Netting

Hi All,

I ned some netting to cover my peas, lettuce and cabbage. What is the best size to go for? I have brougt some from the pound shop but on furter investigation the holes are about an inch in diameter and im thinking that this may be too big.

Thanks in advance
Rusty

 

It might be O.K. for the peas and lettuce, but those cabbage whites are made of stronger stuff. I should go for something about 3/8" square. 3/8" what's that Dad?

I have watched cabbage whites struggling through mesh, nearly tearing their wings off to get to the brassicas. Cheers, Tony.

 

Are you protecting pea sowings from mice, cabbage from pigeons and/or cabbage white butterflies and are you intending to use shading mesh to slow down the rate of bolting of lettuces - all completely different stuff required.

 

Hi Rusty,

You are right, i've watched Small Cabbage Whites circle over inch netting till they get the right position, then close their wings and drop straight thru onto the cabbages

 

The best by far would be enviromesh - it will even keep out aphids and carrot fly. It's a bit expensive though it will last for years.

 

Yes, I thoroughly agree. I've used it for 3(?) years now, and has proven to be VERY effective against most pests. The only one it doesn't seem to keep off is whitefly It seems that cabbage whites are indeed very determined to lay their eggs, so I wouldn't go for anything that gives them the opportunity, gotta be Enviromesh

Cheers...Freddy.

 

I got the enviromesh....well worth it

 

Hi all,
I want to protect from Pigeon and butterflies mainly. Is Enviromesh the best stuff to use.

Rusty

 

I use Scaffolders Debris Netting - cheap as chips compared to Enviromesh and lasts for years. If there is a building site using it near you you'll probably be able to blag it for free, they usually chuck it away after a job.

Go for Black - I bought Green because I think it would blend in - it doesn't! its more of a fashion statement!

Erection of butterfly protection on my Brassicas by a 9 year old on my blog:
http://kgarden.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/brassica-netting-against-cabbage-white-butterfly/

I use enviromesh for my Carrots (carrot fly is smaller)

In Winter I replace the Debris netting with a wider mesh netting (about 2" squares) to keep the birds off - the fine mesh holds the snow and thus the whole structure collapses and squishes the plants underneath. That netting can go over the Peas if you only want to keep the birds off (i.e. different season for Peas and Winter protection of Brassicas). Don't think I've had a problem with birds eating my lettuce, but something eats my Chard / Leaf Beet, so I chuck some Debris netting over that too. (Don't be worried about light reduction with Debris Netting, I've not noticed any difference)

 

I think so Rusty but you could use old net curtains

 

last year SWMBO bought me a parcel from here was impressed at the quality the mesh is tiny ideal for carrots and cabbage family.
This is the stuff she bought me but not this website I have lost the addy for the one I wanted!
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/product/Garden Netting_Insect Netting/GDN-018.htm

 

Gardening Naturally used to be the place for Enviromesh - they say they no longer sell it and have had their own material made instead (and called it Veggiemesh) with 1.35mm mesh

http://www.gardening-naturally.com/acatalog/Veggiemesh.html

they also have an "Ultra fine" version (0.8mm mesh) that supposedly will keep out Whitefly and Flea-beetle:

http://www.gardening-naturally.com/acatalog/Veggiemesh_Ultra-Fine.html

Gardening Naturally are a reputable company and, although I haven't tried it, Veggiemesh is probably a quality product.


Veggiemesh 1.35mm mesh 2.1 x 10m = £23.99 (£1.14 / sq.M) [Range of widths / lengths available]Ultra Fine 0.8mm mesh 2.1 x 4.5m Pack = £15.84 (£1.68 / sq.M)

There is also Wondermesh :

http://www.wondermesh.co.uk/

which has speciifc sizes for some very small pests ...

Looks like the products are much-of-a-muchness, and Enviromesh have probably priced themselves out of the market.

WM16 (1.33mm mesh size) 3.65m x 10m = £30.10 (£0.82 / sq.M)
WM32 (0.6mm mesh size) 3.25m x 5m = £26.90 (£1.66 / sq.M)

By comparison Debris netting from Tarpaflex http://www.tarpaflex.co.uk/acatalog/Debris_Netting.html

2.0m x 50m = £25.98 (£0.26 / sq.M)

 

wondermesh was the one I was looking for 30x4M was the size,a bit stiffer than enviromesh due to the smaller holes,but seems to let rain and light in just as well.