"prevent x_pollination"

Can't think of a better material to let the tomatoes make babies in the honeymoon bridal suite :-)

For anyone interested, Here's the Garden Web FAQ which discusses tulle (bridal veil fabric) and other materials and the theory/practice of isolating flowers to get pure seed of a specific plant or manual cross for saving, and the excerpt of materials. The excerpt is a link if you want to click on it and see the complete original text:

"Various materials can be used. Some use floating row cover, others use tulle (bridal veil fabric), pieces of nylon stockings, sheer tricot or other lightweight fabric, or bridal favor bags. Depending on the size of the bags used, the bags must be monitored and removed after pollenization so that the tomato can grow to full size without restriction"

Another same or similar possibility would be organza pouches which come with drawstrings already made of the appropriate size. Here's one for under $4 including shipping that come with 60 white/off white bags (click for link), though the quality isn't great according to comments for gifting, it sounds like a very economical RTU product for bagging blossoms, and that a few might be defective but you can readily pick them out. These particular ones are 6" x 9", though after you account for the drawstring and liberal claimed dimensions it is probably more like 5" x 7.75" if that suits you. If you read carefully you will see they are probably mailed from China, but so is most of the fabric imported from there anyway, so it is mostly a question of quality. I have not tried these, but the PPD price is so good and shipping quite fast considering.

Cheers

PC

I've bought the drawstring ones at the supermarket, sold in the produce section as reusable produce bags. They last a season or two and are pretty expensive, come in a pack of 5 or so. I recommended these to another gardener and she reported back to me that the critter bit through the bag so, not infallible. I grow melons and the critters love them and seem to love anything sweet. I'm thinking a wrapping of tulle might be superior.

Tulle is different than bag (coarse mesh) . Use very fine mesh and loosely and critters would think of it as trap as is gets tangled.. I have seen rabbits chew plastic mesh that I used as fence. But they wont get close to fine nylon tulle.thrown on certain plants.

Sey

BUMP.

I was thinking about going To Joann's store to get some nylon tulle. Then I remembered about this thread. So I bumped it and dusted it off. hehe

They come in all grid sizes, textures and colors. I prefer whit and green colors.

Green blends in better but white transmits light better, me thinks.

Sey

What a great idea for a whole bed. Keep those catapillars off the cabbage!

I use tulle bags for seed saving on tomatoes. They work great!

I have used the heavier nylon netting from the fabric stores to cover my tomato cages prior to a hail storm. The hail just bounces off the netting... Unless it is too big, then it tears. I have had success with 1" hail and no damage to my plants. I keep a big garbage bag in the garage full for just that purpose. I have been know to be covering my garden DURING the storm, which is not too smart. :) Hit by hail is one thing. Lightning strikes are a little more serious. :)

Yes, Rebecca, ... that is another use for nylon tulle.

Have you seen those white butterflies ? They lay eggs in the cabbage that become cabbage worm. That is what I have heard. At the same time you can prevent the slugs from eating your cabbage too.

Sey

Gotta get some nylon tulle again.

My lettuce is germinating and have to protect them from nasty slugs. They are the worst things eating seedlings, along with rabbits.

Sey, the best slug killer I have ever used is EscarGo! It's from Garden's Alive. It is an iron based organic formula that really, REALLY works. I sprinkle it around my lettuce lightly and that's it. When it disappears into the soil, I add more. It doesn't take much.

Rebecca

Thanks Rebecca , .. I will look for it . Yeah. Got to reduce the population of slugs too.

Sey

I think Sluggo is the same as Escar-go. They are both iron phosphate. There are other brands as well. Warning - Sluggo Plus also contains spinosad.

Another slug killer:

If it is not raining or you are not going to water, you can sprinkle some table salt on something like foil, wax paper , (cut into a donut shape). This way you don't want the salt get mixed with the soil. If it is going to rain or you will water the plants, then the remove the salt.When the crawl on salt, they will melt like ice in the sun.

Deterringthe slugs is not a comprehensive approach. Got to kill them too, to reduce the population and multiplication.

Sey