Newb - pest question

This is my first year gardening and SFGing(?). As other newbies I am worried about pests. I have a a few basic questions. 

Is there a beneficial difference in using Tulle or mesh? Or are they same? 

Also, I have been reading a few posts about pests in the forum, and I've come across quite a few photos of gardens enclosed with coverings. I am curious though how those enclosures are pollinated? Especially cucumbers and other cucurbits? 

If I don't build an enclosure, rather use the floating covers, is there a time where they should be removed or used? For example, keep them on at night and off during the day? 

Thank you!

I use tulle.  We have bad Squash Vine Borers (SVB) and then after the fourth of July we get pickle worms.  On the cucurbit bed I try to use tulle.  Very small openings.  I do not know about mesh.  I have not learned much about the time of day that the plants are susceptible to the SVB but they say the pickle worm moth (which the baby worms bore into most cucurbits) lay their eggs in the late afternoon.  So you could leave uncovered during the day and then cover up in the afternoon.  What I have found the best solution that works is to plant parthenocarpic varieties that do not need pollinators.  Last year my varieties were Partenon zucchini and Picolino cucumbers.  They are both parthenocarpic and can remain under cover until ready to harvest.

Other things you can do is to time the planting.  In some areas of the US the SVB only have one generation during the summer.  So if you plant early or late you may avoid them altogether.  But here in Georgia we have at least two generations of SVB.  The only way to avoid them is to plant out extra early and continue to harvest until they die. Or you can plant parthenocarpic varieties or you can uncover every morning, hand pollinate and then recover them.

My Partenon Zucchini plants. 


I do have other cucurbrits planted elsewhere and they are uncovered and will eventually die or the fruits will be bored into by the pickle worm.

Hi Palmtree689. Welcome from another Georgian! Glad you've joined us.

Other photos you may have seen might be covered with some sort of plastic that the owner takes up & puts down daily to keep from frying their plants. You might look at Yolos's garden photos in the archives. And Sanderson's as well.