Netted enclosure for vege patch

[happy]

Today I finished a netted enclosure for my veges: I 've already complained enough about the wallabies eating my veges, also I think the possums may take a munch.

I made a prototype about 1.5mx1m about 6 months ago.  I used tall 6 foot tomato stakes, and square lashed (all those years square lashing in the girl guides finally came to some practical use) some more stakes for the horizontals at the top and covered it all with bird netting held on with cable ties. The prototype had shade cloth down one side for a door, but I discovered it was easier just to lift the net on one side, so I discarded that idea. Since I am only 5 foot 2 1/2 tall I can just stand up inside. We have a lot of native bats here, and the design is bat-safe...an added bonus.

The prototype was effective and practical and withstood various storms and winds and kept out the animals. So today i've completed a second one about 1.5mx 3m.

I could have gone for a more solid structure, but this version is readily demountable if I stop growing veges (or sell the house). Cost <$100, and still have materials for more...maybe one or two more.

Can't wait to start planting...will be winter crops...garlic, carrots, silverbeet, kale, beetroot for starters.

[martynthewolf]

They sound awesome, congrats. I sowed my first lot of seed yesterday, two types of tomato plant, two types of pepper, chilli and rocket. All I have to worry about is slugs and snails ravagin everything when it starts growing. Do you have any cheap eco friendly ways of getting rid of them? They destroyed my basil plant last year and I used slug pellets but I'm not sure if they leech nasty chemicals into the soil...

[GuitarStv]

Leave a few dishes out buried up to the lip and then fill them with beer to control slugs.  They love beer, but can't handle their liquor.  Bonus - you can drink the remaining beer when you're done . . .

[happy]

+1 for the saucers of beer.   -1 for the concept of drinking the beer when you are finished (unless you mean the unused leftovers in the bottle)

Also if you crush up eggshells  and sprinkle them around the plants you wish to protect this can work. But, you need a lot of eggshell and I found it does wash away with heavy rain...just when those slugs are out.

[martynthewolf]

Ummmmm snail beer....

I'll try both of those cheers guys. I've also heard that copper tape around the pots or whatever you want to protect repels snails. Anyone tried that?

[Hotstreak]

Yum!  I have lettuce, garlic, and onions, and last years strawberries going right now on the balcony, and peas going out front.  Can't wait for some low cost organic produce to gobble up!

I've never used the copper tape for slugs.  I always thought it would get soggy and pushed aside while I was tending.  Slugs like wet areas, and do most of their moving and eating at night (away from the drying sun).  I focus on watering in the morning to allow the soil to dry.  Having a raised garden with treated dry wood gives a large dry area they have to climb over as well.  I have heard that Lava Rocks work as a border.  They stay dry and are abrasive which the slugs hate, just make sure they are contained or they will spread around your yard.