Arghhhh! Netting!!!!

[sweetcorn]

Perhaps I won't grow brassicas any more! I end up tangled up, tied in knots, wrestling with yards of netting desparately trying to anchor bits down and get it over bamboo poles, only to arrive at the lottie and discover they've been blown apart again! Anyone got any hints as to how to do this without having a nervous breakdown? Everyone else's look nice and neat and protective. Mine looks like a hurricane in a netting shop.

[Peas'n'Kews]

Well, no idea if this helps, but we have plastic glasses (from the �1 shop) over our canes to stop the netting from slipping down and to protect it, and we anchor the netting with tent pegs direct into the soil....

We also use small clips (Swedish shop) to hold bits of netting together....

That said, getting tangled up is the name of the game!!!

Good luck

[rustylady]

What sort of netting are you using, sweetcorn?

[singleseeder]

I use 2pt milk bottles full of water to anchor netting as I pull it into position. Ball pond balls on top of the canes help with pulling the netting over the top.

Having said that it would be easier with a second pair of hands, and the cheaper netting is far less easy to handle.

P&K, what are the clips you mention? Any links?

[SarzWix]

Sorry sweetcorn, but that made me LOL I've given up trying to use canes to make frames, because this is what always happens to me although using those build-a-ball things to attach the canes together in a box-like structure did help a bit.

I just use cloche hoops and enviromesh these days, and when the plants get too big for the cloche hoops they just push the mesh up out of the way. The enviromesh (sometimes called insect-netting) is a bit more expensive than the usual butterfly-netting, but it's a good investment IMO - mine has lasted 5 years so far and is still strong and working well

[Alison]

I find netting impossible to use and it used to infuriate me. As mentioned above enviromesh is much better for keeping insects out, handling and you can roll it up and use for years. Not cheap but fab.

[WendyC]

Nothing to do with plant protection but wire coat hangers induce a similar kind of rage as described! Depending on what brassicas you're growing the premade tunnels you can get work well for me but obviously not fro tall brocolli or Brussels. I also used to get in a muddle with the tunnels but now when I store them I fold flat and cross the two cords underneath and tie at the top. This keeps it together and stops the tunnels getting too friendly with each other in the tool box.

[Kaiya]

Last year I lost a roll of netting when the mange tout grew through it, and I could not fathom how to separate the two stringy things. This year bean netting is up and attached to canes, but in a rather... abstract manner! I've ordered some netting for brassicas but I'm dreading having to work with it, as I think it's the plastic one that collapses as you try to stretch it out...

[Shadylane]

I gave up on cheap netting ages ago, it's horrid to work with. Have managed without netting on plot 1 but our 2nd plot has greedier pigeons. I spent just under 30 squid and it was more than enough to cover an 8m long bed using hoops pushed into canes/ex blowaway poles. I got it from gardening naturally and it's good quality and really easy to manouvre.

[Currysniffa]

I use debris netting over water pipe, or bird netting and water pipe Its always worked a treat for me. Using bamboo cane frames look a bit fiddly for me to bother with tbh.

[Jelliebabe]

Oooooooh lots of super good tips here ladies and Gents! Netting gets my goat too - in fact a goat would prolly do a better job. I have speshull figo connectors for my construcshuning this year but havnt put it all up yet. Will do shortly - expect swearing!

[Jelliebabe]

PS - Well Jell currysniffa! Much neatness!

[binley100]

I use debris netting and pipes as well .........but swap the debris netting for a more open netting in the winter and snow goes through it ....

[sweetcorn]

I have tried all sorts of different netting, and the one that induces most swearing and frustration is definitely the nylon sort that rips your fingernails off and tangles if you look at it. I have tried the woven type which is heavier but agree two pairs of hands are better! I have now bought some tent pegs to anchor the stuff down as I go around as I have to get the stuff organised on my own. I'm so glad others find it infuriating too - when I looked around allotments at neat and lovely constructions quietly repelling pigeons and butterflies with seemingly effortless grace I felt that I must be the only one that can't control a little bit of netting and some bamboo poles!

[Paulottie]

The secret to netting is to put it away. Take one end make a slipknot and pull the next bit through working it so it ends as a sort of plait look. pull the end and it comes apart again. (if you very organised... you tie a laundry tag at one end with dimensions it helps... too advanced for me)

The easier they are to use the more likely you will. I have many wire hoops....but canes with tennis balls work for taller stuff.

That said...like others... I mainly use environmesh for brassicas....fabulous investment.