Input needed on pests eating my broccoli - Page 2

mr_gentleman · January 29, 2012

That is an excellent idea. I have been putting it off but I want to build a pvc frame for my bed so I can put the clear plastic on it for when it actually gets cold here, and in the times where it isn't needed I can switch it out with bird netting. They made a feast out of my tomatoes last year, and putting up a net is a lot easier than keeping up on covering my tomatoes with nylons.

dice · February 4, 2012

The plant cut off at ground level would be a cutworm attack. They encircle
the stems and eat their way through them. You can protect tomato
seedlings with a toothpick or stick stuck in the soil right next to the stem,
so that the cutworm cannot encircle it. A short piece of plastic drinking
straw split down the side can be slid over the stem to protect it from
cutworms, too.

For cabbage loopers, though, you either need to keep the moths from
laying eggs on them or use the BT.

mr_gentleman · February 24, 2012

Well I found the culprits...birds...ate all the leaves off of about 20 each of transplants of kohlrabi, collard greens, lettuce, and chard...do you have any pictures of your setup or advice tjg? I have been thinking about a walk in cover for my garden since the fruit beetles and birds did a number on my tomatoes last year....I have an idea of what I want to build, but what did you do for a door?

rockhound · February 24, 2012

"knowing your enemy" is half the battle. Glad you figured it out. Good luck with the wire.

tjg911 · February 25, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_gentleman

Well I found the culprits...birds...ate all the leaves off of about 20 each of transplants of kohlrabi, collard greens, lettuce, and chard...do you have any pictures of your setup or advice tjg? I have been thinking about a walk in cover for my garden since the fruit beetles and birds did a number on my tomatoes last year....I have an idea of what I want to build, but what did you do for a door?

i don't have any pictures, i don't have a digital camera.

all i did was buy 1/2" diameter pvc schedule 40 pipe at home depot. i surround the broccoli plants (a 10' X 10' square) with 8 upright pieces 6' tall pushed 8-10" into the soil. i use elbows and tee connectors on those 8 to run pipe to each of the 8. this forms a cage. i ran 2 pipes across the top to support the netting. you need to measure your area you grow these plants in do some math and buy the lengths of pvc. it cuts with a hack saw very easily. i grow a 10' X 10' square of broccoli with 4 plants in it. then get bird netting at a garden store. it takes a few minutes to assemble about the time the heads start to form and i leave it up until i'm ready to take out the plants in october.

if you want to pm me we can talk, actually i'll ask for your phone number and call you as it is easy to verbally explain.

tom

dice · February 25, 2012

Google Images can be useful for this sort of thing (bird netting). One blog
with pictures of a bird-netting-on-pvc setup:
http://www.knollacresblueberries.com.../predators.htm

A square foot gardening version (shown without the net):
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/...219b8806_z.jpg

Extreme bird netting:
http://www.christensennetworks.com/i...rd_netting.jpg

tjg911 · February 25, 2012

the 1st link looks like mine except for it is a long row vs a square. the pictures are pretty good tho i did not read the text. it's pretty easy to make this, i dreamed it up w/o seeing any pictures. all i knew is i had to keep the birds out and the net off the plants or they'd peck thru it.

tom

mr_gentleman · February 26, 2012

Thanks for the link to the pictures and the advice everyone...I went to work and built this guy today and covered it in bird netting...hopefully it is small enough (1/2" I believe) to keep out the moths and fruit beetles too!

tjg911 · February 29, 2012

that's a good cage. i wish mine was that tall! my bird netting wouldn't allow for it (should have bought a larger net but there was just 3 sizes, i got the middle size, the largest was pretty expensive and way too big but i could stand up if i had that size) to be more than 5' high. working in it is a hassle but it stops the birds. i have found that very few cabbage moths can get thru the netting tho 1 will from time to time.

tom

January 29, 2012	#16
mr_gentleman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 29	That is an excellent idea. I have been putting it off but I want to build a pvc frame for my bed so I can put the clear plastic on it for when it actually gets cold here, and in the times where it isn't needed I can switch it out with bird netting. They made a feast out of my tomatoes last year, and putting up a net is a lot easier than keeping up on covering my tomatoes with nylons. __________________ "A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. "

February 4, 2012	#17
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	The plant cut off at ground level would be a cutworm attack. They encircle the stems and eat their way through them. You can protect tomato seedlings with a toothpick or stick stuck in the soil right next to the stem, so that the cutworm cannot encircle it. A short piece of plastic drinking straw split down the side can be slid over the stem to protect it from cutworms, too. For cabbage loopers, though, you either need to keep the moths from laying eggs on them or use the BT. __________________ -- alias

February 24, 2012	#18
mr_gentleman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 29	Well I found the culprits...birds...ate all the leaves off of about 20 each of transplants of kohlrabi, collard greens, lettuce, and chard...do you have any pictures of your setup or advice tjg? I have been thinking about a walk in cover for my garden since the fruit beetles and birds did a number on my tomatoes last year....I have an idea of what I want to build, but what did you do for a door? __________________ "A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. "

February 25, 2012	#21
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Google Images can be useful for this sort of thing (bird netting). One blog with pictures of a bird-netting-on-pvc setup: http://www.knollacresblueberries.com.../predators.htm A square foot gardening version (shown without the net): http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/...219b8806_z.jpg Extreme bird netting: http://www.christensennetworks.com/i...rd_netting.jpg __________________ -- alias

February 25, 2012	#22
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	the 1st link looks like mine except for it is a long row vs a square. the pictures are pretty good tho i did not read the text. it's pretty easy to make this, i dreamed it up w/o seeing any pictures. all i knew is i had to keep the birds out and the net off the plants or they'd peck thru it. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

February 24, 2012	#19
rockhound Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 285	"knowing your enemy" is half the battle. Glad you figured it out. Good luck with the wire.

February 26, 2012	#23
mr_gentleman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 29	Thanks for the link to the pictures and the advice everyone...I went to work and built this guy today and covered it in bird netting...hopefully it is small enough (1/2" I believe) to keep out the moths and fruit beetles too! __________________ "A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. "

February 29, 2012	#24
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	that's a good cage. i wish mine was that tall! my bird netting wouldn't allow for it (should have bought a larger net but there was just 3 sizes, i got the middle size, the largest was pretty expensive and way too big but i could stand up if i had that size) to be more than 5' high. working in it is a hassle but it stops the birds. i have found that very few cabbage moths can get thru the netting tho 1 will from time to time. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life