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In the back of my greenhouse, beside the tomatoes, are the left over cauliflowers, donated, by a parent, to the school veg' patch. I had already planted 8 cauliflowers out in one of the beds in the schools' patch and have been waiting for the turnips to be pulled before planting the rest of them out.
In the meantime I have potted them on, into recycled 300ml cream pots (drainage holes had been drilled into the bottom) and slotted them into the corner of the greenhouse. I hadn't been able to keep them outside due to space and netting availablility issues
. They're happily growing away but, I've been expecting to see signs of Cabbage White attention any time, as, on very hot days, I have to leave the greenhouse door open. Oddly enough though, the butterflies (off which there are now plenty) can't seem to find them.
I know Cabbage Whites aren't adverse to popping into the odd greenhouse (munched salads 2 years ago
) but I only have sufficient netting to cover the door of the smaller greenhouse, in which I grow my salads and which is full to bursting with no room for the Cauliflowers.
Between the cauliflowers and the greenhouse door, are pots and pots of herbs: Basil Red Leafed and Minnette; Coriander; and Oregano 'Greek'. The whole greenhouse smells of mixed herbs and I'm wondering if that's what is confusing the Cabbage Whites? They simply can't smell the Cauliflowers.
As the school hasn't been able to get any fine mesh netting for the brassicas bed, and as the pigeons and caterpillars have already done for the caulis (and turnip leaves) I planted out, we've decided that I'll keep hold of the seedlings for now. Once my Mangetout has finished (another 2 weeks at most I reckon), I'll plant as many caulis as I can there and cover them with the enviromesh I have here. Any heads produced (unlikely I reckon but we have to try) will go back to the school.
I'm considering setting a load more herbs going and planting the ones in the greenhouse out with the caulis. They aren't full hardy varieties but they may well last long enough to act as a smoke screen and fool the butterflies. What do you think?
Reet (an eternal optimist
)
x
In the meantime I have potted them on, into recycled 300ml cream pots (drainage holes had been drilled into the bottom) and slotted them into the corner of the greenhouse. I hadn't been able to keep them outside due to space and netting availablility issues
. They're happily growing away but, I've been expecting to see signs of Cabbage White attention any time, as, on very hot days, I have to leave the greenhouse door open. Oddly enough though, the butterflies (off which there are now plenty) can't seem to find them.I know Cabbage Whites aren't adverse to popping into the odd greenhouse (munched salads 2 years ago
) but I only have sufficient netting to cover the door of the smaller greenhouse, in which I grow my salads and which is full to bursting with no room for the Cauliflowers.Between the cauliflowers and the greenhouse door, are pots and pots of herbs: Basil Red Leafed and Minnette; Coriander; and Oregano 'Greek'. The whole greenhouse smells of mixed herbs and I'm wondering if that's what is confusing the Cabbage Whites? They simply can't smell the Cauliflowers.
As the school hasn't been able to get any fine mesh netting for the brassicas bed, and as the pigeons and caterpillars have already done for the caulis (and turnip leaves) I planted out, we've decided that I'll keep hold of the seedlings for now. Once my Mangetout has finished (another 2 weeks at most I reckon), I'll plant as many caulis as I can there and cover them with the enviromesh I have here. Any heads produced (unlikely I reckon but we have to try) will go back to the school.
I'm considering setting a load more herbs going and planting the ones in the greenhouse out with the caulis. They aren't full hardy varieties but they may well last long enough to act as a smoke screen and fool the butterflies. What do you think?
Reet (an eternal optimist
)x
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