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disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moths?
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Posted by emmers_m 6 Northern NJ (My Page) on Mon, Apr 27, 09 at 22:50
| Hi, all,
I have 'summerweight' row covers installed over my brassicas because the little experience I've had gardening taught me that cabbage moths/loopers are a BIG problem.
I had high hopes for the row covers, but I'm underwhelmed with the ability for water to penetrate. It seems to pool where it can pool and shed into my paths where it can shed. All in all I feel like the row covers will limit the benefit of rain to the brassica beds. (I do have soaker hoses underneath, but the free stuff falling from the sky is not something I want to ignore.)
So my thought is to investigate some type of more open-weaved mesh or net, because the critters of concern (the pretty white butterflies that have me waving my arms around yelling "shoot them!") are fairly large.
My question to you is whether the moths/loopers (I think I might have both) can do something crazy like squeeze themselves into a tiny tube to fit through mesh (or holes in the row cover.)
Would a netting work? And if so, how small would the openings have to be to foil my flying foes?
Thanks!
~Emily
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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- Posted by dicot Los Angeles (My Page) on
Tue, Apr 28, 09 at 2:29
| Why not just use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)and free your brassicas from the plastic? |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| I have always used tulle netting (the stuff wedding veils are made of) to cover my cabbages. it works great! Its light weight, cheap, and has tiny holes. the rain gets in just fine with no problems, as does the sun. It comes in many colors, and I don't see that it matters what color you use. I've had blue, green, and pink. You can get it at fabric stores or craft stores like Joann's. Usually around now, (pre-wedding season) is a good time to buy it on sale, only about 50 cents a yard. it comes in 72 inch widths too, which is generally better than the 52 inch wide. |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| I had a bad problem with cabbage moths last year too. Tulle sounds like a fun idea - it will be like prom night in my garden. haha |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| I used fanfortony's idea of using tulle netting to cover my squash seedings in March. It works great! To use in a raised bed like we did, we made two hoops using flexible black irrigation tubing anchored over short pieces of rebar placed in the corners of the 4'x4' bed. Two pieces of nylon netting were cut into 3' lengths. Overlap the long sides of the netting over the hoops and use short 2.5" pieces of the tubing that have been split as clamps over the hoops. Sandbag the netting around the base of the wood box frame using freezer bags filled with playbox sand. This held up very well in the rain and could be used through the entire growing season of short plants. |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| Thanks, everyone - the tulle sounds like exactly what I'm looking for. I found some 108" wide tulle sold by the yard on amazon, which should be ample room to let my brussels sprouts get as tall as they want to. Dicot: I decided on a physical barrier for a number of reasons, some of which are: I want to stop the problem before it starts, not after; although I think Bt is great for many people, I want to avoid any pesticdes if I can; and the idea of dead caterpillars in my broccoli squicks me only slightly less than the idea of live ones. :) Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - I'm sure the tulle will work much better! ~Emily |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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- Posted by dicot Los Angeles (My Page) on
Tue, Apr 28, 09 at 23:58
| Bt is more like biological warfare, but I understand completely. I used Safers soap on the aphids infesting my cabbage, apparently killed a looper too, which didn't come off when I washed the head. I discovered this by biting into his decomposed little squirmy body. That was unpleasant. |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| I used row cover last year and it didn't hold up for the growing season. The tulle sounds really interesting. How long will it last? Can you get more than one season out of it? dicot how GROSS! |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| So glad everyone likes the tulle idea. I've used it for years. To answer "never give up", it can last for many seasons. Although, last year I had an issue with Grasshoppers eating through it on my brussels. I wont let that happen again....I didnt know that they liked the brassicas too and just ignored them. Lesson learned! I also find the tulle much easier to handle than row cover. I just fold it up when done and put away until needed again. Because its airy, it doesnt seem to get as dirty and grungy looking as the row cover. Good luck with all your gardens. |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| Does anyone have any bridal/prom garden pictures? |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| Thank you fanfortony! Off to look for tulle. |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| I'll see if this works. I can never remember how to post pics |
RE: Tulle Pic
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| well, it showed up in the preview! I'll try one more time. |
tulle pic take 2
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RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| Wow - beautiful! And you can actually SEE your veggies! Which are lovely, and not chewed! That's it, the order's going in right now. Thanks so much, fanfortony. I would probably have tried it anyway, but now I'm sure it's going to work. It'll be s nice to be able to see my poor little transplants again! ~Emily |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| LOL. Emmers, glad you like it. Took a while to show it to you! Hope you enjoy your PROM Garden. :) |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| Great idea! I'm wondering if this would work for carrot flies, too, or if they are small enough to get through those holes. Hmmmm... |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| I am interested in using tulle for a cover for my broccoli and brussel sprouts. Do I need a frame to hold up the tulle or can I just make a bag (the tulle can be sewn quite easily) and put it over the plant? If the plant is holding up the tulle, will the moth be able to lay eggs on the top of the plant? |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| awwwwww, how pretty ! I like that it is blue or green. It blends in better than white would have. |
RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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RE: disappointed in row covers/will netting work for cabbage moth
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| Thanks for the tulle idea. I have yards and yards in my fabric stash -- never thought of using it for the veggies!! DL |
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