As a home gardener on an extremely limited income, I find it well worth the effort to extend the life of my mesh, fleece, and netting by repairing it. Once the first one you buy gets holes, it becomes the source of repair fodder for everything after that. Just cut a piece off, lay flat over the hole, do a quick running stitch around to hold it on. Doesn't have to be fabulous, you don't have to have any real sewing skills, doesn't even have to be matching colour thread. Saves a LOT of money though.
I did find tulle netting for wedding dresses works well for me. 40 yds 54 wide was 12 dollars. That stopped all those dreadful white butterfly and worms from my brassica this year. But it didn't stop grubs. They were a lot easier to pull off and it was jus a few. So I now have broccoli and cabbage. First time ever. Thank you sir for your wonderful videos. Have an awesome week
Ive been gardening one way or another for 35 years and taking in tv/radio advice all that time but these videos are the most encouraging helpful and enjoyable pieces of advice I have ever come across, Thanks Charles
Thank you so much from western Canada. I greatly appreciate that you do not ruin your videos with inane "music" like so many otherwise decent gardeners do!
I love how your garden is like a well oiled machine. You harvest potatoes one day and same day leeks are in. Filling in any bare spots on beds with other plants right away. This is genius and fantastic! I enjoy your videos greatly!
Thank you for addressing the caterpillar in the room, Charles. Although we have suffered defeat in the way of brassicas for three years straight, we’re going to keep on keeping on, head held high. There’s always tomorrow until there isn’t. Cheers!
Last year my entire crop of leeks were decimated by what I later found out was the Allium leaf mining fly... The leeks all looked beautiful and healthy, and then suddenly all started falling over and rotting, and inside them I found loads of small brown maggot pupae - so this year I'm using mesh and just hoping! (I live near Luton, UK) Another brilliant video! Thanks Charles!
I love how you don't seem frustrated at losing the odd veggie to animals or pests. It's live and let live, but deal with it when you can. I will adopt this philosophy, I think.
This was my first year with a garden and I didn't know what insects go for what, or how bad the birds were gonna come for my stuff - so after watching some of your videos I got some mesh to cover my garden from the very start. I removed it after everything was pretty well established and haven't had too many problems - but the peace of mind at the beginning was invaluable.
I took your advice this year and bought Remey. Best decision I’ve ever made. Not only does it keep out insects it keeps out the cats from pooping in my garden and it keeps the chickens out. I remove it when I’m watering but other than that I’m leaving it on most of my cabbage crops and lettice crops, the Beatles are losing too.
I always found mesh/netting annoying to take on and off but when I bunch it up at each end and pull it tight that makes it much easier and you get a nice tight edge along the sides. Using a standard size bed is also a good idea.
I so enjoy the info you present, Charles, and Edward composes it so nicely with the pictures and music, that I find myself watching it several times. Compost on top doesn't work in every season for us. Today, for example, in our zone 8A it is 100 deg F with 'strong' sun. The dark compost heats up quickly from the sun and the porous nature of the compost yields its moisture freely leaving very stressed plants - with hot surface roots. So, in the summer, we must resort to an additional covering to keep the soil cool. I have used woodchips, which works well. I understand that any attempt to cool the surface of the soil invites slugs so it is a trade off.
Thanks for your feedback Ann and I appreciate the difference in climate, would cover as you say in such heat although many beds have leaf cover from more mature plants.
Thanks Charles for another worth while watch. I don't have any white mesh but do have builders green mesh which works well or better sometimes. It comes from builders who use it to cover scaffold. After the jobs finished they thow it all in the skip to land fill. If I ever see the green mesh I skip rade it out.
Hi Charles, will be getting more netting for next years crops, at the moment I am being invaded by the Cabbage white laying eggs on my Brussels, they are not covered but will be using nets next year, so I’m out there every day wiping the yellow eggs off the leaves! I do have a couple of net cages but the are covering my onions from our cat and any other feline in the neighbourhood! (Full time job) So next year will be better organised! Have a great week and see you next time! 👍
Hello Mr Charles, I realized that your smaller garden had so much going on in growing!!! Thank you for teaching us how to do that, and learning how covering helps with pests, planting crops in between others, and changing over items to grow more during seasons. I'm going to try to do better for 2020... I do pray to Jehovah God for a bit of stable health for myself and family, especially for courage since Mamá is 91 yr old and her Alzheimer is progressing. PLEASE keep helping us, we appreciate it, very much.🌞. Give us ideas since I'm on 3 shifts and at times can't think straight 😛thank you.
This is my first year to be using the mesh. I sure hope we are as successful as you are with our garden. I appreciate your sharing this information. 😊💕
I enjoyed listening to your garden tips. It is great to see you actually delivered what you theoretically said in your videos. I learned a lot from it . Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for this great advice. I would never have thought about these covers prior to watching your videos and now I do use them, it’s made a world of difference 😊
OMG it just kicked in your the real life Mr. McGregor from peter rabbit! My wife wants your kind of order just like in the kids books...thanks to you i will be doing it this year at the allotment (my first year) :)
Marina said it a year ago - 'I love how your garden is like a well oiled machine'. Yes, a calm uncomplicated genius. Getting my garden ready for spring, i'm now thinking - hmmm what can I plant amongst those few remaining little cabbages which will be ready to pick in a week or two. I know - peas.And perhaps some radishes in a bare spot while I multisow some onions. I'm sure I'll make mistakes - but I'm on a new and exciting gardening path, with no turning back.
