Holey cabbage!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks for the info Nick re: feeding with comfrey - managed to get two bags of dried comfrey off ebay - "tortoise health! was the site - am now steeping some in a bucket of water. Shame the weather is too bad (again) for me to get out there and catch some more of the little treasures! dexterdog

[Birdie Wife]

Interesting entomological thing about aphids - given optimal conditions, aphid babies are actually pregnant before they hatch from the egg . Just in case you wondered how aphid numbers can explode in good weather! Got to admire them for that.

[bramble]

So what chance have we then of getting rid of the little blitters!

[dinky_doo]

its war out there people
our site is full of white butterflys and some lovely big red ones too my daughter loves catching them in a net
and are the stipey red and yellow caterpillers a nuisance too
as we find loads in the bushs

[dexterdoglancashire]

Well, just had a de-bugging session - only found three of the little darlings! Have sprayed leaves again with my chilli/garlic/salt mixture but now the leaves have lots of patches of what I can only describe as "poo", guess its caterpillar poo? Decided to pull up my leaf beet because of the holes and the poo, but am giving the other plants a chance. Feeling very disappointed today. hope everyone else has a good day in their plots. Dexterdog

[vicki]

I've just pulled up the remains of my brocolli too - I got a few good heads off it and a few good bagfuls in the freezer but then the leaves turned into lace overnight 'cos of those pesky caterpillars and I couldn't face picking them out any more!!

If theres anything I've learnt this year I think its to cover the brocolli up next time!!! Its all a big learning curve I guess so I try not to let it get to me!

I was thinking of growing kale later in the year - am I likely to have similar
problems with that or will it be ok at that time of year??

[geordielass]

hi just found this forum while looking for organic treatments for cabbage white. Ours are netted but net obviously not quite small enough - you want to see them squeeze through. picking off and squeezing them -funny hubby can only see the eggs! Question can i put fleece over them under net - read somewhere that fleece in this hot weather can scorch cabbages

[Squirrel]

I have just started my kale seedling off - yes I know it is a bit late - and am hoping that by the time they go out in the garden, the cabbage whites will be over. When do they finish - anyone any idea?

[dexterdoglancashire]

When I said I was disappointed, I really meant down right gutted! but was trying to be polite for once! Thanks for your advice chaps, I do appreciate it. Yesterday I was so down in the dumps, but after a bracing walk on the beach with Dexter am back again! Just waiting and watching to see what happens, have definately learnt that next year keep it all covered! Feeling a lot happier! Thanx dexterdog

[Patsy]

hi just found this forum while looking for organic treatments for cabbage white. Ours are netted but net obviously not quite small enough - you want to see them squeeze through. picking off and squeezing them -funny hubby can only see the eggs! Question can i put fleece over them under net - read somewhere that fleece in this hot weather can scorch cabbages

Trying to be fully organic I've used fleece over several vegetables this year including Kolhrabi and carrots and it seems to do the trick. The Kolhrabi are hole free so far whereas Brussel sprouts only with netting are looking the worse for wear. Lots more fleece next year. Added bonus in this very hot weather is that the soil round plants under fleece stays moist much longer. I try to mulch everything as much as possible but difficult to get enough stuff to mulch a whole allotment. Fleece seems to be one answer.

[dexterdoglancashire]

RIP cabbage

just checked my cabbages in the hope that all my efforts at getting rid of the caterpillars had worked..........unfortunately, the hearts of the cabbage are full of holes and caterpillar poo......lesson learned this year - keep 'em covered next year! Havent had the courage to check the brussels and broccoli so here's hoping! Many thanks for everyones advice - yes it did seem to be working but obviously the little darlings had already got a good hold on my veg before I realised. dexterdog

[sewer rat]

Geordielass
You can use fleece - not sure where you read that it can scorch veggies but as it is a barrier that is not see through then this isn't gonna happen - it protects from frost and is an excellent barrier against all sorts of flying pests - so feel free to use it where and when you like, all year round. And you can water the plants through it too, so need to remove it til harvesting your veg. Just make sure you leave some slack when you put it on - but no spaces round the edge or the little critters will find the space that you missed

[nick the grief]

just checked my cabbages in the hope that all my efforts at getting rid of the caterpillars had worked..........unfortunately, the hearts of the cabbage are full of holes and caterpillar poo......lesson learned this year - keep 'em covered next year! Havent had the courage to check the brussels and broccoli so here's hoping! Many thanks for everyones advice - yes it did seem to be working but obviously the little darlings had already got a good hold on my veg before I realised. dexterdog

Well I gave mine a dose of salty water the other week & I seem to have escaped the ravages of the dreaded caterpillar - this time last year I had stalks rather than brussels!!! They're covered in white fly mind you so maybe some liquid derris is called for.

[Berr]

Interesting entomological thing about aphids - given optimal conditions, aphid babies are actually pregnant before they hatch from the egg . Just in case you wondered how aphid numbers can explode in good weather! Got to admire them for that.

Why? A strong case for postnatal abortion, I'd've thought.

[snohare]

There I was being all smug and righteous at these nasty people....then I discovered holes in my cabbages....and some little green caterpillars....and some more.... but not 500 thank God !
Spent hours the other day blasting them with water, picking them off by hand, removing the netting so that the birds could get in about for a feast...but still was too tender-hearted to actually squish the little monsters. So I just threw them onto the lawn to get eaten by my pal the local blackie.
Then I spent all last night dreaming of hordes of caterpillars relentlessly marching back to the cabbage bed, despite truly Tolkien-like epic battles to halt their advance....now I wish I hadn't been so merciful and let them do the Long Trek !
Chillie powder, eh...