Invasion of the caterpillars!

[trolleydolly]

Morning all, having returned from my allotment, after a short break, to find all of the cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower and kale absolutely covered in caterpillars. (Way too many to pick off!)
I did cover the plants with netting-to stop the local wildlife having a feast, but the white butterflies had other plans!. I intend to get some Debris Netting for the next time I plant cabbages.

What are the best methods to get rid of these pesky critters? (Other than picking them off)

Regards
Trolleydolly

[pdblake]

I find rhubarb tea with a bit of washing up liquid gets 'em. Some even put chilli powder in but that's just evil

[trolleydolly]

I find rhubarb tea with a bit of washing up liquid gets 'em. Some even put chilli powder in but that's just evil

Thanks pdblake, jeez I will try anything; those horrible caterpillars make my blood run cold� Any more tips out there?
T

[voddybabe]

yeah my mum swears by soaking rhubarb leaves for a while and using that, i am going to give it a go i think.

[Solitaire]

Don't have any rhubarb, so what else can I use ?

[Maximillian]

Interstingly I watered one lot of plants with rhubarb tea and another lot without. The ones without are completely covered in caterpillars but the others are clear. Go figure!

[Scottishnewbie]

might be a bit thick but how do you make rhubarb tea please?

used a recipe that had chilli, garlic, water and washing up liqued but not sure it made much of a difference

[matthew2riches]

I have exactly the same problem and would like to know how to clear my brassicas of the flippin things!

[falkon]

I hand picked 22 caterpillar from my cress(currently in seeding state) container... yesterday... the war is on... other day I cleared them off from my turnips leaves also...

[Dianne1234567]

Caterpillars

I agree, horrible things. Am starting to wonder if it is worth growing cabbages and the like because of them, but will let you the, - me kids enjoyed picking them off though.

We'll see.

Dianne

[Gardening Extras]

I've got the same problem and no rhubarb!

Going to try just washing up liquid and chilli solution.

[Two_Sheds]

I left a couple of sacrificial PSB in the ground all summer ... yesterday I noticed they were plastered in caterpillars, so I dug the lot up and composted it.
Revenge is a dish best served cold I find.

I have also perfected the art of catching Whites in my bare hands ... sneak up behind them, and use your hand like a cobra ... snatch and grab real quick. Then dispatch the butterfly swiftly (but if you leave its twitching body on the ground, another will come along to mate with it, so you can batter that one too )

[Caro]

Two Sheds, that's just evil

Caro

[Sonata]

That is pure evil. I'm not sure which is worse, the necrophilic butterflies or the cunning plan!

I've been feeding the caterpillers to the spiders. It haunts me, but their deaths are not in vain. However, if I get eaten by giant spiders..you'll all know why.

[HayleyB]

Nuke them with pyrethrin, that's what I have resorted to, organochemical warfare