A Hatred Greater Than Slugs.......

[Slug]

I think at one point this year it must have seemed like I was farming the little critters! I had a few harmless little ones on my broccoli which I thought I'd leave (well.... they were only in small numbers at that stage!). My OH decided it would be nice to see all the butterflies in the garden, so I left them.

Over the next few weeks I became completely infested with them!! I didn't kill a single one in my garden (just didn't have the heart.... if it was slugs... it'd be a different matter entirely!!). In the end, I gave up and pulled my broccoli up. I decided that it was too much trouble to try to keep them off!

[bramble]

I netted my brocolli from the day i planted it out. Got a great crop of brocolli last year. Got a great crop this year that literally went to seed overnight. You just can't win.

[JennieAtkinson]

Think I've got the bu****s

Page 38 of this month's mag had a small article about controlling pests and highlighted a product called Natural Pest Control. Got some from the nursery shop this morning and had a good spray tonight on the four cabbages I left in and the caterpillers appear not to like it at all.

I know, it really is cruel but I have been picking them off and throwing them over the wall into the field, but just can't keep doing it and I have lost most of my cabbages, brussel sprouts and all my swedes. Had them covered in fleece but they managed to get through. My order for Enviromesh also arrived today, so that should help too.

[bramble]

So it really is all out war Jennie?

[voodoo veg]

Since my killing spree they seem to have got wise and better at hiding!!!!

I did spray with a chilli powder/salt/washing up liquid concoction but somehow it doesn't seem to penetrate or get UNDER the leaves...I am also worried about getting salt in the soil which I have heard is NOT good!!!!

I have everything covered by net but the sneaky b*****flies seem to be able to squeeze through...next year I need finer mesh.

I HATE caterpillars with a passion now and in comparison the slugs seem almost cuddly and nice !!!!!!!!

[JennieAtkinson]

So it really is all out war Jennie?

Looks like it Bramble - I tried the softly softly approach and negotiation, but I'm obviously speaking the wrong language!

One thing I'm worried about I chucked all the veg I pulled up, still covered with caterpillers and threw it over the gate into the field (nice not having neighbours ), thinking that the sheep would probably eat the roots. Now my neighbouring crofter has moved the sheep to another field. Will these caterpillers live on, lay eggs or crysalisses (or whatever they do) and give me more headaches next year with even MORE cabbage white butterflies?

[JennieAtkinson]

Think I've got the bu****s

Page 38 of this month's mag had a small article about controlling pests and highlighted a product called Natural Pest Control. Got some from the nursery shop this morning and had a good spray tonight on the four cabbages I left in and the caterpillers appear not to like it at all.

Its worked - Having stripped the plants almost bare and sprayed them with Natural pest Control I now have some tiny young broccoli heads sprouting.

YESSSSSSSSSS!

[bramble]

Watch out for those caterpillers in the next field Jennie

[JennieAtkinson]

I see the sheep have eaten all the roots and leaves ........ and hopefully the caterpillers too!

[Sally Clarke]

Hi all, I have been going mad for weeks with the caterpillars, major infestation and still buttrflies about. I had been picking them of by hand but after 6 weeks went to the shops and got a spray and all dead now but Id been trying so hard to be organic, now to top it of they had been in my mini plastic greenhouse, as I had to keep it unzipped as it got to hot and thay have stated on the tomatoes has anyone seen this before? it took a few days to twig but they were getting patches with skin eaten and i found 3 or f4 in there today as thay have fattened up. now ive picked the lot and hope thay turn on the window sill. funny but they havent had a go at the chillis yet or cucumber do you think I need to protect them or do they not like either of them?
well good luck everyone, we musnt give up the battle.

Sally

[Snadger]

Can I asume that if the salt water works on caterpillers, people who live near the coast will be less troubled because of the salt laden air?