On 22 Sep, 22:20, "Rick Hughes"
wrote:
"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.?

Have to find solution for next year ...

Telescopic tunnels are the other option I guess.

Hi Rick - I suffered the same last year and compounded by the fact
that the caterpillar spray had lost its potency and they just kept
eating !

I bought something like a 6m x 10m pack off Ebay which included 150mm
plastic pegs. I just laid the fleece with an adequate margin over the
plants immediately after planting out. The wind does tend to get
under it a bit when the plants are fully grown and needs the pegs
checked every so often but here (10km from Edinburgh) it didn't take
off or anything.

Moisture passes through fine and may actually be trapped so also helps
growth. It's not that difficult to fold back a 6 x 6m bit to weed; I
actually only did it the once. I got another tip which I might follow
up next year and that is to sow purple clover as a nitrogen fixer and
weed suppressor right through the cabbage area.

Hope that helps and you get better results next year.

Rob