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Morning Light: The Fetchland Gardening Wire

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Eynsham Red Jul 2020 8:21pm, 8 Jul 2020 6,166 posts	Quote Pin Eynsham Red I’m just consuming some gooseberry fool that Sherry made with our gooseberries. Yum. First attempt and a success.
Big_G Jul 2020 5:42am, 9 Jul 2020 111 posts	Quote Pin Big_G I need a vegetable cage or two, because my cabbages are pushing up agains the netting I have. I've been looking for some time but haven't found anything especially affordable with prices ranging to what I'd call expensive for what they are. Does anyone know of an affordable supplier, ideally in kit form but not essential if I can get the parts cheaper?
Big_G Jul 2020 5:44am, 9 Jul 2020 112 posts	Quote Pin Big_G Sorry, I meant to add, I'd like them to be easily (re)movable as the cages probably won't stay in the same place next year. But I suppose that is a feature of these things anyway.
Markymarkmark Jul 2020 6:59am, 9 Jul 2020 12,084 posts	Quote Pin Markymarkmark Big G, I has the same problem. I built my own using lengths of reclaimed timber post with a bamboo stick across each end (so it looks like 2 giant croquet hoops) and then ran gardening wire lengthways to provide support. Then used lengths of netting from B&Q. Seems to be working! You can also buy plastic corners that Bamboo bean poles fit into fairly cheaply on line.
Rosehip Jul 2020 7:50am, 9 Jul 2020 17,015 posts	Quote Pin Rosehip I've lifted the micromesh up a bit using bamboo poles with upturned yogurt pots on them in the corners of the raised bed. A proper cage would be better, but I've spent a fortune on the garden this year already! (I did see some cute pop-up cages somewhere I was tempted by though)
sallykate Jul 2020 9:10am, 9 Jul 2020 6,703 posts	Quote Pin sallykate I use scaffolding net and MDPE pipe pushed over something sticking up from the ground - either some shortish (80cm) metal stakes which I bought from Wilko or the metal structure from a mini greenhouse which collapsed and I kept the metal bits because I had a feeling I'd find a use for them. Best way to attach the scaffolding net is with a short (2cm or so) piece of MDPE which you cut so that it can open, then use that over the net. If you see what I mean...YouTube is full of MDPE cages, some people make them big enough to walk in. I did try bamboo canes with tennis balls on top but the foxes soon destroyed those.
D2 Jul 2020 11:04am, 9 Jul 2020 11,752 posts	Quote Pin D2 I'm about to try and construct something with old farm electric fence posts and bamboo, if it works I will take pics
Big_G Jul 2020 12:08pm, 9 Jul 2020 123 posts	Quote Pin Big_G I am annoyed with myself. We moved in here Feb/March 2019 and took down the old curtain poles as they were in need of replacement and I took them to the tip. They'd have been perfect.... The thing is if I'd suggested keeping them to OH she would have, quite rightly, thought I was losing my mind. But now.....my intuition of "they may come in handy" was right!
sallykate Jul 2020 12:13pm, 9 Jul 2020 6,708 posts	Quote Pin sallykate I'm always thinking something might come in handy - my Dad was brilliant at constructing stuff from bits & bobs so I think it's ingrained! He once made a new saucepan handle from an ash branch...
rf_fozzy Jul 2020 1:11pm, 9 Jul 2020 10,592 posts	Quote Pin rf_fozzy I bought one of these: wilko.com But it looks like Wilko no longer make it. I did buy some proper netting rather than the horrible plastic stuff though: amazon.co.uk