Thanks so much charles, love your videos!! Im in new zealand so this video was really informative for our winter months regarding the use of fleece, i often watch and it always interests me the differences in insects you have there compared to ours. In new Zealands summer months its usually white butterfly, white fly, aphids . But this summer we had a lot of moths (unsure of what type) so will need to do some research.... Thanks so much for your content, you are a big go to for seeking info for our garden
Great information! I always have a good time trying to figure out what vegetable you're talking about when the British English name differs from the American English. Many times I can tell just by seeing the plant, but your "swedes" really had me stumped for a while today... rutabagas!
Thanks, I sowed my lettuce seedlings directly and their popping. I put meshed over them and debating whether to keep the meshed off while the sun was out or on.
Thanks Charles foe some terrific info. The Thermocrop mesh we call Shade Cloth in Australia, you can get different types for different applications. Definitely a must in our hottest weather. 👌
When I succeeded in growing leeks on a honourable scale last year, I noticed during September those I pricked early July where damaged by small larvae. I think the responsible insect is _Napomyza gymnostoma_ , a leafminer. Had to pick an average of three leeks to have a reasonable one for cooking... Those I pricked on mid August were less concerned by this pest. Carrots & leeks are said to have a mutual protective effect against each other's pests ; but I still consider gather some cover mesh to protect especially brassicas & leeks this year. Using Organza bags is ok for a dozen of cabbage ; but it takes lots of time changing bags during their growth, plus their limited size make them useless for bigger brassicas. The carrots here never presented noticable larvae damage since 4 or 5 years now. I'm still impressed by your celeriacs @ 03:53, Charles !
Thanks for this and I'm sorry you have that horrible pest on leeks, which we haven't yet seen but I think it's getting closer. Yes those celeriac were good and it reminds me that it's almost time to sow them again. We still have a few in the shed, looking good.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Still wonder how they arrived there all of a sudden ; because I never cropped leeks before. Do you think it gives better results planting celeriacs on late March/early April or late May/early June ? I never sowed them in March ; did it at the same time as celeries the third week of January since 2 or 3 years. The first 6 celeriacs I planted in 2018 came from a garden-center ; it was on June, the 4th. I remember the bulbs were already 2 to 3 cm thick ; but I figured out these seedlings were sown in January. I remember they tasted really good and I managed to pick some hand sized bulbs !
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Did it yesterday after having read your answer ; hope the 13th will be ok ;) Thank you Charles! Am making fertilizers comparison tests on the first series sowed in January ; by feeding each batch separately every 15 days either with vermicompost tea, horse manure extract or diluted mineral fertilizer, since 1st of March. And keep focused on the bulb gowth now before planting them out in a couple of months :)
I'm in South Cumbria Charles and I'm not aware of leek moth here yet, but have heard it has been problematic in the Midlands. Excellent video and explanation of using mesh. Thanks for sharing 👍
I totally enjoy all these tips, Charles; the NW Arizona desert can be so harsh on delicate plants, I give up on lettuces, but love the kale and collard types because they're more hardy in the heat. Thank you.
Thank you Charles for your expertise, I'm new into gardening and really loving it, your videos are certainly helping me a lot. I'm from Bristol and to be honest every time I need an advise I come and watch your videos. Great job.
I beat the rabbits (and the birds) with bird netting this spring thanks to.your reply on a different video. I started using fleece last winter and I have mesh for this year because those wite moth worms destroyed all my brassicas last fall - works like a charm so far. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for such a quick reply, I have a lot of it but I may have to buy a lower shade one otherwise the veggies may not grow, I will try it tomorrow 👍
Hi Charles, when I've had holes appear in the insect netting I take the netting inside and repair on a sewing machine. Works wonders and saves buying new ones or, even better, letting the insects in to the veggies. Cheers from Annie in Melbourne, Australia. Love watching your videos and reading your books.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Flying to UK (& Ireland) no longer on my list of things to do in the current world of Covid and war in Europe. Happy to stay in Aussie land and enjoy gardening on my 2/3 acre in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. Maybe you could buy a sewing machine :) If I ever make it over there I will fix your nets for you. Cheers, Annie
Here in Alaska I had never planted cabbages or broccoli. This year I got a bug in my butt and planted both. Unfortunately I did not know about the damage cabbage flies can do to brassicas. I lost 3 cabbages and 4 broccoli to the root maggots the flies leave. I learned that if I put row cloth over the soil where you plant your cabbages (mine are in pots) the flies can't get to the base of the cabbage where they put their eggs. I also did something on my own an made a batch of that bacillus t you mentioned and put it around the base of the new cabbages I planted after tossing the old soil. I didn't think about my bok choy and landed up losing them all to the same maggot. It won't happen again. I also must tell you I love no dig. I have been mainly weed free this year for the first time.
