derris is all you can do to control that.

Hope that doesn't put you off! They are always worth growing I think

Mike

[momol]

Hi mikk100,

Like Berksmike's suggestion, it works very well for me. I have been growing brassicas with fine nylon net cover for 2 years , and it work very well. you just need to make some frame ( from wood or iron pipe ) and cover your nylon net over it and make sure the net fastened. good luck !

Momol

[Flummery]

Also, make sure the netting is well above the leaves. If the butterflies can land on the leaves you're up the creek!

[berksmike]

I just put 3' canes at each corner, drape the netting over it and fix with netting/tent pegs

[vicki lorraine]

I use canes which i connect together with tennis balls from the pound shop. I put holes in the balls and connect the poles and then drape the mesh. Alternatively you can put upturned pop bottles on the canes to stop the cane ripping the mesh and then anchor the mesh down.

[Paulottie]

Fleece works but is easy to tear. I uncovered mine for a while yesterday to weed etc. Within an hour a butterfly had shown up and we had eggs on a few plants.

[mikk100]

Wow, I like the tennis ball idea. How high should I make the frame? It doesn't say on my seed packet how high the plants will grow, I have purple sprouting broccoli and brussel sprouts.

[Paulottie]

4-5 ft by the autumn! Prob best in two stages.