Aargh! Caterpillars!

[Hellbell]

Have just planted out some brussels and some cabbages and they're covered in little caterpillars as are the swede that've been in the ground for ages. Is this a particularly bad time for them or have the flutterbys just smelt out the new plants?

Is it too late for netting? Can I spray them with anything? Help please before they're all eaten.

[Cloud]

Not to late and it depends if you are organic or not??

[sewer rat]

Depending on how many plants you have, you can go through them and remove the baby caterpilaars then squish 'em before putting your netting over your plants - but remember that the plants and netting mustn't touch or you'll have baby caterpillars again.
Salt solution has been recommended on this site for keeping flutterbyes at bay but not sure about killing off caterpillars. Ask at your local garden centre - they will have a range of sprays, both organic and non organic - pays yer money and takes yer choice !

[Hellbell]

Thanks guys. I've been round a squished all the caterpillars I could see. I just found some Liquid Derris in the back of the shed which said it treated caterpillars. I generally don't use any sprays but thought I'd give it a go in this case to get rid of the blighters. I have some cheapo netting from poundland which I'll put over while I look for something a bit better.

[Demeter]

Picking them all off by hand and popping them in a pot of water is time-consuming but quite satisfying. You can scrape of the eggs with a finger nail and squish the teeny caterpillars on the leaf, just pick off the big ones that you don't fancy squishing!! You'll need to go over the plants regularly, checking for caterpillars and eggs.

You can spray them with soapy water, that'll kill them too. Quicker as well, I should think!

[Cloud]

NUKE EM.NUKE EM.NUKE EM!!!!!!!
Oooooohhhh calm down dear.