Gosh you seem a long way from here and I am happy that no dig is giving a good result. For those pests, it's as you say, discovering which ones you need to protect against then finding best method for you.
Merveille was going to see that's why it was bitter. It is 3' tall now. Yesterday it had lil yellow flowers at the top of the candelabra. The flowers looked like dandelions. I have A LOT of oxalis and crabgrass so that means lack of calcium. I went to Walmart today and got (2) more bags of powdered milk to increase the soil calcium level.
Actually, from following your recommendations in your book I mesh cover everything, not used hoops yet but worth considering. I find rats make holes in the enviro mesh and I do have to put down bait to dissuade them. As you say it protects against a multitude of pests. Take care mike
Hi Charles thanks for the videos there so helpful, I've been using the blue water pipe for my hoops can you tell me what you make your hoops from thank you
I use enviromesh for my brassicas and fleece in the spring when I am bringing on young plants. The wood pigeons are my biggest problem up here in Lancashire - they sit watching, waiting, and attack my precious crops as soon as I walk in the house!!!! Great video, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us :-)
Tip for repairing mesh holes is guerrilla tape. It's amazing stuff and so easy to do. The tape works best when it sticks to itself, so widen the hole slightly, then stick a small bit of tape on either side, sticking to each other. One little mend and it stays on for years through rain and frost, plus it only costs fractions of a penny to replace when it finally does come off. I have a 10yo mesh with a dozen bits of tape on that works 100% perfectly :)
Ah, you answered the question that led me here. I am in a brand new garden and had to leave my hoop structures behind.. My poor brussels sprouts were just a bit crushed by the floating row cover.. On the other hand, it is either that or get eaten.
Life long veg grower here Charles, your films have really made me question the old ways taught to me and I will be experimenting with lots of your methods on my plot going forwards. Have you ever tried "scaffolding protecting mesh" as an alternative to the micro mesh? it comes in longer, wider rolls and is pretty cost effective too. :-)
Thanks Julian and I have not tried it, are the holes small enough to keep insects out, and the material fine enough to allow enough light through, and is it uv treated? (excuse Q's!)
@@CharlesDowding1nodig I was given a good sized piece for my brassicas last year by a friend, as I had the same problems you had with micro mesh not being wide enough, the results were good. I did a quick bit of research to try to answer your questions: It appears to come in various gauges and 2mm seems to be the one favored by gardeners, I presume its UV stabilized as its designed for outside use.
Hi Charles, thank you for your latest video; I think it will prove really useful. I was the chap that asked you in the comment of a previous video about what to do about all my lettuce & onion seedlings disappearing after I planted them out. (There are no rabbits around here). I've just planted out some more lettuce seedlings under a double layer of steel mesh & so far they are still alive this time. Could you advise please; to protect future lettuce & onion seedings, what covering would you recommend most; nylon mesh, fleece or polythene sheet? I only have the money for one of these, hence the question I must say I enjoy your method of delivery, you have a gentle relaxed style, not loud & hyper, & very, very, knowledgeable. Just hit the like icon & already subscribed. Thank you. John.
Thank you for sharing that information. I garden in NW FL USA zone 8b. I will research the Thermacrop availability here, I am interested in perhaps trying some out in my winter garden this year.
Hi Charles, Could you do a video on the different types of hoops you use to support the netting? I am having problems finding hoops - so some advice on where to purchese them would be helpful. I have used 1" plastic water pipe on one of my raised beds. I think flexable tent poes would work well. but I look forward to hearing your ideas?
Great advice as usual, Charles. The leaf miner is a threat to our leeks in Derbyshire, despite being at 700ft, and the mesh definitely works. However, I do have a problem getting decent fleece. I bought a 30m roll (to see me out!) and kept it in our dark shed. Despite being from, I thought, a good brand (Yuzet), it literally falls into pieces after a couple of months in use. Others have had a similar experience so guidance would be valuable. Incidentally, an email to Yuzet drew no response.
Always extremely valuable information served in the most charming fashion however I do have second thoughts about the plastic particles contaminating my organic soil and consequently ending up in the vegetables and...yes me. Studies show water from plastic bottles disrupts hormones secretion so plastic isn't innocent not to mention negative impact of the production process on environment. I wonder if there are natural alternatives to the nylon meshes?
I purchased fleece earlier in the season online, it seems to be heavier than I needed at the time. Mesh seems a good idea and I shall look into getting some asap
I wonder why we don’t see any clear, transparent fleece and mesh. Does it have to be white? Would it not be lovely to see all the plants beneath? The shading effect would be limited of cause, but the need for that depends on where you live, I guess.
Thank you, Charles. Great topic. My question is about the hoops. They aren't readily available here in the USA like there and the choices we do have are very expensive. I wonder if you could do a focus on hoops and maybe even how to make them and attach them so they are sturdy ?
I have the same question. We have taller hoops from bent metal tubing and some from pvc staked over rebar at the edge of the beds. Before the big freeze expected in a few days, I want to cover my garlic with low tunnels and am (today) brainstorming for ideas on how to best do that while gaining a little height at the edges and then hoop over the bed.
