Crop Protection - Pests

RebekahR

Hi Guys,

I have sown some of my first seeds all be it indoors. And an now turning my attention towards better crop protection. Last year I had a terrible problem with caterpillars and the like. Mainly on my cabbages and sprouts suffered the worst. I was using a green long mesh tunnel for my cabbages but I dont think it was effective enough as the 2 ends didn't tie or anything and I think things were able to crawl under even though I tried to hold it down with stones lol. The brussels I didn't do anything with as they got too tall for the tunnel.

I had peppers out for one night ... woke up the next morning and right to the ground nothing was left! Goodness knows what ate them! :eek:

So bascically any idea's what I can use/do this year? Especially for my bigger things that can't go in a smalkl tunnel. The veggie patch is about 17 foot by 10 foot but only about a 1/3rd of that will be with the above items this year.

Thanks in advance guys!

angelavdavis

I invested in some enviromesh last year from Garden Naturally and made some cloches with it (they do sell cloches too). This helped protect my brassicas from cabbage whites. You could always put it over your existing cloches. I gathered up the ends and pinned it down with U shapes made out of sturdy wire.

I have no doubt that your peppers were eaten by slugs/snails. I also advise going out early evening with a torch and an empty milk carton with a lid. I then go around the garden collecting up slugs and snails and putting them in the carton. Then sealing up the carton and putting it in the wheelie bin for them to be disposed of forever! Luckily, I have hens now and they get any snails or slugs I collect up.

I also found that the enviromesh provides some protection, so the plants that grew under this fabric seemed to grow much bigger and faster than elsewhere. Remember to remove if you are dependent on insects pollinating the flowers - such as for courgettes for example.