Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone
at their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.

Can anyone advise from 'where' I can buy a * reasonably-priced * netting
please. Thanks.

On 26/11/14 12:21, john t west wrote:
Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone
at their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.

Can anyone advise from 'where' I can buy a * reasonably-priced * netting
please. Thanks.


I used cheap nylon netting stapled on, and where it wasn't wide enough I
stretched a wire where the join would be and tie-wrapped it to that.
This works well.

The birds do not like it and do not attack it, and if it gets damaged it
can be patched with more tie wraps!


--
Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the
rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. – Erwin Knoll

john t west wrote:
Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone
at their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.

Can anyone advise from 'where' I can buy a * reasonably-priced * netting
please. Thanks.

I have a similar project planned for next spring.
I've been advised to use galvanised 1/2" mesh for the sides but a fabric
or light plastic for the roof because birds don't like landing on it as
it is not stable. If they don't land they are most unlikely to shit on
the fruit.

Looking for the wire mesh, www.hillsofdevon.co.uk seem to be amongst the
cheapest. Several other sources on ebay.
I've not looked for the fabric net yet but "pond netting" has been
suggested to me.

"Bob Minchin" wrote in message
...
john t west wrote:
Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone
at their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.

Can anyone advise from 'where' I can buy a * reasonably-priced * netting
please. Thanks.

I have a similar project planned for next spring.
I've been advised to use galvanised 1/2" mesh for the sides but a fabric
or light plastic for the roof because birds don't like landing on it as it
is not stable. If they don't land they are most unlikely to shit on the
fruit.

Looking for the wire mesh, www.hillsofdevon.co.uk seem to be amongst the
cheapest. Several other sources on ebay.
I've not looked for the fabric net yet but "pond netting" has been
suggested to me.

I have a netted cage.
Timber frame, plastic net.
I was hoping to keep cabbage white butterflies out.
But they can squeeze through a hole less than 10mm square.

Very hard to keep small birds out too.
My main problem was pigeons.

I have dug old sheet metal into the ground to keep out moles.

On 26/11/2014 12:21, john t west wrote:
Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone
at their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.

Can anyone advise from 'where' I can buy a * reasonably-priced * netting
please. Thanks.

I would use plastic netting, I used woven netting and the snow settled
on it and built up so not doing the frame any good I should add it was
on a cage approx 40 ft X 18ft.
I would just cover it with one piece, sides and top.
David @ a dull but at present rain free side of Swansea Bay

On 26/11/2014 12:21, john t west wrote:
Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone
at their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.



I can't advise you in general on netting, but I would surmise that the
advice about using different netting for the roof may be to allow for
the weight of snow in winter. I seem to remember someone on urg losing
their fruit cage roof and having to replace it, so the type of netting
does have a bearing on the matter. Perhaps ring Harrods Horticulture or
Agriframes for their advice?



Can anyone advise from 'where' I can buy a * reasonably-priced * netting
please. Thanks.





--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

In message , Spider
writes
On 26/11/2014 12:21, john t west wrote:
Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone
at their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.



I can't advise you in general on netting, but I would surmise that the
advice about using different netting for the roof may be to allow for
the weight of snow in winter. I seem to remember someone on urg losing
their fruit cage roof and having to replace it, so the type of netting
does have a bearing on the matter. Perhaps ring Harrods Horticulture
or Agriframes for their advice?

www.harrodhorticultural.com

Not sure cheap applies:-)

You can get UV stabilised net that stops Cabbage White and Carrot Fly
but it also blocks a fair bit of Sun.

--
Tim Lamb

"john t west" wrote in message
...
Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone at
their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.

Can anyone advise from 'where' I can buy a * reasonably-priced * netting
please. Thanks.

For a small fruit cage like that to keep the birds out, any cheap plastic 1
inch netting will do, tack it on to the frame. Wilkos do one and so do the
pound shops. No need to spend a whole lot on netting.
It's not bad for keeping cabbage whites out from the brassicas either, but
you have to raise it well above the plants at all times as they grow,
otherwise Mrs large/small white butterfly just pokes her ovipositor through
the netting to lay eggs on a leaf she can reach.

"john t west" wrote ...

Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone at
their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.

Can anyone advise from 'where' I can buy a * reasonably-priced * netting
please. Thanks.


Bought our fruit cages from Harrod Horticulture and they came with nylon
welded netting for the sides, so quite stiff, and soft pliable woven mesh
netting for the roof. Unfortunately if it snows and it settles on the roof
the roof netting can get stretched possibly even damaging the cage so they
recommend taking off the roof netting each winter, or if like us you are
using it as a cabbage cage, changing the roof netting for a wide anti pigeon
netting which lets the snow through easier.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

"Spider" wrote in message
...
On 26/11/2014 12:21, john t west wrote:
Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone
at their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.



I can't advise you in general on netting, but I would surmise that the
advice about using different netting for the roof may be to allow for the
weight of snow in winter. I seem to remember someone on urg losing their
fruit cage roof and having to replace it, so the type of netting does have
a bearing on the matter. Perhaps ring Harrods Horticulture or Agriframes
for their advice?



Can anyone advise from 'where' I can buy a * reasonably-priced * netting
please. Thanks.





--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay


LBS have a very good woven netting for the roof which can also be used for
the sides, I personally use chicken wire on the sides because I grow stuff
on it. I would not even think about the non woven nylon net, it wont last a
season and breaks for a past time.

Top tip if its a largish cage then the roof will sag, especially when wet.
prop it up with wood poles set in the ground, but place glass jars on the
top to prevent the net wearing through, this stops you getting soaking when
harvesting after wet weather!


--
Charlie, Gardening in Cornwall
Holders of National Collections of Clematis viticella
and Lapageria rosea cvs
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk

On 27/11/2014 15:04, Charlie Pridham wrote:

"Spider" wrote in message
...
On 26/11/2014 12:21, john t west wrote:
Am putting up a fruit cage 8ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high, for someone
at their allotment.

And I'm confronted by a bewildering array of different types of netting
available. Also confusingly, I've seen advised; using a 'different
netting' for the roof, than for the sides of the cage.



I can't advise you in general on netting, but I would surmise that the
advice about using different netting for the roof may be to allow for
the weight of snow in winter. I seem to remember someone on urg
losing their fruit cage roof and having to replace it, so the type of
netting does have a bearing on the matter. Perhaps ring Harrods
Horticulture or Agriframes for their advice?



Can anyone advise from 'where' I can buy a * reasonably-priced * netting
please. Thanks.





--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay


LBS have a very good woven netting for the roof which can also be used
for the sides, I personally use chicken wire on the sides because I grow
stuff on it. I would not even think about the non woven nylon net, it
wont last a season and breaks for a past time.

Top tip if its a largish cage then the roof will sag, especially when
wet. prop it up with wood poles set in the ground, but place glass jars
on the top to prevent the net wearing through, this stops you getting
soaking when harvesting after wet weather!


LBS do a heavy duty 25mm bird netting that has a 6 to 7 year life, and
having had a woven cover brought down by snow I'd go for the thinner fiber.
As it is only a small cage(8 x6 x6) you shouldn't need a center support
but if you do then a 2x2 with a pop bottle on the top would do the
trick, safer than jam jars.
David @ a rain free side of Swansea bay