It's usually possible to buy think metal rods from a builder's merchant or a garden centre. You just then need to form them by bending them around a large barrel.
@@davelawson2564 plant cabbage for the fall. Go on line order tulle. Its fabric for wedding dresses. It's a lot for 12 bucks. Look it up. I got it I now am growing cabbage and broccoli. Life is much better. 😊
Hi Charles!! I was hoping to see how to set up the hoops. Do you have any videos on that? I have polypipe but I'm not sure how far to put it into the ground and how to make sure it's secure and doesn't pop out or blow over! I have an auger so I could make holes at the edges. How deep do you need to bury each end and do you use a stake? Rebar is quite expensive and a lot of tutorials seem to encourage using it. I've got access to lots of sticks in the forest but not a ton of money hahahaha! Also, how high off the ground should I make the hoops? Say I've got a 3 foot wide bed or a 4 foot wide bed, how many feet of polypipe would be ideal for each hoop section? Thanks so much!!
The metal hoops cost up to £5 each sharanya.co.uk Pushed 15cm into ground, 2.5m length for 1.2m bed. Height depends on your wind and the vegetable. Some covers can lie flat on plants. There is no right or wrong way to do this, it depends what you have available and the metal hoops are a great investment if you can just afford that initial spend, because they are so easy to push in and take care.
I live in Australia and we have shade mesh which is green and beige is this the sort of thing you have, we don’t have white so does it matter, our sun is very harsh, could you please try and answer this for me. Thank you, I’m enjoying your videos.
![АЛАУДИНОВ у Скабеевой: эти их ВСУ нас НЕ ДОГОНЯТ 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/an0anqU4WGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
As a home gardener on an extremely limited income, I find it well worth the effort to extend the life of my mesh, fleece, and netting by repairing it. Once the first one you buy gets holes, it becomes the source of repair fodder for everything after that. Just cut a piece off, lay flat over the hole, do a quick running stitch around to hold it on. Doesn't have to be fabulous, you don't have to have any real sewing skills, doesn't even have to be matching colour thread. Saves a LOT of money though.
Amazing advice, thankyou
I did find tulle netting for wedding dresses works well for me. 40 yds 54 wide was 12 dollars. That stopped all those dreadful white butterfly and worms from my brassica this year. But it didn't stop grubs. They were a lot easier to pull off and it was jus a few. So I now have broccoli and cabbage. First time ever. Thank you sir for your wonderful videos. Have an awesome week
Brilliant recycling :)
i just started using tulle also
how do the insects get To the plant for pollination?
@@GodLovesYou5635 wait to put on the tulle until they are pollinated.
@@cherylnorise420 yes
@@GodLovesYou5635
Unless you are trying to save seed, you don't want your vegetables flowering.
Ive been gardening one way or another for 35 years and taking in tv/radio advice all that time but these videos are the most encouraging helpful and enjoyable pieces of advice I have ever come across, Thanks Charles
Thanks John and I love that you find them enjoyable. Makes learning more effective and then results are better!
Thank you so much from western Canada. I greatly appreciate that you do not ruin your videos with inane "music" like so many otherwise decent gardeners do!
A gardener who does UA-cam videos as opposed to a UA-camr who does gardening video ☺️
I love how your garden is like a well oiled machine. You harvest potatoes one day and same day leeks are in. Filling in any bare spots on beds with other plants right away. This is genius and fantastic! I enjoy your videos greatly!
Thankyou Marina
Thank you for addressing the caterpillar in the room, Charles. Although we have suffered defeat in the way of brassicas for three years straight, we’re going to keep on keeping on, head held high. There’s always tomorrow until there isn’t. Cheers!
You can use sticks simply pointing up with a bottle cap on top, so it doesn't cause damage, to raise the mesh. If your short on hoops.
Nice idea thanks William
@@CharlesDowding1nodig I
...or small potting pots...
Thanks
Thx
Last year my entire crop of leeks were decimated by what I later found out was the Allium leaf mining fly... The leeks all looked beautiful and healthy, and then suddenly all started falling over and rotting, and inside them I found loads of small brown maggot pupae - so this year I'm using mesh and just hoping! (I live near Luton, UK)
Another brilliant video! Thanks Charles!
Ah wow a horrible pest and I wish you well
I also had them visit me in Princes Risborough
After watching one of your earlier mesh videos I used it on strawberries to protect them from birds. Worked really well. Thank you for the tip!
I love how you don't seem frustrated at losing the odd veggie to animals or pests. It's live and let live, but deal with it when you can. I will adopt this philosophy, I think.
💚
Thanks to one of your earlier videos, I now have enough mesh for my needs and it has saved a number of crops in my garden.👍
This was my first year with a garden and I didn't know what insects go for what, or how bad the birds were gonna come for my stuff - so after watching some of your videos I got some mesh to cover my garden from the very start. I removed it after everything was pretty well established and haven't had too many problems - but the peace of mind at the beginning was invaluable.
Thanks, and that is encouraging for a first year.
I can always rely on you when i have a gardening question. Thank you
Lovely!!
I recently bought veggie mesh from garden naturally, I would highly recommend.
