Notebook

Protect crops with elegant plant supports and smart pest-proof cages

Keeping a potager patch cropping efficiently requires protecting crops from pests, stress and weather damage. Start by choosing a sunny, sheltered location for plants whose crops need to ripen in the sun (such as tomatoes and other fruits) and prepare the soil well for hungry crops such as runner beans by digging in (or mulching with) plenty of well-rotted organic matter. The main pests to watch out for are slugs, aphids and cabbage white caterpillars. Mice, pigeons and rabbits will also take a fancy to edible plants. In each case it’s possible to erect mesh cages or fences around vulnerable plants that allow light and rainwater to penetrate, but which will act as a barrier. You can also string up bird scarers made from reflective disks that move and glint in the sun. Encourage insect predators such as hoverflies and ladybirds by growing companion plants such as Tagetes patula (French marigolds) and Limnanthes douglasii (poached egg plant). Lay a straw mulch around plants to hold in moisture and protect developing fruits. Water regularly to avoid plants becoming stressed, and keep hoeing off weeds. Stake top-heavy and climbing plants so they don’t topple over.