Last year cabbage moth caterpillars devoured my kale. I told myself I would properly cover it this year so the same thing didn't happen. Well, it happened. Something, devoured all my kale seedlings down to the soil except for these two.
And then I noticed that the cabbages were starting to also be destroyed. I put off covering them because I wanted to still see the plants when I looked out at the garden. Most of the insect barriers I could find were white opaque cloths. I found some netting that was ridiculously expensive. I thought about using tulle, fabric used to make wedding veils, but at the store I couldn't find anything wider than 54 inches. I thought I was going to have to give in and buy the opaque white cloth. However after a good amount of searching I found tulle that was 105 inches wide. So for less than 7 dollars I snatched up 3 yards.
The kale seeds have been replanted and I have been picking off the caterpillars. Using 9 gauge tension wire that was cut into 110 inch lengths I created hoops and have covered it with the fabric. Now I can look out and see the plants and know they won't be destroyed. Although I have to laugh a little at how fancy it looks because the tulle glistens in the sun.
Tulle has done wonders for me in the garden. It saved my broccoli, okra, artichoke and is currently protecting my cucumbers and cantaloupe and pumpkin. If you use the tulle with a crop that has tendrils; break the tendril off the plant when removing the tulle. If you try to pull the tendril from the tulle it will tear a very small hole in it.
ReplyDeleteLooks really good. We struggled finding a row fabric wide enough to cover our Cole crops this year. We ended up using a stapler to connect two pieces together. I like the idea of using the 9 gauge wire for hoops.
ReplyDeleteI went away for a long weekend and came back to my kale demolished :( good luck!
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