I get so excited when a new video comes out. Love your content charles 👍🏻
I took your advice this year and bought Remey. Best decision I’ve ever made. Not only does it keep out insects it keeps out the cats from pooping in my garden and it keeps the chickens out. I remove it when I’m watering but other than that I’m leaving it on most of my cabbage crops and lettice crops, the Beatles are losing too.
Nice feedback thanks Alice
What is remey?
I always found mesh/netting annoying to take on and off but when I bunch it up at each end and pull it tight that makes it much easier and you get a nice tight edge along the sides. Using a standard size bed is also a good idea.
I now use a heavy stone on each corner to pull the edge tight
I so enjoy the info you present, Charles, and Edward composes it so nicely with the pictures and music, that I find myself watching it several times.
Compost on top doesn't work in every season for us. Today, for example, in our zone 8A it is 100 deg F with 'strong' sun. The dark compost heats up quickly from the sun and the porous nature of the compost yields its moisture freely leaving very stressed plants - with hot surface roots. So, in the summer, we must resort to an additional covering to keep the soil cool. I have used woodchips, which works well. I understand that any attempt to cool the surface of the soil invites slugs so it is a trade off.
Thanks for your feedback Ann and I appreciate the difference in climate, would cover as you say in such heat although many beds have leaf cover from more mature plants.
Thanks Charles for another worth while watch. I don't have any white mesh but do have builders green mesh which works well or better sometimes. It comes from builders who use it to cover scaffold. After the jobs finished they thow it all in the skip to land fill. If I ever see the green mesh I skip rade it out.
I love my mesh covers. I've never been successful with growing lettuce before this year.
We don't deserve Charles. Class A fella.
You do Cooper and thanks
Hi Charles, will be getting more netting for next years crops, at the moment I am being invaded by the Cabbage white laying eggs on my Brussels, they are not covered but will be using nets next year, so I’m out there every day wiping the yellow eggs off the leaves!
I do have a couple of net cages but the are covering my onions from our cat and any other feline in the neighbourhood! (Full time job)
So next year will be better organised! Have a great week and see you next time! 👍
get electric fence to keep em out
Hello Mr Charles, I realized that your smaller garden had so much going on in growing!!! Thank you for teaching us how to do that, and learning how covering helps with pests, planting crops in between others, and changing over items to grow more during seasons. I'm going to try to do better for 2020... I do pray to Jehovah God for a bit of stable health for myself and family, especially for courage since Mamá is 91 yr old and her Alzheimer is progressing. PLEASE keep helping us, we appreciate it, very much.🌞. Give us ideas since I'm on 3 shifts and at times can't think straight 😛thank you.
Thanks Marti and growing some vegetables will be good for your busy life, good luck with your Mamá
Love the look of the garden and those amazing lettuces. Yes.
This is my first year to be using the mesh. I sure hope we are as successful as you are with our garden.
I appreciate your sharing this information. 😊💕
Best of luck!
I enjoyed listening to your garden tips. It is great to see you actually delivered what you theoretically said in your videos.
I learned a lot from it . Thanks for sharing.
Nice to hear Mi Lo
Thanks for this great advice. I would never have thought about these covers prior to watching your videos and now I do use them, it’s made a world of difference 😊
Thank you from a first time gardener in Pennsylvania! Very helpful as I'm planning for the next season
I see the cabbage whites and rabbits have been hitting the thumbs down button again Charles!
Ruby Gray what is it with people and the thumbs down on good videos. Sheesh.
@@alaskansourdoughwormsgarde4392 Bugs Bunny fans. Looney Tunes.
Sour people do sour things.
OMG it just kicked in your the real life Mr. McGregor from peter rabbit! My wife wants your kind of order just like in the kids books...thanks to you i will be doing it this year at the allotment (my first year) :)
Marina said it a year ago - 'I love how your garden is like a well oiled machine'. Yes, a calm uncomplicated genius. Getting my garden ready for spring, i'm now thinking - hmmm what can I plant amongst those few remaining little cabbages which will be ready to pick in a week or two. I know - peas.And perhaps some radishes in a bare spot while I multisow some onions. I'm sure I'll make mistakes - but I'm on a new and exciting gardening path, with no turning back.
How lovely, I wish your excitement level to rise even higher 💚
Thanks so much charles, love your videos!! Im in new zealand so this video was really informative for our winter months regarding the use of fleece, i often watch and it always interests me the differences in insects you have there compared to ours.
In new Zealands summer months its usually white butterfly, white fly, aphids .
But this summer we had a lot of moths (unsure of what type) so will need to do some research....
Thanks so much for your content, you are a big go to for seeking info for our garden
Nice to hear Emma.
We have more moths this summer too, fewer butterflies I reckon.
Great information! I always have a good time trying to figure out what vegetable you're talking about when the British English name differs from the American English. Many times I can tell just by seeing the plant, but your "swedes" really had me stumped for a while today... rutabagas!
Glad it was helpful Beverly!
They work so well. I've got them over lettuce beds now with small hoops and so far so good. Very helpful for keeping bugs off and supplies some shade.
