tulle or other row covers

I have a question (maybe a dumb one) about the use of tulle or other cloth for insect control.
If the plants need to be available for pollinators to get to, doesn't this defeat the purpose? I know some varieties are "self pollinating" but not all are (particularly heirlooms).
I have generally just hand-picked bugs I didn't want, but would like to minimize the need to do this if possible.

You are right and I'm concentrating plants that do not need pollinators into their own beds this year. Last year I moved the hoop with the tulle on it over one row to open just the squares that needed pollination. FYI: having a wooden lathe grid or holders screwed to the outside walls would have made this easier. This year the squash, eggplant, melons and cukes will share beds and will be covered until they start blooming. This will hopefully mean fewer beds that need daily patrols and more time searching out bad guys.

Kay

I agree with walshevak. I just remove the covers when the blossoms begin so the pollinators can do their thing. I put them back over the plants when little fruits begin forming. At least they are covered against pests most of the time. I, too, am putting like crops beside each other so covering or not is simpler this year.

Which plants typically benefit from a tulle covering? I think cucumbers, melons, eggplants, and squash have been mentioned. For those I hope to protect from cucumber beetles, and squash bugs. I think I may be able to protect cabbbage and broccoli from the cabbage worm. Perhaps the brussels sprouts, too. What am I missing?

I use a row cover for my Brassicia bed. I have lots of problems with cabbage moths and some other moths that love Broccoli almost as much as I do. That bed is all lettuce, broccoli, nothing that needs pollination.

And I just grow one squash plant for me, and one for the bugs...
But, I can't get them to stay on _their_ plant...

I'm considering making a fleece. tule tent for the brassica as they got slaughtered last year by cabbage white butterfly caterpilairs & aphids , so much I resorted to an apporved bug spray before all i had left was a light green lace all over the raised beds.

one thing i have thougth for any plants that need pollenator beetles & suffer from mega bug attacks is a panel of pond net cover in1 /4 inch squares in a welded net form as part of the " tent " .

So there less chance of the big bugs & things like cabbage root & carrot flies walking through like has happened in previous years.

If I uncover it during the warmer drier part of the day with ouit disturbing the crops under it for an hour or two the pollenators should get there before the aphids etc. who like warm humid times to fly . Once the pollen beetles are in the enclosure I'm happy to then recover the panel with the fleece/ tule & see if they do their job.

You could use tulle to cover any plants that do not require insect pollinators.

This include plants that are usually grown for their leaves
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Spinach
greens

or their roots
beets
carrots
radishes

or have self pollinated or wind pollinated flowers
Tomatoes
Eggplant
Peppers
beans
peas
corn

sources: (links)

WSU TOMATOES

Texas A&M Peppers

UCDavis EGGPLANT

MSU GARDEN POLLINATION

I knew about the brassicas, but didn't think about the peppers and tomatoes being either wind or self pollinated. I knew some tomatoes are self pollinating, but didn't think past that.
Thank you for that list... looks like about the only thing that wouldn't be covered at all would be peas/beans, cukes/melons/squash. (unless it was temporary)
We have had real issues with aphids on the brassicas in previous years, so my main concern would be them.

For those that use covers, how do you fasten/unfasten your material? I had some gaps at the bottom, and those pesky moths still got underneath. Looking for ideas.

snip...Thank you for that list... looks like about the only thing that wouldn't be covered at all would be peas/beans

Curio, according to MSU, peas and beans are self-pollinating, so they could also be under the tulle. Because I had seen bees at the pea and bean flowers, I always assumed, that they required bees or other pollinators and never covered them before.

The pollination process in all beans, peas, and tomatoes is called self-pollination because the transfer of pollen takes place within the individual flowers without the aid of insects or wind.

see now... I thought the same as you... just from seeing bees in and on the plants over the years. Thanks

Squat_Johnson wrote:For those that use covers, how do you fasten/unfasten your material? I had some gaps at the bottom, and those pesky moths still got underneath. Looking for ideas.

Maybe some fishing weights sewn in?

I used wire hangars shaped like hoop tops and spring clothespins to pin to the top. Then I buried the ends in the soil around them when needed.

I've had 2 different larvae this week...one crawling in toward my new asparagus shoots and one in the lettuce (which also had lady bug eggs).

Sad for the lady bugs...DD destroyed them thinking there were bad since she just found the larvae.

Stunning...these larvae/moth thingys from eggs after just 3 days!

I've been fussing over covers and structures.

Why is tulle preferred?

I was looking at shadecloth too (not knowing what it was). Curious stuff, especially the aluminet. Reminds me of the NASA blankets with holes. I would think it would create a lot of glare!

Has anyone tried cheesecloth? There are 3 weaves (10-mesh, 50-gauze, 90-polishing gauze). Home Depot sells grade 90 @ 5 SQY for 3.50, which is about $0.72 per yard.

I wonder how 90 grade would work as a shadecloth.

Ava

And what about netting from the fabric store...can we use that or are the holes too big?

CC

CapeCoddess wrote:And what about netting from the fabric store...can we use that or are the holes too big?

CC

i use tulle

coupon for 60% off at JoAnn's fabrics.
good till aug 30
http://www.joann.com/coupon

buy you tulle now

Thanks! How much is it usually?

About $1.50/yd in my area.
CC

Usually runs about $2.99 for the 108" wide and about half that for the 54" wide at Joann's

Kay

I bought some today. The regular price for 108" wide was $2.99. With 60% off the net price per yard was $1.20. Thank you all for notifying us to the coupon and sale ending date.

I'm just annoyed I'm in Kenya and can't take advantage.

But Joann's runs coupons frequently.
Kay

walshevak wrote:I'm just annoyed I'm in Kenya and can't take advantage.

But Joann's runs coupons frequently.
Kay

It will go on sale again come spring wedding season. I hope you are well in Kenya. When are you homeward bound?

I'll be back in the US on Sep 10. Gonna be interesting to see what's left in the the garden.

Kay

Hi how much of the 108"tulle is enough for a 4x4 bed?Thinking about making a hoop tent for five 4 sq ft beds but have no clue how many yards are needed per bed since it is already about nine ft wide?Thanks in advance.