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Butterfly / bird netting

tomhumftomhumf Posts: 61
in Tools and techniques
Hi,

We are new gardeners. Last year we used environmesh on brassicas against butterflies, I'm not sure if that's a good idea - it's a shame to hide them anyway.

We're looking at getting some butterfly netting for brassicas , it seems this would be adequate protection for them? And some net for berries / beetroot etc that the pigeons might eat.

To keep things simple I'm thinking of just getting butterfly net for everything. It seems it's just a slightly smaller mesh size? Would there be anything wrong with that, or just maybe cost a bit more? 

Thanks 
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  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,970
    I got some mesh to protect my strawberries a couple of years ago.
    It was a while before I realized the the mesh was too fine to allow bees to get in and out, so the flowers weren't getting pollinated.
    Otherwise butterfly netting should do the job.

    Do bear in mind though that even if a tiny bit of leaf is touching the net, the butterflies will find it and lay eggs. I've given up on growing brassicas now
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    I use this 7mm butterfly netting to cover all of my brassicas and it works well.  Remember to brush the snow off any netting with small holes though!  This 19mm netting is used to cover my fruit and the holes are large enough for bees. 
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ColinAColinA Posts: 367
    I bought a roll of scaffold netting from Amazon after a recommendation on this forum last year, It worked brilliantly against butterflies, pigeons and even cut down the amount of grey aphids, and the crops grew well also
  • tomhumftomhumf Posts: 61
    edited March 2021
    Ok thanks for the suggestions everyone. Any suggestions for brassica hoops? I guess it's best to have lower ones for cabbage and such, then big ones for sprouts? I was hoping to get some plastic pipe or something for a cheap way but maybe I need to buy proper stuff. 

    I think charles dowding mentions using 4mm wire for his hoops, something like this? Has anyone had experience with something like that? 

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fencing-Stretcher-metres-Straining-Galvanised/dp/B0064OB4EW/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=garden+fencing+wire+thick&qid=1615900567&sr=8-8
  • ColinAColinA Posts: 367
    A reel of 15mm water pipe cut into hoops works great 
  • tomhumftomhumf Posts: 61
    Ok thanks I'll look into that.
  • tomhumftomhumf Posts: 61
    edited March 2021
    Colin I'm looking at debris netting like you suggested, I've read on other posts that it works good. It's like a fine mesh isn't it, so I guess I could use it on salads, brassicas and other stuff that don't need pollinators?

    Are you able to cut it to smaller lengths without it fraying all over the place or do you keep it in a long roll? Thanks 
  • tomhumftomhumf Posts: 61
    I got some debris net but realised it's got two lines of eye holes running down the length. Do they all have this or did I get duff stuff? I'm wanting to use on brassicas, not sure if they will keep out nasties...
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    Looks like that's how they join sections when it's made. If those holes are larger than 7mm diameter, butterflies *will* get in (trust me!), so you could try small black zip-ties to close the holes.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • tomhumftomhumf Posts: 61
    I think they are intended to attach it to stuff. That would be a lot of zip ties  :/
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