Good to hear Peter
Basically everything you need to know about using row covers! Excellent. Thank you Charles.
You're very welcome!
Brussel and carrots intercropping, thanks for the tip.
Thanks - it was my idea a few years ago when we were deciding where to put the sprouts :-)
FYI Lettuce are shade tolerant so grow bigger when shaded. Use a blackout mesh and watch them go!
Thanks, I sowed my lettuce seedlings directly and their popping. I put meshed over them and debating whether to keep the meshed off while the sun was out or on.
Another Great video yet again increasing my knowledge on different covering and the advantage of using them 👍
Thanks Charles foe some terrific info. The Thermocrop mesh we call Shade Cloth in Australia, you can get different types for different applications. Definitely a must in our hottest weather. 👌
Thanks Karen
When I succeeded in growing leeks on a honourable scale last year, I noticed during September those I pricked early July where damaged by small larvae. I think the responsible insect is _Napomyza gymnostoma_ , a leafminer. Had to pick an average of three leeks to have a reasonable one for cooking... Those I pricked on mid August were less concerned by this pest. Carrots & leeks are said to have a mutual protective effect against each other's pests ; but I still consider gather some cover mesh to protect especially brassicas & leeks this year. Using Organza bags is ok for a dozen of cabbage ; but it takes lots of time changing bags during their growth, plus their limited size make them useless for bigger brassicas. The carrots here never presented noticable larvae damage since 4 or 5 years now.
I'm still impressed by your celeriacs @ 03:53, Charles !
Thanks for this and I'm sorry you have that horrible pest on leeks, which we haven't yet seen but I think it's getting closer.
Yes those celeriac were good and it reminds me that it's almost time to sow them again. We still have a few in the shed, looking good.
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Still wonder how they arrived there all of a sudden ; because I never cropped leeks before. Do you think it gives better results planting celeriacs on late March/early April or late May/early June ? I never sowed them in March ; did it at the same time as celeries the third week of January since 2 or 3 years. The first 6 celeriacs I planted in 2018 came from a garden-center ; it was on June, the 4th. I remember the bulbs were already 2 to 3 cm thick ; but I figured out these seedlings were sown in January. I remember they tasted really good and I managed to pick some hand sized bulbs !
If you sow them in January there is a risk of bolting, and my favourite day is always middle of March, now!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Did it yesterday after having read your answer ; hope the 13th will be ok ;) Thank you Charles!
Am making fertilizers comparison tests on the first series sowed in January ; by feeding each batch separately every 15 days either with vermicompost tea, horse manure extract or diluted mineral fertilizer, since 1st of March. And keep focused on the bulb gowth now before planting them out in a couple of months :)
Thank you. I have been thinking about mesh and fleece recently, so perfect timing!
Good information. A topic not often explained.
Great advice👍 thank you for explaining the differences between the types of covers.
Well, you've just answered all my rabbit questions! Thank you! Marty
Very neat garden. Simply beautiful.
Here in the States, we can grow cole crops through the winter using such a simple system.
I'm in South Cumbria Charles and I'm not aware of leek moth here yet, but have heard it has been problematic in the Midlands.
Excellent video and explanation of using mesh. Thanks for sharing 👍
Nice to hear and it's an advantage of being in the hills!
Willow wands make decent hoops for those so inclined. Got to get them put up while still green though, or they’ll snap.
Hi Charles. Thanks for the tour.
I totally enjoy all these tips, Charles; the NW Arizona desert can be so harsh on delicate plants, I give up on lettuces, but love the kale and collard types because they're more hardy in the heat. Thank you.
Very useful information...thank you! Greetings from N. Georgia USA
Thank you Charles for your expertise, I'm new into gardening and really loving it, your videos are certainly helping me a lot. I'm from Bristol and to be honest every time I need an advise I come and watch your videos. Great job.
Wonderful, grow well Jai
I beat the rabbits (and the birds) with bird netting this spring thanks to.your reply on a different video. I started using fleece last winter and I have mesh for this year because those wite moth worms destroyed all my brassicas last fall - works like a charm so far. Thanks so much!
Great to hear Cordelia and thanks for saying :)
Спасибо , очень полезные видио , много идей использую на своём огороде , бога ых Вам урожаев ! Привет из Литвы 👍
Thank you so much for such a quick reply, I have a lot of it but I may have to buy a lower shade one otherwise the veggies may not grow, I will try it tomorrow 👍
Fun, I just got my delivery of enviromesh today from Amazon! Another awesome video Charles!
Cheers Francesco :)
Hi Charles, when I've had holes appear in the insect netting I take the netting inside and repair on a sewing machine. Works wonders and saves buying new ones or, even better, letting the insects in to the veggies. Cheers from Annie in Melbourne, Australia. Love watching your videos and reading your books.
Great tip and I need an Annie in Alhampton!
@@CharlesDowding1nodig Flying to UK (& Ireland) no longer on my list of things to do in the current world of Covid and war in Europe. Happy to stay in Aussie land and enjoy gardening on my 2/3 acre in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. Maybe you could buy a sewing machine :) If I ever make it over there I will fix your nets for you. Cheers, Annie
So informative. Thank you so much. It’s heartbreaking to lose the harvest to someone who put no labor in
Our pleasure!
