Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi

I would like to make my own brassica collars, has anyone any ideas, I have cardboard, never grown cabbages before

much thanks

Sarah

I had a lot of roofing felt left over and cut that up into squares. About 150mm. Seemed to work OK.

What a great idea! could any other material be used do you think?

We are trying to grow Cabbage again this year plus some Cauliflowers.

Can anyone explain more about these collars. I have heard about them but never seen a picture of one or know what they help to solve?

Thanks.

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im using damp proof course. cutting up squares.

Mike & Louise,
for a picture and description of cabbage collars go to The Online Gardener - Product Details
Harry

And there's quite a lot about this very subject in this month's Kitchen Gardens - basically you can use anything, even cardboard, which will deter varmints.

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TonyF, Dordogne 24220

i have seen carpet underlay being used and if you have any carpet shops local ask if you could check out there skips.

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I'd rather regret the things i've done than regret not doing them at all.

Great, thanks for that.

I see someone has mentioned using cardboard and someone else said about a size of 150mm seems to work.

So if I use circular or square peices of cardboard about 150mm in size that would work.

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Read our chicken keeping and veg growing diary here:
http://www.naturalaromas.co.uk/the_good_life
Veg section: Last updated on October 8 2008
Chicken section: Last updated on April 22 2008

I have cut some round collars shapes out of the slug and snail mat fabric, its coated with copper which slugs and snails don’t like to cross, so I’m hoping it will protect all my brassicas from both root fly and slugs

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what great ideas, think I may opt for cardboard and use copper tape for slugs unless some carpet stuff comes along,

appreciate all ur help

sarah

Don't stick the copper tape to cardboard, as quite soon the cardboard will be soggy and of no use in the future.

Why not buy a pack of cheap self adhesive vinyl floor tiles from the local DIY store. Cut them into 4 and stick on the copper tape, should last for years.

Cutting the hole in the middle is a bit tough going but after all you only have to do this once

I scrounged a bit of old pond liner off my Dad which I'm gonna use. Does anyone know if it has to be a particular size?

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Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

So (sorry to be dim here!) do the collars just simply act as a barrier to prevent the cabbage root fly getting to the roots of brassicas? Do they need to be a certain minimum size if that's the case?

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i think the cabbage root fly lay there eggs near to the stems of brassicas which is usually onto the soil, when they hatch out they burrow down into the soil and then eat the stem (? correct me someone if I'm wrong). By putting a "collar" there you creat a barrier, the flies lay their eggs and they dry out and die - hurray!!!
Don't know how wide they have to be though.

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Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

Yes, they lay eggs near to the stem. The larvae hatch and burrow down eating the roots.

A good size for a collar is 5 inch (square or circular diameter). The theory is that either the flies don't lay - the material fools them - or the eggs dry out.

Cheers both, that makes sense now! So (sorry for yet another question) how early should we be putting the collars on, as soon as the brassicas are planted out?

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Life may not be the party we hoped for but since we're here we might as well dance

yep! Well I have anyhows..

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Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.