Wes Halton wrote:
On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:13:36 -0000, "Keith \(Dorset\)"
wrote:

Hi,

This might seem a strange time of year to be asking this but it has caused
me so much grief over the past few summers that I want to get prepared for
next year.

Our sprouts and sprouting are so prone to damage by 'Cabbage' White
caterpillar damage that this year I resorted to picking all the leaves off
mid summer and building a wooden frame covered in fleece to protect them.

Although these crops have developed over-winter here in the past (it's very
mild, but can be very windy), the fleece is unsuitable owing to occasional
'coastal gales' winds in late summer / early autum when there are still some
butterflies around.

Consequently I now need to build a frame, just over a metre tall, that I can
move from year to year with the rotation - but I don't know what to cover it
with. i.e. it has to be 'much' stronger than fleece, keep butterflies out,
but still let light and water in.

Does anyone have any suggestions please?

Thanks in advance,

Keith

You could use enviromesh, there are various sizes available which
will stop small insects as well as butterflies etc. It lets ligh and
water though and is very strong. you could put fleece over it if you
wished for extra warmth in the winter. I have some enviromesh stapled
to a frame and its great !

Wes
I use a fairly fine net, not the plastic stuff but cotton(?) woven, very
effective. As I have raised beds about 4 feet wide I place loops of blue
water pipe over the beds and lay the netting over that.