Here in Alaska I had never planted cabbages or broccoli. This year I got a bug in my butt and planted both. Unfortunately I did not know about the damage cabbage flies can do to brassicas. I lost 3 cabbages and 4 broccoli to the root maggots the flies leave. I learned that if I put row cloth over the soil where you plant your cabbages (mine are in pots) the flies can't get to the base of the cabbage where they put their eggs. I also did something on my own an made a batch of that bacillus t you mentioned and put it around the base of the new cabbages I planted after tossing the old soil. I didn't think about my bok choy and landed up losing them all to the same maggot. It won't happen again. I also must tell you I love no dig. I have been mainly weed free this year for the first time.
Gosh you seem a long way from here and I am happy that no dig is giving a good result.
For those pests, it's as you say, discovering which ones you need to protect against then finding best method for you.
Flea beetles were devastating this year even with mesh ! Lovely gardens !
Thanks and sorry to hear that, may be to do with industrial agriculture & oilseed rape
I've been admiring the covers of some neighbors.
Thanks Charles, Another lesson, well taught!
Yay first one here...I just found your channel and I'm learning so much.
Merveille was going to see that's why it was bitter. It is 3' tall now. Yesterday it had lil yellow flowers at the top of the candelabra. The flowers looked like dandelions. I have A LOT of oxalis and crabgrass so that means lack of calcium. I went to Walmart today and got (2) more bags of powdered milk to increase the soil calcium level.
Save and grind your eggshells.
Actually, from following your recommendations in your book I mesh cover everything, not used hoops yet but worth considering. I find rats make holes in the enviro mesh and I do have to put down bait to dissuade them. As you say it protects against a multitude of pests. Take care mike
Ah bad luck on the rats
Hi Charles thanks for the videos there so helpful, I've been using the blue water pipe for my hoops can you tell me what you make your hoops from thank you
I use enviromesh for my brassicas and fleece in the spring when I am bringing on young plants. The wood pigeons are my biggest problem up here in Lancashire - they sit watching, waiting, and attack my precious crops as soon as I walk in the house!!!! Great video, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us :-)
Ah yes pigeons, I do not envy you them
Great information thank you. Such beautiful gardens.
Tip for repairing mesh holes is guerrilla tape. It's amazing stuff and so easy to do. The tape works best when it sticks to itself, so widen the hole slightly, then stick a small bit of tape on either side, sticking to each other. One little mend and it stays on for years through rain and frost, plus it only costs fractions of a penny to replace when it finally does come off. I have a 10yo mesh with a dozen bits of tape on that works 100% perfectly :)
Thanks for your excellent advice :)
@@CharlesDowding1nodig My pleasure, nice to return a favour with the amount of good tips you've given to me. ;)
Ah, you answered the question that led me here. I am in a brand new garden and had to leave my hoop structures behind.. My poor brussels sprouts were just a bit crushed by the floating row cover.. On the other hand, it is either that or get eaten.
Happy to help. I find it amazing how plants manage even the little weight on top
You are a legend Charles
On my allotment I have a one foot high chicken wire fence round every bed. Not much inconvenience for me, but no rabbit damage at all!
Life long veg grower here Charles, your films have really made me question the old ways taught to me and I will be experimenting with lots of your methods on my plot going forwards.
Have you ever tried "scaffolding protecting mesh" as an alternative to the micro mesh? it comes in longer, wider rolls and is pretty cost effective too. :-)
Thanks Julian and I have not tried it, are the holes small enough to keep insects out, and the material fine enough to allow enough light through, and is it uv treated? (excuse Q's!)
@@CharlesDowding1nodig I was given a good sized piece for my brassicas last year by a friend, as I had the same problems you had with micro mesh not being wide enough, the results were good.
I did a quick bit of research to try to answer your questions: It appears to come in various gauges and 2mm seems to be the one favored by gardeners, I presume its UV stabilized as its designed for outside use.
@@julianhawker7672 Thanks Julian. 2mm would be good against moths and butterflies. For midges and flea beetles, a 1mm gauge is best
Thanks for all your advice. My allotment is doing realy well thanks to you. Cheers
Hi Charles, thank you for your latest video; I think it will prove really useful. I was the chap that asked you in the comment of a previous video about what to do about all my lettuce & onion seedlings disappearing after I planted them out. (There are no rabbits around here). I've just planted out some more lettuce seedlings under a double layer of steel mesh & so far they are still alive this time.
Could you advise please; to protect future lettuce & onion seedings, what covering would you recommend most; nylon mesh, fleece or polythene sheet? I only have the money for one of these, hence the question
I must say I enjoy your method of delivery, you have a gentle relaxed style, not loud & hyper, & very, very, knowledgeable. Just hit the like icon & already subscribed. Thank you. John.
Cheers John nice to hear, and I advise mesh for all seasons. Fleece and polythene are too hot in summer and animals can tear them.
Very interesting and useful thanks so much, from East Lothian. I don't think we have Leek Moth, fingers crossed!
