Can I sew row cover material?

ktomchik 5/23/2024, 6:44 pm

My row cover material is, I believe, Agribond which I have misplaced for the moment. I want to use it to cover a dome to keep cabbage moths off my brassica. It devasted them last year despite weekly spraying with B. thuringes which has been effective in the past. Might my B. thuringes be too old?
Thank you for any advice.
Ken

OhioGardener 5/23/2024, 7:28 pm

ktomchik wrote:My row cover material is, I believe, Agribond which I have misplaced for the moment. I want to use it to cover a dome to keep cabbage moths off my brassica. It devasted them last year despite weekly spraying with B. thuringes which has been effective in the past. Might my B. thuringes be too old?

Yes, if the Bt isn't working it is probably too old and inert, might be time for a new bottle of it.

You would be better with a mesh material, such as Tulle, since the Agribon will reduce the sun reaching the plants and they want sun. You can get a 54" wide by 40 yards long roll on Amazon for a little less than $20.

ktomchik 5/23/2024, 9:49 pm

Thank you OhioGardener. I will buy new Bt. I have a large roll of the Agribond, but will look into Tulle. I found a post here that said Tulle degraded after one season or, was that a different material or brand?

ktomchik 5/29/2024, 11:26 am

I read that cabbage moths can persist in the soil over the winter. If so how can I eradicate them? Might covering the box with plastic to seal it off for a period might work.
I will appreciate any ideas.
Ken

OhioGardener 5/29/2024, 12:33 pm

ktomchik wrote:I read that cabbage moths can persist in the soil over the winter. If so how can I eradicate them? Might covering the box with plastic to seal it off for a period might work.

No, they will not be eradicated. They are part of our ecosystem, and even if you start with sterile soil, the cabbage moth will fly in from far afield. I once saw a report from the Univ of Florida that stated the flight range of the cabbage moth is up to 200Km (124 miles). The best we can hope for is control of them so that they do not destroy our crops. Yesterday, between rain storms, I was harvesting kale and a white cabbage moth flew in with hopes of laying eggs on the kale in the basket which I had just picked.

Covering plants with fine netting, checking the underside of leaves for egg clusters, and spraying Bt every 5 days is my IM method of "controlling" them.

ktomchik 5/30/2024, 7:45 am

Thank you OhioGardener. I plan to make a frame to hold row cover around my Brassica.

markqz 5/30/2024, 10:07 am

What I've done with agribon in the past is to use a glue gun. If memory serves, which it might not, you want to use the low-temperature type of gun because the high temperature type can melt right through.

Tulle will only last a season in the sun, but I guess if you can get it at the price OG suggests, then that's not a problem.

About BT -- I've never used more than a fraction of the bottles I've purchased. I wonder if you could keep it longer if you stored it in the fridge? Hopefully never to be mistaken for salad dressing.

**sanderson** 6/1/2024, 12:13 am

markqz wrote: ' ' ' About BT -- I've never used more than a fraction of the bottles I've purchased. I wonder if you could keep it longer if you stored it in the fridge? Hopefully never to be mistaken for salad dressing.

I used to store my pure Neem oil in the fridge. Razz

ktomchik 6/2/2024, 8:05 am

I will post my attempts to fasten Agribond. Thanks for the comments.

**sanderson** 6/2/2024, 11:54 pm

I don't have any experience with sewing Agribon. bridal tulle, yes. insect netting can possibly sewed or at least hand sewed.

Sponsored content

Can I sew row cover material?