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Other than covering my broccoli, cabbage, swede what else can i do to stop cabbage white laying on my veg. Ive heard something about rhubarb being used but am not sure how, any ideas?
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You need to cover them. Voile netting or Debris netting is the business. Crack on
Last edited by Two_Sheds; 09-08-2013, 09:24 AM.All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb. -
Shotgun? ;-)Comment
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Bird netting works well, I can't see any other way to stop them.I love growing tomatoes.Comment
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everyday, even after netting i need to go and pick the pillars off!!!! today i am now trying to use salt water as well as picking & netting, they are getting on my nerves now lol!Comment
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Does anyone know if a Stinging Nettle solution would work?Comment
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The butterflies are attracted to a pheromone or a smell in the brassicas. You'd have to somehow block that smell, to put the butterflies off ... they can smell them a mile off.
I've got ruddy PillarCats underneath my netting ... every plant had a dozen of them, munching away. I found the best way to pick them off was to shake the leaves quite vigorously, and the caterpillars drop to the soil - free treats for the birdies
All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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My gfd uses a badminton racket!
aka NeilComment
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The only sure fire way is enviromesh. Bird netting holes are too big.Into each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.
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The ones in my front garden, I pick them off and fling them into the road. Elsewhere, they are picked off into a pot of water and poured into the compost bin once they stop wriggling.
Would something really smelly (grow marigolds, spray with garlic/chilli) mask the brassica scent do you reckon? I'm picking caterpillars off daily and it's no easy task!Warning: I have a dangerous tendency to act like I know what I'm talking about.
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I was doing really well early part of the season, interplanting brassicas with french marigolds. Now the cabbage whites are winning - help!!!!!!!!!!!!!Comment
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I harvested some broccoli today, picked off all the caterpillars I could see, washed the heads, cut them into florets, picked off a few more caterpillars, washed them again, cooked them, rinsed them - and one still managed to make it onto my plate! Argh. It wasn't moving much by then though...
(PS In fairness there could have been more than one in the plate, it's just that there was only one that I managed to identify as Not Broccoli before I ate it!
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(PPS For the pedantic among us, actually all of it was Not Broccoli - it was all in fact calabrese. Ho hum.)Warning: I have a dangerous tendency to act like I know what I'm talking about.Comment
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I have a water butt set aside from the others. I put my rhubarb leaves into it when I cut a few sticks. Put the lid back on the butt and leave for a couple of days. STAND WELL BACK WHEN YOU REMOVE THE LID...the smell is rancid!!!. Give the goo a good stir and put some in an old watering can and use on brassicas. It isn't 100% effective but it sure does cut down on butterflies appreciably. Don't spill any on your clothes or HID will not be best pleased!!!
It may be worthwhile keeping a few clothes pegs near the butt to put on your nose whilst using the goo!!!
If someone approaching you does not have a smile on their face...give them one of yours.Comment
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This is one that I hadn't heard before: put some eggshells on sticks among your brassicas. Apparently the Cabbage White thinks it is a competing butterfly, and stays away.
Top Veg Blog Archive Cabbage White ButterfliesAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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Also try planting nasturtiums near your brassicas as a sacrificial plant. The cabbage white will lay eggs on that, and so you can compost the whole lot, caterpillars and all.All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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