Thank you for sharing that information. I garden in NW FL USA zone 8b. I will research the Thermacrop availability here, I am interested in perhaps trying some out in my winter garden this year.
Good luck! Is good but on the whole I prefer mesh.
Hi Charles, Could you do a video on the different types of hoops you use to support the netting? I am having problems finding hoops - so some advice on where to purchese them would be helpful. I have used 1" plastic water pipe on one of my raised beds. I think flexable tent poes would work well. but I look forward to hearing your ideas?
ok George shall see!
Great advice as usual, Charles.
The leaf miner is a threat to our leeks in Derbyshire, despite being at 700ft, and the mesh definitely works.
However, I do have a problem getting decent fleece. I bought a 30m roll (to see me out!) and kept it in our dark shed. Despite being from, I thought, a good brand (Yuzet), it literally falls into pieces after a couple of months in use. Others have had a similar experience so guidance would be valuable.
Incidentally, an email to Yuzet drew no response.
Hmm very poor by Yuzet and it sounds like no uv stabiliser,. A sales description should mention this, to protect material from sunlight degrading it
Always extremely valuable information served in the most charming fashion however I do have second thoughts about the plastic particles contaminating my organic soil and consequently ending up in the vegetables and...yes me. Studies show water from plastic bottles disrupts hormones secretion so plastic isn't innocent not to mention negative impact of the production process on environment. I wonder if there are natural alternatives to the nylon meshes?
You make a good point, I don't know on either count and wish for a non-plastic alternative
Thank you. Very well explained. I just did buy some mesh and fleece through your link.
Glad it was helpful Amin and thanks for that 😀
Hi Charles, you say you cut 4mm high tensile for the hoops, but how do you actually make them curved and fix them in the ground?
I purchased fleece earlier in the season online, it seems to be heavier than I needed at the time. Mesh seems a good idea and I shall look into getting some asap
And it lets less sunshine trough.
Great advice as always, amazing veggies there 👍☺🥕
I wonder why we don’t see any clear, transparent fleece and mesh. Does it have to be white? Would it not be lovely to see all the plants beneath? The shading effect would be limited of cause, but the need for that depends on where you live, I guess.
NEW SUBSCRIBER HERE FROM CALIFORNIA 🥰
Welcome!!
Very useful. Thank you.
Rabbit pie with saute-ed kale & baby carrots must be popular.
Thank you, Charles. Great topic. My question is about the hoops. They aren't readily available here in the USA like there and the choices we do have are very expensive. I wonder if you could do a focus on hoops and maybe even how to make them and attach them so they are sturdy ?
Thanks Gayle shall see about that
@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you!
I have the same question. We have taller hoops from bent metal tubing and some from pvc staked over rebar at the edge of the beds. Before the big freeze expected in a few days, I want to cover my garlic with low tunnels and am (today) brainstorming for ideas on how to best do that while gaining a little height at the edges and then hoop over the bed.
It's usually possible to buy think metal rods from a builder's merchant or a garden centre. You just then need to form them by bending them around a large barrel.
You can use fencing!
Thanks so much for explaining this!
I enjoyed that very much.🌸
Just amazing
Porfavor,sbtitulen en Español.Una admiradora.Saludos.
gracias, cuando tengamos tiempo de organizarlo
Love your videos mate 😊
Beautiful ☘️🍀
Next year.i will be yousing mesh as cattapilers got to my brassica
It would be nice if the mesh cover manufactures would make them green so we can use them in the front yard little gardens
A good point
Really wish I’d of protected my Savoy Cabbages, I’ve never seen so many caterpillars. But I’m learning.
get chicken / ducks to hunt them down
@@davelawson2564 plant cabbage for the fall. Go on line order tulle. Its fabric for wedding dresses. It's a lot for 12 bucks. Look it up. I got it I now am growing cabbage and broccoli. Life is much better. 😊
Hi Charles!!
I was hoping to see how to set up the hoops. Do you have any videos on that? I have polypipe but I'm not sure how far to put it into the ground and how to make sure it's secure and doesn't pop out or blow over! I have an auger so I could make holes at the edges. How deep do you need to bury each end and do you use a stake? Rebar is quite expensive and a lot of tutorials seem to encourage using it. I've got access to lots of sticks in the forest but not a ton of money hahahaha! Also, how high off the ground should I make the hoops? Say I've got a 3 foot wide bed or a 4 foot wide bed, how many feet of polypipe would be ideal for each hoop section?
Thanks so much!!
The metal hoops cost up to £5 each sharanya.co.uk
Pushed 15cm into ground, 2.5m length for 1.2m bed.
Height depends on your wind and the vegetable. Some covers can lie flat on plants.
There is no right or wrong way to do this, it depends what you have available and the metal hoops are a great investment if you can just afford that initial spend, because they are so easy to push in and take care.
I live in Australia and we have shade mesh which is green and beige is this the sort of thing you have, we don’t have white so does it matter, our sun is very harsh, could you please try and answer this for me. Thank you, I’m enjoying your videos.
Linda Cooper hi Linda and yes I reckon you could shade bed’s with mesh like that, S your sun is much hotter than here
Very good you grow alot