I have a soft spot for Geoff Hamilton. I used to love watching Gardener's World when he presented it. He was down to earth, but at the same time had a sensitive spiritual perspective. Also, he had some brilliant ideas.
One of them was the use of plumbing tubing as netting supports. Last year my onions, garlic, and broad beans all knew the dark depths of the local wildlife's innards. This year they're out of luck, as Geoff's noble Romanesque arches protect my plants in a plastic embrace.
My first attempts would not stay upright though, but my Dad told me that Geoff reinforced the supports by inserting bamboo cane into the ground, and then threaded the tubing over it. I tried this today, and it worked like magic.
I needed another net to protect the carrot seedlings. I'd given up on them, as there was no sign of germination a fortnight after sowing, but then all of a sudden there were little green rows of tiny leaves. They were unprotected for several days until I had the opportunity to erect the net, but they were totally unmolested, which makes me wonder if the wood chippings do act as slug deterrant. I see they have sliced into the newly planted lily of the valley, which is surrounded by nothing but grass.
I have read that leeks deter carrot root fly, so I've alternated the rows of carrots with rows of leeks, with leeks on the outside. Apparently the smell of the leeks masks the smell of the carrots. We shall see. I might lose my nerve and put a wall of enviromesh up just to be on the safe side.
It was really quite a worrying procedure creating holes for the leeks around the tiny delicate carrot seedlings. I might just plant in blocks next year, and hope for the best.
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