Vegetable protection

Can anyone help regarding netting over our cauliflower and broccoli. Do you have to keep the netting on all the time to protect from pigeons etc or do we remove it as they are about 18" high now. :confused:

 

Hi Josephine.I personally would leave the netting on because once the food resources for the local rabbits runs out then they may well start on your greens

When we first used to put out our greens into the ground,then we had pigeon problems. The pigeons would walk along the rows pecking at any middle bite of the plants they could find,once the plants grew to a decent size they used to leave them alone but we know find that although we don't have the pigeon problem we have found that the rabbits will carry on.They have even been known to eat our pears off any branches weighted down with unripe pears. :eek:

Don't forget though to shake off any heavy snow that might lay on the netting or else it could damage the plants underneath especially brussels.

Good Luck ...

 

Thanks Kandy, Should we also raise the height of the netting as the leaves are nearly touching it.
Good tip about the snow thanks again.

 

Hi Josephine,If it is getting that bad then yes you might as well raise the netting.Some people on our allotments make up a framework from old pieces of wood like battons,and then they drape the netting over the top and hold it down with bricks or stones.

If you have a look at Plotty's thread on this section you might find some information on his blog that will help you