Cheap insect barrier fabric or netting

kevn357 · May 7, 2014

I'm trying to keep the cucumber beetle out of the garden as it is the #1 disease spreader in my area. I was thinking of using row covers on my cucumbers and can't justify spending $40 on a row cover for 2, 18 foot rows.

I've been using the googles and some mention tulle. Any other ideas or suggestions to keep the insects out with a simple fabric mesh to keep those bugs out until pollination time?

noinwi · May 7, 2014

Tulle is cheap and usually comes in 72" wide, and not much over a buck per yard. It comes in different sized mesh. I've even used it to keep deer off of my maters, but that only lasted until the maters were large and a persistent doe bit through it to get to some large green ones. Of course, she didn't bother eating them, but tasted them. But it kept her from munching the foliage for quite a while. It kept japanese beetles off of a lot of my plants. They would get their legs stuck in the mesh. I don't know why it wouldn't work for cuke beetles if the mesh is small enough.

kevn357 · May 7, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by noinwi

Tulle is cheap and usually comes in 72" wide, and not much over a buck per yard. It comes in different sized mesh. I've even used it to keep deer off of my maters, but that only lasted until the maters were large and a persistent doe bit through it to get to some large green ones. Of course, she didn't bother eating them, but tasted them. But it kept her from munching the foliage for quite a while. It kept japanese beetles off of a lot of my plants. They would get their legs stuck in the mesh. I don't know why it wouldn't work for cuke beetles if the mesh is small enough.

Thanks for the reply.

Any recommendation on where to buy culle for that price?

I use a larger mesh to keep the deer off of my tomatoes and they hate it but the holes are way to large to keep insects off.

suvoth · May 7, 2014

I bought mosquito netting on ebay. Came from china so it took about a month to get to me in canada though...http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1PCS-Elegant-...96e979e&_uhb=1

feldon30 · May 7, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevn357

Thanks for the reply.

Any recommendation on where to buy ~~culle~~ tulle for that price?

Have you checked out any fabric or crafts stores?

Longlake · May 7, 2014

I've had good luck using papermart.com for tulle and mesh bags...The price is right and they're quick to ship. No affiliation, just my personal experience.

May 7, 2014

Get nylon net at Joanns Fabrics-there are always 50% of coupons available, and on sale also. I have used it for years- I get the dark green-- very wide & inexpensive. I use toothpicks to hook it together.

noinwi · May 7, 2014

Yes, as others have said, any fabric store or even the fabric section at Walmart will carry tulle.

kevn357 · May 15, 2014

Thanks for all of the suggestions!
I have not visited a fabric store yet but plan to.
One question though. I'm worried about the cucumber tendrils wrapping around the material I use as the row cover and fear I won't be able to pull the cover off as the tendrils coil around any little hole they can find. Is this just a silly worry or does this happen with tulle or nylon fabric?
Thanks for any replies!

LMinAL · May 15, 2014

Hmm, trying tulle over squash and cukes this year and didn't think about cucumbers attaching to it. The weave is really tight so I don't think that would be a problem. I guess I will find out in a few weeks.

I got mine at Hancock Fabric and paid a little under $2 per yard, but I got the really wide material - 108" inches. You can get the standard size for less than $1 yard usually. Hobby Lobby is another option for tulle and they always have a 40% off coupon on their website.

clkeiper · May 15, 2014

Kevin, Down in Fredricksburg is a greenhouse supplier and they are called Yoder's. We buy all of our floating row cover down there. You can buy different widths and weights. We buy to cover our early crops (and our bug loving crops such as cukes and canteloupes), zukes, broccoli, etc. which this past week with all the rain we got it actually had water running OVER the row cover and plants, but they didn't get washed out, unlike the row next to it that was planted on Saturday of kale and broccoli in silver plastic...what a waste.

Gardadore · May 15, 2014

If your local Walmart has a fabric department they will carry the tulle or veil material. That,s where I got mine. It is also good for covering blueberry bushes to keep the birds off since they don't get caught in it.

May 7, 2014	#6
Longlake Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: MN Posts: 142	I've had good luck using papermart.com for tulle and mesh bags...The price is right and they're quick to ship. No affiliation, just my personal experience. __________________ My garden is like a teenager - One minute I'm basking in it's glow and the next I'm cursing it's attitude and headstrong independence.

May 15, 2014	#11
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Kevin, Down in Fredricksburg is a greenhouse supplier and they are called Yoder's. We buy all of our floating row cover down there. You can buy different widths and weights. We buy to cover our early crops (and our bug loving crops such as cukes and canteloupes), zukes, broccoli, etc. which this past week with all the rain we got it actually had water running OVER the row cover and plants, but they didn't get washed out, unlike the row next to it that was planted on Saturday of kale and broccoli in silver plastic...what a waste. __________________ carolyn k

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May 7, 2014	#1
kevn357 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parma, OH Posts: 147	Cheap insect barrier fabric or netting I'm trying to keep the cucumber beetle out of the garden as it is the #1 disease spreader in my area. I was thinking of using row covers on my cucumbers and can't justify spending $40 on a row cover for 2, 18 foot rows. I've been using the googles and some mention tulle. Any other ideas or suggestions to keep the insects out with a simple fabric mesh to keep those bugs out until pollination time?

May 7, 2014	#2
noinwi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: PNW Posts: 486	Tulle is cheap and usually comes in 72" wide, and not much over a buck per yard. It comes in different sized mesh. I've even used it to keep deer off of my maters, but that only lasted until the maters were large and a persistent doe bit through it to get to some large green ones. Of course, she didn't bother eating them, but tasted them. But it kept her from munching the foliage for quite a while. It kept japanese beetles off of a lot of my plants. They would get their legs stuck in the mesh. I don't know why it wouldn't work for cuke beetles if the mesh is small enough.

May 7, 2014	#4
suvoth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Canada 4B Zone Posts: 71	I bought mosquito netting on ebay. Came from china so it took about a month to get to me in canada though...http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1PCS-Elegant-...96e979e&_uhb=1

May 7, 2014	#7
JoParrott Guest Posts: n/a	Get nylon net at Joanns Fabrics-there are always 50% of coupons available, and on sale also. I have used it for years- I get the dark green-- very wide & inexpensive. I use toothpicks to hook it together.

May 15, 2014	#10
LMinAL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 46	Hmm, trying tulle over squash and cukes this year and didn't think about cucumbers attaching to it. The weave is really tight so I don't think that would be a problem. I guess I will find out in a few weeks. I got mine at Hancock Fabric and paid a little under $2 per yard, but I got the really wide material - 108" inches. You can get the standard size for less than $1 yard usually. Hobby Lobby is another option for tulle and they always have a 40% off coupon on their website.

May 15, 2014	#12
Gardadore Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Saylorsburg, PA Posts: 261	If your local Walmart has a fabric department they will carry the tulle or veil material. That,s where I got mine. It is also good for covering blueberry bushes to keep the birds off since they don't get caught in it.