In message , Rick Hughes
writes

"robgraham" wrote in message
...
I will admit that I haven't seen much in the way of veg growing
discussion here, but having seen two threads on bread making, I'm
prepared to consider that anything goes that I do myself.

My first year at same ... biggest issue was Cabbage White Butterflies ....
not wanting to spray they were everywhere.

I went away on 10 day holiday and whole crop wiped out ... Cauli &
Cabbage and about 50% of Broccoli.

Dis the fleece get pulled about by wind ... is it a pain to keep
lifting up for weeding ?
Does water pass through OK ?
Did you support it on anything or just drape over plants.?


Rather than fleece for this, we use a crop protection mesh - a fine mesh
netting a bit like net curtain but thicker. The brand name product is
Enviromesh from Agralan, but you can get cheaper versions. I think we
bought a roll off of Ebay last time.


http://www.gardening-naturally.com/acatalog/Enviromesh.html#aEM001


I prefer it to fleece for this as it's tougher, doesn't snag on plants
so easily, doesn't tear so easily, is easier to move on and off the
plants and I suspect has a bit better ventilation . You can water
through it ok.

On lower crops you can just drape it across and weight down or whatever.
On taller things like Broccolli we prefer to use some lightweight
support made from canes to support it.



--
Chris French